Global Music Showcase

Program

Afro-Caribbean Ensemble
Sidra Lawrence, director

Ishmael; South Africa; Cape jazz | Abdullah Ibrahim 1976/arr. Nick Kiekenapp

Clandestin; Mali; Wassoulou pop | Fatoumata Diawara 2011/arr. Nick Kiekenapp

Je Pense à Toi; Mali; Afro-blues | Amadou et Mariam 1999

Yèkèrmo Sèw; Ethiopia; Ethio-jazz | Mulatu Astatke 1969/arr. Nick Kiekenapp

Mother Nature; Benin; Afro-pop | Angélique Kidjo 2021/arr. Nick Kiekenapp

Freedom Day; USA; Jazz | Max Roach 1961/Terri Lyne Carrington and Christie Dashiell 2025

Sorry is a Sorry Word; Jamaica/New York; reggae | Tarrus Riley 2012
        Guest vocalist Starr Washington

You’re Wondering Now; Jamaica; Ska | Andy and Joey 1964/arr. Nick Kiekenapp
        Guest vocalist Starr Washington

Personnel
Chris Cavera, drums and percussion
Paige Filbrun, trombone, guitar, and vocals
Karly Folger, steel pan and voice
C. Theodore Forde-Stiegler, bass
Henry Hartley, oboe and vocals
Jacob Kendall, drums and percussion
Nicholas Kiekenapp, guitar
Liam Lockhart, drums and percussion
Brooklyn Matheny, vocals and saxophone
Nazanin Mousavi Koshksara, kamancheh and vocals
Nick Peace, saxophone and vocals
Clayton Rosati, drums and percussion
Noah Simon, keyboards
Maxton Welch, drums and percussion

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Music of Iran, the Caucasus, & Central Asia Ensemble
Megan Rancier, director

Ozhal Muqam | Arranged by Megan Rancier
An Uyghur classical piece extracted from a suite belonging to the on ikki muqam (twelve muqam) tradition of mode-based classical music from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region/East Turkestan, located in western China. Typically this portion of the suite features dance tunes (and dancers, when available!), which is why the rhythm of the piece shifts significantly in the second half.

Jalghan Ay (Oh, This False Life) | Arranged by Megan Rancier
A Kazakh folk song that laments the pains experienced while searching for love.

Oh this false life, false life / Oh this dream that never came true,
How hard it is to find someone to be mine / It makes my soul heavy!
Atten oi atten oi! [expression of regret] / How sweet this life was,
It’s so hard to see person you love / Be happy with a stranger.

Layli Jan (Dear Layli) – Arranged by Megan Rancier; vocals by Nazanin Mousavi and Jane Carver
In this popular Afghan song originally recorded by “the Afghan Elvis” Ahmad Zahir, singer addresses his beloved and laments that they cannot be together.

Layli, Layli, dear Layli, dear dear
You’ve devastated my heart.
You didn’t come to this village, alas alas
You’ve killed me with yearning.

Dayeh Dayeh (Mother, Mother) – Arranged by Majid Javdani; vocals by Majid Javani and Nazanin Mousavi
A folk song from the Lori ethnic group of southwestern Iran. The singer asks his mother to help him prepare to go to war, and asks his relatives to find his body in the trenches and grieve him if he falls.

Tie my saddle and gear onto my mare.

Carry my message to my uncles.

O mother, mother, it is the time of war.

The cartridge belt above my head is full of ammunition.

Persian instrumental duo | performed by Majid Javani and Nazanin Mousavi

Yerchangoutyan Artzounknere (Tears of Happiness) | Arranged by Sam Merda; vocals by Jane Carver
Popular song from Armenia recorded by Manuel Menengichian (b. 1941) for the soundtrack of the film Tears of Happiness (1974). 

You brought tears of happiness
To my eyes through your love.
You kissed me with happiness
And left your mark on my lips.

Mi Kna (Don’t Go) | Arranged by Sam Merda
Popular song from Armenia recorded by the singer Adiss Harmandian (1945-2019).

Mehriban Olaq (Let’s Be Kind) | Arranged by Megan Rancier; vocals by Jane Carver and Megan Rancier
Light classical tune from Azerbaijan; music and lyrics by Shafiqa Akhundova (1924-2013).

Let thousands of hearts beat together,
Let’s be more friendly to each other,
Let’s be kind and caring,
Let’s be kind, let’s be kind, let’s be kind.

Personnel
Jane Carver: voice, concertina/accordion
Szu An Chen: riqq, piano
Karly Folger: tenor saxophone
Taryn Grey: percussion
Majid Javdani: kemanche, oud, voice
Sam Merda: bass guitar, dombyra, percussion
Nazanin Mousavi: kemanche, voice
Megan Rancier: director, violin, qyl-qobyz, percussion, voice
Natalia Silva: flute
Heather Strohschein: percussion
Bonnibel Walker: violin