ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF THE BIG TEN NETWORK, PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.
[THIS VIDEO INCLUDES IMAGES OF THE SPARTAN MARCHING BAND AT THE BOWL GAME IN FLORIDA]
[THIS VIDEO OPENS WITH THE HOST JIM PECK WALKING ON CAMPUS IN THE FALL]
JIM PECK: I'M JIM PECK. WELCOME TO "MSU TODAY.” HERE'S WHAT'S COMING YOUR WAY RIGHT NOW. IT'S TIME FOR THE BOWL GAME.
[IMAGES OF MICHIGAN STATE SPARTAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND THE MSU MARCHING BAND AT THE BOWL GAME IN FLORIDA]
JIM PECK: THE MANDELA-PARKS EXHIBIT IN AFRICA.
[IMAGE OF THE MANDELA-PARKS EXHIBIT]
JIM PECK: "RUMBA SINFóNICA.”
[IMAGES OF RUMBA SINFóNICA][RUMBA MUSIC PLAYING ]
JIM PECK: FOR THE BAND, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS -- THE FINAL GAME OF THE YEAR ON A NATIONAL STAGE, AND THEY ARE FIRED UP.
[ DRUMS PLAYING ]
ALL: UNH! UNH! UNH! GO, STATE! GO, STATE!
MAN #1: WE LEFT TWO WEEKS AGO FOR THIS GAME.
MAN #2: LET'S GO, STATE!
MAN#3: WHOO!
JOHN MADDEN, DIRECTOR, MSU MARCHING BAND: EXCITED. VERY MUCH, YEAH.
WOMAN #1: GO, GREEN!
MAN #4: LET'S GO, WHITE!
MADDEN: A BOWL GAME IS A REWARD.
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
MADDEN: NICE-WEATHER BOWL GAMES ARE EVEN BETTER. AND WE'RE EXCITED. BRING THE SUNSCREEN. YOU GUYS WANT TO HEAR SOME MUSIC? LET'S PLAY SOME MUSIC. ALL RIGHT.
[ FIGHT SONG PLAYS ] [ CROWD CHEERING ]
IAN MCNABB, DRUM MAJOR: NOW WE'RE IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA, FOR THE CAPITAL ONE BOWL. WE HAD A GREAT FOOTBALL SEASON. WE HAD A GREAT BAND SEASON.
MAN #5: I LOVE THE MARCHING BAND.
MAN #1: GREAT. BEST BAND I EVER HEARD.
WOMAN #2: OH, THEY'RE MY FAVORITES. I'M A FORMER MUSIC MAJOR AT MSU.
MAN #5: THEY'RE ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.
WOMAN #2: IT TOOK ME OVER 30 YEARS TO GET TO A BOWL GAME, BUT NOW I'M FINALLY HERE AND I GET TO WATCH MY SPARTANS OUT ON THE FIELD.
MAN #6: SURE. WE'RE EXCITED.
[ HORNS PLAY ]
WOMAN #2: THEIR PRECISION IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT WE'RE USED TO WITH OTHER BANDS.
ALL: UNH! YEAH!
WOMAN #2: THEY'RE ALL BUSINESS. THEY JUST GET IT DONE. I LOVE THE DRUM LINE.
[IMAGE OF THE DRUM LINE]
WOMAN #2: WE HAVE LONGTIME CONNECTIONS WITH THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT.
MAN #5: MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTERS, AND MY MONEY ALL WENT TO MICHIGAN STATE.
[ LAUGHS ]
MAN #7: OH, YEAH. I'M PUMPED. EVERY DAY HAS JUST BEEN A NEW EVENT THIS WEEK -- DISNEY, AND THEN WE'VE GOT THAT GAME COMING UP. IT'S SWEET.
MAN #8: I WANTED TO ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE. SOMETHING THAT WILL ALWAYS CONNECT US TO MICHIGAN STATE IS BEING A PART OF THE SPARTAN MARCHING BAND.
MAN #5: GO, GREEN! GO, WHITE!
MAN #7: IT'S GONNA BE GREAT. LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
MAN #8: IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE JUST SEEING THE BAND, BEING A PART OF IT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL ALWAYS BE A PART OF AT MICHIGAN STATE.
