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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN TO OFFER SERIES OF EVENING PERFORMANCES DESIGNED TO BRING ITS “AMERICA TO ZANZIBAR: MUSLIM CULTURES NEAR AND FAR” EXHIBIT MUSIC APP TO LIFE

Series Exploring Cultural Aspects of Music Launches Jan. 14

and Runs through Feb. 11

New York, NY – Jan. 10, 2017 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83rd Street) today announced it will be holding a series of special evening performances designed to bring to life the AtoZ Music App it created for its America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far exhibit, which celebrates the diversity of Muslim cultures in New York City, the U.S. and abroad. The Many Tunes, One Melody: Muslim Arts Series, which explores the cultural aspects of music through collaborative musical jam sessions, kicks off Jan. 14 and runs through Feb. 11.

To create the AtoZ Music App, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, working with New York City-based percussionist Dan Kurfist, brought together five skilled musicians to play instruments representing a wide range of Muslim communities, musical styles and geographical locations. In addition to tremendous improvisational skill, the musicians brought a wealth of expertise about their instruments’ regional and cultural-specific sounds, from India to Egypt to Indonesia.

The creative composition was developed by laying down a simple beat track with an Indonesian frame drum known as the rebana. That was followed by the tabla, kora, oud, ney and ghijak (also jijek) – instruments that are not ordinarily played together. Wearing headphones, each musician played an original piece while listening to the tracks that had already been recorded.

A unique composition of world music was produced by mixing the individual tracks together. The melodious combination of sounds even surprised some of the musicians themselves. To create the app, the instrument tracks were separated again and programmed to give young visitors the ability to “create” their own music by playing any number of the six instruments in different combinations.

Since the recording session, the musicians have become a part of the Children’s Museum family. They were consulted during the creation of the graphic, to ensure authenticity of the animated instruments, and have given inspiring live performances, individually or in pairs, in the exhibit’s “courtyard” performance area.

Now, in collaboration with Dan Kurfist, the Children’s Museum is uniting these artists again in the Many Tunes, One Melody: Muslim Arts Series. The schedule of performances is below:

Dan Kurfirst (frame drum), Kane Mathis (kora), Roshni Samlal (tabla)

Saturday, Jan 14, 2017 | 5 pm and 6 pm

Tom Chess (oud/nay), Kane Mathis (kora), Roshni Samlal (tabla)

Saturday, Jan 28, 2017 | 5 pm and 6 pm

Dan Kurfirst (frame drum), Tom Chess (oud/nay), Gabriel Marin (jijek)

Saturday, Feb 11, 2017 | 5 pm and 6 pm

The performances are free with admission to the Museum.

Funding for the app and related programming comes from the Building Bridges Program of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

About the Building Bridges Program

The Building Bridges Program is the grant-making arm of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art (DDFIA), which is an extension of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF). Based in New York, the Building Bridges Program supports national efforts to advance relationships, increase understanding, and reduce bias between Muslim and non-Muslim communities. For more information, please visit www.ddcf.org/what-we-fund/building-bridges.

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. For more information, please visit www.cmom.org.