Bates College series features American roots, opera, and Indonesian and classical music

LEWISTON – The 2007-08 Bates College Concert Series is bringing American roots music and the sounds of Indonesian gamelan to the campus in coming months, along with some distinguished classical musicians.

The season-opener is a concert by Inon Barnatan, a young pianist described by a London Evening Standard critic as “refined, searching and unfailingly communicative.” His appearance is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall.

Also featured in this season’s concert series are Gamelan Galak Tika, a Boston-area ensemble performing the gamelan music of Bali, Indonesia, on Friday, Dec. 7; acclaimed opera singers Kelly Kaduce, soprano, and Lee Gregory, baritone, on Saturday, Feb. 9; and the popular American roots band The Holmes Brothers on Saturday, March 1.

“Our process is to have each committee member bring one or more artists/ensembles they would like to see come to Bates to the table for discussion. The committee then decides collectively on the final program,” explained Gina Fatone, chair of the the Bates Concert Committee.

For his Oct. 13 performance, Barnatan will play sonatas by Haydn, Barber and Schubert. He will hold a master class at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 14.

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, 27 years ago and now a resident of New York City, Barnatan started playing piano at age 4 and made his orchestral debut at 11. He has built a flourishing reputation through orchestral, recital and chamber performances worldwide and is praised for his poetic and passionate playing and his thoughtful programming.

Recent seasons have brought him to Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the Musikverein in Vienna and the Arts Theatre in Shanghai.

His debut CD, a Schubert collection for Bridge Records, was released in June 2006 to critical applause. Also in 2006, Barnatan devised a project of compositions from Schubert’s last year of life that he will present this season with the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and guest artists.

‘Intense togetherness’

The Dec. 7 program of Indonesian music features Gamelan Galak Tika, the Boston area’s foremost Balinese gamelan (a term denoting the large bronze percussion orchestras of Java and Bali, Indonesia). The group performs traditional and modern Balinese dance and music, and develops innovative works that cross borders and defy genres.

Fatone, who is assistant professor of music, is also director of the Bates Gamelan Orchestra. She said the music department at Bates received a beautiful new bronze gamelan from West Java this past February, which had its debut at a concert last March.

Often before a gamelan performance, the musicians share a ritual meal called a selamatan. Bates will prepare a selamatan for Gamelan Galak Tika, and student members of The Bates College Gamelan Orchestra will be invited to join the event.

“We are planning to host a noted Indonesian composer this coming winter semester who will perform with our gamelan in March,” Fatone said.

There is no direct connection between the Bates gamelan and Galak Tika. Galak Tika performs music from Bali or inspired by Balinese music, while music of the Bates orchestras are Javanese and Sundanese.

“Galak Tika is a tremendous inspiration for our students, and any kind of exchange that can be arranged between Bates and this fabulous group is golden,” Fatone said.

The name “Galak Tika” is classical Javanese for “intense togetherness.”

The ensemble draws its 30 or so members from MIT students as well as staff and community, and it functions in the tradition of a Balinese village “sekeha,” with decisions made communally and responsibilities shared among participants. Its first Bates appearance was in 2004.

Young opera stars

The February program of Kaduce and Gregory will include works by Granados, Debussy and Grieg, as well as operatic arias and duets.

“It was suggested that bringing rising young opera stars Kelly Kaduce and Lee Gregory to Bates would add some variety to our classical offerings, which tend to focus on instrumentalists,” Fatone said.

She noted that Kaduce and Gregory have been married for seven years and they do not typically have the opportunity to share the stage. They are award-winning rising stars in the opera world and are in demand on concert and recital stages throughout the United States.

Unique brand of blues

An acclaimed blues and roots band, The Holmes Brothers mixes Saturday night roadhouse rock with the gospel fervor of a Sunday church service.

“We all agreed that The Holmes Brothers brand of blues would make a great addition to the lineup and perhaps attract greater student interest in the concert series,” Fatone said.

Sherman (bassist-vocalist) and Wendell (guitarist-pianist-vocalist) Holmes grew up in Virginia. In 1963, the brothers formed The Sevilles, a group that lasted only three years but backed such touring artists as the Impressions, John Lee Hooker and Jerry Butler.

After The Sevilles broke up, Sherman, Wendell and fellow Virginian Popsy Dixon (drummer-vocalist) played together and apart in various bands until 1979, when they formed The Holmes Brothers.

All Bates Concert Series performances take place at 8 p.m. in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, 75 Russell St.

Except for The Holmes Brothers, admission for each program is $10 for adults, $3 for students. Holmes Brothers admission is $15/$5. For reservations and more information, call 786-6135 or log on to www.abacus.bates.edu/concerts/index.html.