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
MADDEN: TUBAS, SLIDE THAT WAY.
RACHEL LINSMEIER, DRUM MAJOR: YEAH, IT'S REALLY COOL. WE'RE KIND OF ROCK STARS OUT HERE, YOU KNOW? [ LAUGHS ] GET TO BE.
ALL: YEAH! GO, GREEN!
MCNABB: THIS IS MY SECOND BOWL GAME. WE GOT TO GO TO THE CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL IN THE SAME STADIUM LAST YEAR, SO FAMILIAR TERRITORY, PRETTY EXCITED.
MAN #9: IT WAS LIKE 28 HOURS. IT WAS A LONG BUS RIDE.
ANNOUNCER: GOOD EVENING, SPARTAN FANS!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
ANNOUNCER: APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT TONIGHT. LET'S GET IT GOING WITH A LITTLE "GO, GREEN, GO, WHITE.”
ALL: GO, GREEN! GO, WHITE!
ANNOUNCER: WE'RE GONNA HAND IT OVER TO THE SPARTAN MARCHING BAND.
[ FIGHT SONG PLAYS ]
ALL: FIGHT! FIGHT! RAH, TEAM, FIGHT!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ANNOUNCER: I WOULD LIKE EACH ONE OF OUR GUYS TO COME UP HERE AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES FOR THEIR FINAL TIME.
JAVON RINGER, RUNNING BACK: HOW Y'ALL DOING? I'M JAVON RINGER, RUNNING BACK FROM DAYTON, OHIO. I'VE HAD SOME OF THE BEST YEARS HERE OF MY LIFE AT MICHIGAN STATE, AND I'M GONNA MAKE SURE MY LAST GAME -- I'M GONNA REPRESENT FOR ALL OF YOU AND DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP US WIN.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ DRUMS PLAY ]
WOMAN #3: VICTORY FOR MSU
MAN #10: MY LAST GAME, SO…
MAN #11: I'M VERY EXCITED.
MAN #10: ...IT'LL BE A GOOD DAY, I THINK.
MAN #12: TO BE ABLE TO COME DOWN HERE AND DO WHAT I LOVE -- PLAY DRUMS, HELP SUPPORT THE FOOTBALL TEAM -- IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT.
SEAN COREY, BASS DRUM: GREAT TO BE ABLE TO COME DOWN HERE AND SUPPORT THEM IN A NEW YEAR'S DAY BOWL.
MAN #1: WE'LL WIN IT BY 7.
MAN #13: AS A FAN, IT'S A GREAT THING, SOMETHING THAT GETS THE CROWD GOING. EVERYBODY STANDS UP AS SOON AS EVERYBODY COMES OUT. IT'S A GREAT THING TO SEE -- THAT THE BAND HAS AN IMPACT ON THE STADIUM AND THE ATMOSPHERE.
[ FIGHT SONG PLAYS ]
WOMAN #4: BETTER BOWL GAME, IT'S NEW YEAR'S DAY, AND COULDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING BETTER.
GAME ANNOUNCER: THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPARTAN MARCHING BAND.
MAN #13: IT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD YEAR. I MEAN, THE TEAM STEPPED IT UP. WE'VE HAD A GREAT YEAR IN THE BAND. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN.
GAME ANNOUNCERL AND THAT'S THE END OF THE BALLGAME, WITH THE FINAL SCORE GEORGIA 24, MICHIGAN STATE 12.
LINSMEIER: WE DID ALL OUR WRAP-UP STUFF WITH OUR SENIORS AND SAYING GOODBYE TO EAST LANSING AND THAT KIND OF THING AS A BAND THIS SEASON, BUT THEN THIS KIND OF THING IS JUST LIKE A DREAM THAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS -- FOR ME, AT LEAST.
