Harps Across the Seas, October 8 at 7pm

Classical Tuesdays welcomes Margaret Shelton performing traditional and contemporary harp music from Asia, Europe, and South America.

Join us for an evening of beautiful harp music from around the world. Tacoma harpist Margaret Shelton explored traditional and contemporary harp music from Asia, Europe and South America while traveling on a grant in 2011. Margaret was awarded the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to study harp music, playing techniques, and cultures in fourteen countries across four continents; a journey of musical and personal discovery. Through performing, interviewing harpists, digging through museum archives and even building a small harp, Margaret discovered the rich variety of this unique instrument around the globe. I’d say Margaret’s got the world on a string.

Here are a few of the intriguing varieties we'll hear on her program from countries she visited:

China: Traditional Konghou harp tunes
Ireland: Traditional Irish tunes
Germany: Songs from 19th-century Harfenmädchen traveling harpists
France: Classical Harp pieces (i.e. Debussy, Faure)
Paraguay: Traditional Arpa Paraguaya

When & where:

Tuesday, October 8, 7pm

Slavonian Hall
2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma

Free/donations appreciated
All ages welcome
Handicap parking and access from alley

More information:
(253) 752-2135

Large turnout for Drums in the Park!

Thanks all for coming to the opening event of the 9th season of Classical Tuesdays in Old Town. On September 10, we had a great turnout of folks from the Old Town neighborhood and from throughout the Puget Sound region gathering in Old Town Park!

Thione Diop & Yeke Yeke on the new stage

The weather was perfect and the sprawling lawn beckoned chairs, blankets and picnics. The newly constructed stage in the park was the center of attention.

Quite an array of drums!

Thanks to The Spar for the use of their sound system, Thione Diop and the Yeke Yeke West African Ensemble filled Old Town Park with the beats and timbres of their traditional drums. Thione's "talking drum" was amazing!

Yeke Yeke Ensemble

And especially inviting was the Yeke Yeke's dancer Sumaya Diop. She enticed many from the audience to join in the dancing! 

Sumaya's great smile & movements!

Thanks! to Rosemary Ponnekanti of the TNT, Matt Nagle of Tacoma Weekly and Amanda Westbrooke and the team at TVTacoma's CityLine for helping to get the word out about this year's Classical Tuesdays season, September through February.

Over 200 enjoyed the music, the sunshine and neighbors on the grass
(photo by Jim Robbins)