36
GET OUT
THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 27, 2021
Chandler, EV musicians mark orchestra’s 10th year BY SRIANTHI PERERA Contributor
T
he Pangean Orchestra, which highlights instruments and music from around the world, is celebrating its 10th year with a virtual concert. “We are grateful for the opportunity to kick off America’s birthday with a celebration of life, liberty, and our pursuit of happiness,” said Colin O’Donohoe, founder and a resident of Chandler. The concert will be livestreamed at 7 p.m. July 3 via Facebook Live at fb.me/ e/1nGOrik8y. Although no tickets are being sold, viewers are encouraged and expected to donate what they can afford through the group’s website, thepangeanorchestra.com. More than 20 musicians, playing world instruments such as Ngoni, Guzheng, Kaval and Santour, will perform alongside symphonic winds, a jazz rhythm section and diverse percussion. Kathak dancing and break dancing will enhance the show. “It is our largest and best ensemble since our 2010 inaugural performance,” said O’Donohoe. “We have universally suffered through this pandemic, let’s celebrate universally.” The music spotlights pieces from countries such as Burkina Faso, Burundi, Iran, Turkey, Brazil and Japan. Some are original while others are traditional pieces that have been arranged specifically for the ensemble. They include “Djelika” from Mali, “Ar Erinn Ni Neosfainn Ce Hi” from Ireland and “Bahudaari Jathiswaram” from India. The Pangean Orchestra, also known earlier as The Immigrant Orchestra, has a mission to unite people and promote world peace with the language of music. Since its founding in 2010, it has performed in the East Valley, New York and Turkey. Now an official nonprofit, the group continues to attract talent and volun-
The Pangean Orchestra plays a concert at the Tempe History Museum. The next virtual concert, on July 3, kicks off America’s birthday. (Courtesy of Tempe History Museum) teers. O’Donohoe said the forthcoming concert’s theme recognizes that we are “one people.” “Acknowledge our differences and biases and work through them with the very people you may be wary of,” he said. “When people of diverse backgrounds unite towards a common cause, the results are astounding. We want to be a unifying force.” Tempe History Museum is Pangean’s unofficial home venue and has hosted its concerts to full houses since the beginning. With positive show themes and diverse sets of musicians, curator Dan Miller said it’s a good fit for the community history museum’s performance series. The July 3 virtual concert will be played at the museum. “We (staff and our audience) always look forward to seeing and hearing the veterans of the group and the newcomers,” Miller said. “It’s nice to be thought of as a group’s home – they are sort of
our house band.” New Pangean member Wen Wu came from China to Tempe in 2012 for a master’s degree and a doctorate in music at Arizona State University. Wu didn’t speak any English at the beginning. Music is a universal language and the Pangean Orchestra is a true example of its universality, she said. “I had trouble in class, communicating with others, or even just ordering food. But I never had any trouble playing in band,” she said. “Now that my English got better, I find that in many situations, I don’t need words to communicate.” Wu said she’s “not totally surprised” that the Pangean Orchestra has been around for a decade. It uses the simplest way – music – to bring people together, she said. “It’s diverse, because of the variety of cultural backgrounds. It’s also uniform because we are all using instruments to express feelings.” Nita Mallya is a Bharatanatyam dancer and a choreographer in Chandler who has worked with Pangean almost since
its inception. She collaborated with O’Donohoe to perform a dance routine in 2011 during the first concert. “It is a pleasure working for someone who is just as passionate about the art; he loves music and I love dance and we come together and work on a common ground and create something beautiful,” she said. Due to a foot injury, Mallya’s senior dancer, Prarthana Prasad, will perform at this concert. “The Pangean Orchestra is an amazing team of world music which erases borders, color, creed or any political difference. We artists who love putting our minds together to create something to entertain,” Mallya said. Wu plays the clarinet and a Chinese wind instrument called the Hulusi. “It sounds like a person humming to me. Every time I play this instrument, I have this calm, peaceful image in my head, with river, mountain, fog, trees, bamboo raft, egret,” she said, adding “But my Hulusi also has two vents that create harmonies, like an organ.” As much as the musicians build on the musical components of their work, communicating their unifying message takes precedence. “The music is nice, but it’s the thoughts as you walk away and ponder that stick with you. If this group can make great music from all different tunings and music systems, why can’t we ‘just all get along?’” Miller said. O’Donohoe said: “We are living through a time of intensely increasing tribalism. Quarantine accompanied by a fact-optional internet is a deadly mix. Like the continents before us, we are drifting apart from one another.” “We acknowledge that differences among people are natural,” he continued. “We choose to let those differences enhance our ensemble.” Details: thepangeanorchestra.com.