[ HORNS PLAYING ]
[END]
[THIS VIDEO INCLUDES IMAGES OF THE MANDELA-PARKS EXHIBIT]
[THIS VIDEO OPENS WITH THE HOST JIM PECK STANDING OUTSIDE ON A FALL DAY]
JIM PECK: NELSON MANDELA AND ROSA PARKS ARE THE FOCUS OF AN MSU EXHIBIT IN AFRICA. IT REMINDS US HOW THE WORDS OF CHILDREN CAN SPEAK TO THE WORLD. THE MSU MUSEUM AND THE NELSON MANDELA MUSEUM IN SOUTH AFRICA CRAFTED THIS EXHIBIT TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE LIVES OF TWO HUMAN-RIGHTS LEADERS. NELSON MANDELA AND ROSA PARKS LIVED PARALLEL LIVES LOCKED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ON SEPARATE POINTS ON THE GLOBE. MANDELA WAS IMPRISONED IN SOUTH AFRICA AND EVENTUALLY ROSE TO LEAD HIS COUNTRY AS PRESIDENT. PARKS BECAME AN ICON OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WHEN SHE REFUSED TO GIVE UP HER SEAT ON THE BUS TO A WHITE MAN.
MARSHA MACDOWELL, CURATOR, MSU MUSEUM: THE INSPIRATION THAT THOSE LETTERS HOLD AND THE MESSAGES IN THOSE LETTERS ARE RATHER TIMELESS, JUST AS THE VALUES THAT MR. MANDELA AND MRS. PARKS STOOD UP FOR ARE ALSO TIMELESS. THE PASSION TO PURSUE DREAMS, TO PURSUE ISSUES, TO FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, TO STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM ARE ACTUALLY INSPIRATIONAL LESSONS AND PURSUITS THAT HAVE MEANING FOR MANY PEOPLE, YOUNG AND OLD AND ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
JIM PECK: ACROSS THE YEARS, CHILDREN HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS TO THESE TWO. NOW IT'S THE LETTERS WEAVING THEIR STORIES TOGETHER IN A RICH TAPESTRY OF A COMMON HISTORY. THE EXHIBIT OPENED IN SOUTH AFRICA ON NELSON MANDELA'S 90th BIRTHDAY. THESE PICTURES DON'T DO IT JUSTICE. TO REALLY FEEL THE IMPACT, YOU HAVE TO SEE IT IN PERSON. THE EXHIBIT IS A WAY TO EXTEND THE REACH OF THESE ICONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT IT IS THE WORDS THAT MATTER. AND THE FACT THAT THESE WORDS ARE THE WORDS OF CHILDREN WRITTEN TO THESE ELDERS OF OUR WORLD -- WELL, IT JUST MEANS THAT MUCH MORE.
VOICE OF YOUNG GIRL #1: "DEAR ROSA PARKS -- HOW DO YOU BECOME BRAVE WHEN YOU ARE A COWARD?"
[IMAGE OF A LETTER]
VOICE OF YOUNG GIRL #2: "DEAREST NELSON MANDELA -- I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON WINNING THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.”
[IMAGE OF A LETTER]
VOICE OF YOUNG BOY #1: "AT LAST, THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA CAN BE TREATED FAIRLY AND CAN AT LAST LOOK UP TO SOMEONE THEY TRULY ADMIRE.”
[IMAGE OF A LETTER]
VOICE OF YOUNG GIRL #3: "HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN THE COPS ARRESTED YOU FOR YOUR ACTIONS TAKEN IN THE BUS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN INNOCENT THING? HOW DID YOU GO THROUGH THAT TIME OF PAIN? HOW DOES IT FEEL TO START SOMETHING THAT HELPED BLACK PEOPLE AND EQUALITY IN A HUGE WAY? IT MUST TOUCH YOU IN A WAY YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN.”
[IMAGE OF A LETTER]
VOICE OF YOUNG GIRL #2: "FOR ME, IT IS REWARD ENOUGH THAT YOUR EFFORTS HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA. I HOLD YOU IN HIGHEST REGARDS AND HOPE THAT ONE DAY I WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD THE WAY YOU HAVE. ”
[IMAGE OF A LETTER]
VOICE OF A YOUNG BOY #2: "FOR ME, I AM ORIENTAL AND I HEAR LOTS OF JOKES AND COMMENTS ABOUT MY RACE, BUT I AM TOO AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR MYSELF BECAUSE I FEEL THAT I AM OUTNUMBERED.”
MACDOWELL: THE REASON FOR DOING THIS EXHIBITION WAS NOT ONLY TO BRING FORWARD THOSE LESSONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WERE THE VALUES AND THE MOTIVATIONS OF MRS. PARKS AND MR. MANDELA, BUT IT WAS ALSO TO REMIND YOUNGER GENERATIONS THAT THESE TWO TRAILBLAZERS EXISTED AND THAT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN TERMS OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE END OF APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA BECAUSE OF WHAT THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS DID. AND, YOU KNOW, HERE WE ARE WITH JUST A SIMPLE SET OF LETTERS -- AND BACK TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT WORKING IN MUSEUMS IS BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE THOSE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, THOSE PRIMARY MATERIALS AND, FROM THOSE, BE ABLE TO LAUNCH MAJOR INITIATIVES THAT CAN CHANGE PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES, CHANGE PEOPLE LIVES, EDUCATE THEM IN WAYS, AND THEY ALL GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MATERIALS THEMSELVES.
JIM PECK: THE MSU MUSEUM AND THE NELSON MANDELA MUSEUM WORKED AS ONE TO MAKE THE EXHIBIT A LIVING EXPERIENCE, ONE WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME, WHERE ALL ARE LED TO THINK ABOUT THE LONG ECHOES OF THE LIVES THESE TWO LIVED.
MACDOWELL: INDIVIDUALS YOUNG AND OLD, ELDERS, TRIBAL LEADERS, POLITICAL, CIVIC LEADERS, ACADEMICS FROM HIGHER EDUCATION WHO CAME INTO THAT EXHIBITION -- EVERY ONE OF THEM RESPONDED AND RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE INFORMATION THAT WAS THERE AND ALSO WERE MOTIVATED TO THINK ABOUT WAYS THAT THEY COULD USE THAT INFORMATION IN TEACHING AND EDUCATION IN THE AREA. MR. MANDELA HIMSELF WENT THROUGH THE EXHIBITION AND WAS EXTREMELY PLEASED AND TOUCHED BY THE PRESENTATION OF THE INFORMATION.
JIM PECK: IT'S A PROJECT FROM THE DEEP PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NELSON MANDELA MUSEUM AND MSU.
MACDOWELL: IF WE ARE GOING TO ENGAGE IN PRESENTING CULTURE, I REALLY DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF THAT CULTURAL COMMUNITY IN CONSTRUCTING WHATEVER IS THE WAY THAT WE WERE GOING TO INTERPRET THAT COMMUNITY OR SERVE THAT COMMUNITY. SO IT'S RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS AND THEN IT'S STRUCTURED AND CULTIVATED AND IMPLEMENTED WITH THE COMMUNITY INPUT.
KURT DEWHURST, DIRECTOR, MSU MUSEUM: YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT WAS BUILT, IN MANY WAYS, ON MANY OTHER PROJECTS AND EXPERIENCES OF WORKING, I THINK, RESPECTFULLY AND IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITIES IN A DIFFERENT WAY. PEOPLE USE "COMMUNITY" SO MUCH AS A KIND OF LOOSE, GENERAL TERM. BUT IT REALLY MEANS GIVING VOICE AND REALLY COMMITTING TO BEING IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST VISITING THE COMMUNITY.
JIM PECK: THIS EFFORT -- ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW MICHIGAN STATE CONNECTS TO THE WORLD. THE DEPTH OF THIS PRESENTATION GOES BEYOND THE BORDERS OF THE EXHIBIT ITSELF. THE LETTERS BRING DEEP THOUGHT AND GIVE DEEP MEANING TO THE ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
DEWHURST: BUT IT'S DEEP NOT JUST IN TERMS OF THE PROJECT ONE IS WORKING ON, BUT IT'S LONG-STANDING. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR COLLEAGUES IN SOUTH AFRICA SAY AS THEY CAME TO KNOW US IS THAT, "WELL, YOU KEEP COMING BACK, YOU KNOW? SO MANY OF OUR OTHER AMERICAN COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE COME OR COLLEAGUES FROM EUROPE AND OTHER PLACES -- THEY COME IN WITH THE ONE-TIME INTEREST, AND IT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE, BUT THEN THEY LEAVE.” WE ALWAYS REMIND PEOPLE THAT ONCE WE START WORKING TOGETHER, WE ANTICIPATE WE'LL BE WORKING TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME, AND THAT CHANGES THE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP.
JIM PECK: THIS EXHIBIT IS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT THE IDEA BEHIND IT IS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT NOT IMMEDIATELY SEE -- SUSTAINABILITY. MSU'S AFRICAN HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE IS A COMBINED EFFORT WITH AFRICAN EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO TACKLE PROBLEMS IN AFRICA.
DEWHURST: IT'S VERY MUCH ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, AND WE CAN LOOK AT SUSTAINABILITY ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LEVELS. I MEAN, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THIS WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND THAT'S LED TO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WITH THE MANDELA MUSEUM -- THAT GROWS OUT OF THAT TRAINING INITIATIVE, WHERE WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOUTH AFRICA. AND IT'S GRATIFYING FOR US BECAUSE WE SEE MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO TOOK PART IN THAT TRAINING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER ARE NOW IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT CULTURAL-HERITAGE INSTITUTIONS ALL ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA.
JIM PECK: THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS GOES ON. THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN AMERICA AND SOUTH AFRICA, BUT THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES. THIS COLLECTION POINTS OUT -- WE SHOULD NOT FORGET.
DEWHURST: PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO INSPIRE IS TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE TO WRITE LETTERS NOT TO MR. MANDELA OR MRS. PARKS NOW, BUT TO WRITE LETTERS TO PEOPLE WHO, IN THEIR LIVES, HAVE TOUCHED THEIR LIVES IN SOME WAY OR WHO THEY SEE SOME OF THE VALUES THAT MR. MANDELA OR MRS. PARKS EMBODIED AND TO GET THEM TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT MAKES REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS LIKE THIS STAND OUT AND BECOME SUCH IMPORTANT KIND OF BAROMETERS FOR A BETTER WORLD.
MACDOWELL: YOUNGER KIDS HAVE GROWN UP IN A FREE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR PARENTS ACTUALLY LIVED A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF EXPERIENCE THAN THEY HAD. SO YEAH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THIS IS HISTORY, THIS IS A HISTORICAL RECORD THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF. AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE PLACES IN THE WORLD WHERE THERE ARE GREAT VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO HAVE RIGHTS, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OF.
JIM PECK: THIS EXHIBIT WILL TAKE THESE LETTERS AROUND THE WORLD, AND IT WILL BE DIGITIZED AND PUT ONLINE.
VOICE OF YOUNG GIRL #4: "I WISH OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE GUTS THAT YOU HAD A LONG TIME AGO. MAYBE THIS RACISM WOULD HAVE STOPPED.”
[END]
[THIS VIDEO INCLUDES IMAGES OF RUMBA SINFóNICA]
[THIS VIDEO OPENS WITH THE HOST JIM PECK OUTSIDE ON A FALL DAY}
JIM PECK: LATIN RHYTHMS HAVE A WAY OF GETTING UNDER YOUR SKIN, AND ONE OF THE HOTTEST CUBAN BANDS CAME TO PLAY WITH THE MSU SYMPHONY. IT MEANT SOME MUCH-NEEDED HEAT TO CHILLY EAST LANSING.
[ RUMBA MUSIC PLAYING ]
JIM PECK: THE WORLD OF MUSIC IS HERE AT MSU. YOU MIGHT THINK THE MSU SYMPHONY AND A HOT CUBAN BAND ARE UNLIKELY PARTNERS. YOU'D BE WRONG.
RICARDO LORENZ, ASSOC. PROF. COLLEGE OF MUSIC/MSU: "RUMBA SINFóNICA" -- IT MEANS RUMBA, THE STYLE OF DANCE MUSIC FROM CUBA. SINFóNICA IS SPANISH FOR "SYMPHONIC.” SO IN ENGLISH, IT TRANSLATES TO "SYMPHONIC RUMBA.”
RAPHAEL JIMENEZ, ASSOC. DIR. OF ORCHESTRAS/MSU: THE TERM RUMBA IDENTIFIES A PARTICULAR GENRE OF LATIN MUSIC. BUT ALSO THE WORD RUMBA, IN SOME COUNTRIES, LIKE IN VENEZUELA, WHERE I GREW UP, MEANS "PARTY.”
[ RUMBA MUSIC PLAYS ] [IMAGE OF PEOPLE DANCING TO MUSIC]
JIMENEZ: SO YOU GO TO A RUMBA -- "WE HAVE A RUMBA TONIGHT" IS "WE HAVE A PARTY TONIGHT.”
[ MUSIC CONTINUES ] [IMAGE OF PEOPLE DANCING TO MUSIC]
JIMENEZ: SO THE WORD HAS ASSOCIATION WITH PARTY, WITH GOING REALLY, YOU KNOW, CRAZY DANCING AND HAVING FUN. SO THE WORD HAS A NICE DOUBLE MEANING.
JIM PECK: PROFESSOR RICARDO LORENZ COMPOSED "RUMBA SINFóNICA," A BLEND OF SYMPHONY AND LATIN RHYTHMS. HE WORKED WITH ONE OF THE BEST CUBAN BANDS -- TIEMPO LIBRE.
JIMENEZ: TIEMPO LIBRE IS A GROUP OF TIMBA -- AS I MENTIONED, THIS HYPERACTIVE CONTEMPORARY SALSA MUSIC. AND THEY ARE ALL CUBANS, AND THIS MUSIC WAS BORN PRETTY MUCH IN CUBA. AND THEY IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES AND THEY GOT TOGETHER IN MIAMI PLAYING MUSIC WHENEVER THEY HAD FREE TIME -- SO WHENEVER THEY HAD TIEMPO LIBRE. AND THAT'S HOW THEY GOT THIS NAME.
[ RUMBA MUSIC PLAYING ]
JIMENEZ: THEY WERE NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY AND HAVE BEEN DOING A REALLY NICE JOB WITH THIS CONTEMPORARY STYLE THAT MIXES SALSA, REGGAETON, RAP -- MIXES SEVERAL THINGS. AND IT HAPPENS THAT COMPOSER RICARDO LORENZ SAW THEM GIVING A MASTER CLASS AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY, AND HE JUST GOT THIS BRILLIANT IDEA OF WRITING SOMETHING THAT WILL UNITE TIEMPO LIBRE WITH A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
LORENZ: I LIKE TO SEE THIS PROJECT AS A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THESE TWO WORLDS, A DEBATE OF IDEAS AND CONCEPTS AND WAYS OF PLAYING, TOO. THERE'S SOMETHING IN MUSIC THAT WE CALL MUSIC PRACTICE, AND IT'S THE WAY INSTRUMENTS ARE PLAYED. IT IS THE WAY MUSIC IS CONVEYED. CLASSICAL MUSIC IS CONVEYED THROUGH MUSIC NOTATION, SORT OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN BACK -- NOTES AND KEY SIGNATURES AND SO ON. POPULAR MUSIC IS CONVEYED ORALLY. WELL, THESE TWO WORLDS COME TOGETHER IN "RUMBA SINFóNICA," AND YOU DON'T GET THAT VERY OFTEN. SO, IN THAT SENSE, TOO, IT'S A MERGING OF THESE TWO WORLDS. AND IN THAT SENSE, IT'S A DIALOGUE, TOO. HOW DOES NOTATED MUSIC DIALOGUE WITH ORALLY TRANSMITTED MUSIC?
JIMENEZ: IN THIS CASE, IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS IN MICHIGAN TO PLAY A PIECE WRITTEN BY A LATIN-AMERICAN COMPOSER, PERFORMED BY A WONDERFUL LATIN-AMERICAN GROUP, AND CONDUCTED BY A CONDUCTOR THAT GREW UP IN LATIN AMERICA. SO THIS IS THE REAL THING. THEY ARE BEING EXPOSED TO THE REAL MUSIC, THE REAL LATIN-AMERICAN MUSIC.
LORENZ: IT'S A HOMECOMING FOR THIS PIECE. THE WORK WAS PREMIERED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO -- A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO IN MINNESOTA, WITH THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA, AND SINCE THEN, IT HAS BEEN TOURING THE U.S. AND CANADA.
JIM PECK: THE REHEARSALS HELP GET IT RIGHT. EVERYONE IS EXCITED FOR THE BIG PERFORMANCE HERE AT THE WHARTON CENTER ON CAMPUS, BUT THE GUYS IN TIEMPO LIBRE AREN'T JUST HERE TO PERFORM. THEY'RE ALSO HERE OPENING THE EARS OF STUDENTS IN AN UNTRADITIONAL MASTER CLASS.
MAN #1: THE DIFFERENCE -- YOU HAVE TO PLAY MORE -- MORE STACCATO.
MAN #2: OKAY.
LORENZ: AND WHEN I SAW THIS PHENOMENON -- IT'S NOT LIKE A METHODICAL MASTER CLASS, BUT THE PIANO WAS HERE IN ONE CORNER, THE CONGA PLAYER WAS NEXT TO HIM WITH A GROUP OF CONGA PLAYERS, THE BASS PLAYER WAS IN THE OTHER CORNER, AND IT WAS JUST THIS CACOPHONY OF THINGS HAPPENING AND INFORMATION GOING BACK AND FORTH.
MAN #1: YOU PLAY WITH ALL THE TIME CHANGING, CHANGING, CHANGING, CHANGING. VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD.
JIMENEZ: THAT CREATES A NICE PARTICIPATION, NICE ENVIRONMENT IN THE MASTER CLASS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
JIM PECK: IT'S A BIG EVENT FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. IT'S PERSONAL FOR COMPOSER RICARDO LORENZ. IT'S A MEANINGFUL NIGHT.
LORENZ: THIS IS WHERE I WORK. I KNOW ALL THE MUSICIANS THAT PERFORM IN THE ORCHESTRA. THEY'RE ALL STUDENTS FROM MICHIGAN STATE. AND IT'S A VERY UNIQUE NOT ONLY ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE, BUT PEDAGOGICAL EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED. IT BRINGS TWO WORLDS THAT VERY RARELY GET TO MEET ONSTAGE -- THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND A GROUP OF CUBAN MUSICIANS -- AND PHENOMENALLY ENERGETIC AT DOING THAT. SO IN THAT SENSE, IT'S A UNIQUE PROJECT.
JIMENEZ: TO ME, THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA -- IT'S LIKE THE MOST WONDERFUL INSTRUMENT. WE HAVE ALL THE COLORS AND EVERYTHING TOGETHER. WE HAVE SO MANY POSSIBILITIES. SO NOW IT'S EVEN ADDING ANOTHER COLLECTION OF COLORS TO THIS MUSIC WHEN YOU ADD THIS CUBAN GROUP. SO IT'S REALLY A KALEIDOSCOPE OF SOUND. SO IT'S REALLY NICE.
[ RUMBA MUSIC PLAYING ]
MEN SINGING: BAILE DE CONGO RUMBA, BAILE DE CONGO RUMBA.
[ MUSIC ENDS ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
JIM PECK: FOR LORENZ, THIS APPLAUSE IS SWEET INDEED. AND THE PERFORMANCE.
LORENZ: REALLY PHENOMENAL. I WAS REALLY EXCITED, 'CAUSE IT SOUNDED SO GOOD AND IT SPEAKS SO HIGHLY OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE AT MSU. TO SEE IT HAPPENING AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL -- IN FACT, THE MSU PERFORMANCE, TO ME, SOUNDED BETTER THAN SOME OF THESE PERFORMANCES I HEARD BY PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRAS. THAT'S A LOT TO SAY, AND IT MAKES THE ENTIRE WORK THAT I DO HERE SO MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT.
JIM PECK: THIS PRESENTATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, AMERICA'S PREMIER LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION -- 150 YEARS OF ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE, TRANSFORMING LIVES.
[ RUMBA MUSIC PLAYING ]
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BIG TEN NETWORK.
[END]
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