January 23, 2020 -- Cultural Content
Dear Friends,

Belated wishes for the new (or new-ish) year ahead! Despite icy sidewalks and apocalyptic headlines, here at PPL we’re looking steadfastly and sunnily ahead to incipient spring and our grand reopening events – details are coming soon. While waiting, we’re countering the general chill by hosting and supporting communal gatherings here and around town for conversation, music, and readings – just what the season calls for. Won’t you join us?

On Wednesday, January 29 we’ll welcome Community MusicWorks Resident Musician Jesse Holstein and members of the MusicWorks Collective for an evening of exploration, performance, and conversation on the topic of "Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation” in the works of composers Debussy, Bartók, and Zhou Long. This event is free, and takes place in the beautiful, intimate setting of our Grand Balcony, there are very limited seats available - I encourage you to register here now! This event will give you context for The MusicWorks Collective’s concert of quartets by these composers on February 1 at the Granoff Center at Brown, read more and reserve your free tickets here .

On Sunday, January 26, FirstWorks will present the inimitable Aurea Ensemble ’s Of Nature Composed at the First Unitarian Church in Providence, featuring music by Pulitzer Prize winner John Adams, composers Charles Griffes, John Cage, Lou Harrison, and Charles Ives; Pulitzer Prize winning poet Galway Kinnell; former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser; and naturalists Henry David Thoreau and John Muir. Firstworks has generously extended a 20% discount on tickets to PPL friends; just use the discount code PULITZER at checkout. Learn more and purchase tickets here .

And as a proud member of the Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading Committee, PPL is thrilled to invite you to join us at the Providence Career and Technical Academy on Sunday, February 2 from 1 to 4 pm for the 25th Annual Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading ! Readings by community members are accompanied by music from Becky Bass and Friends. This signature event is not to be missed!

So – bundle up and make your way forth! The world is alive with promise and possibility.

As always, thanks for reading,

Christina Bevilacqua
Programs & Exhibitions Director
Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation: A Pre-Concert Event presented in collaboration with Community MusicWorks
Wednesday, January 29
PPL, 225 Washington Street, Providence
6 pm reception; 6:30 pm discussion and performance |  Register

Free and open to the public!
 
The line between cultural appropriation and appreciation in music can sometimes be difficult to navigate and distinguish. When does a cultural reference in a piece of music go beyond respectfully honoring another culture or heritage and border into exoticism or spectacle? Can music be appropriative if the composer is referencing their own culture?

Join us for a discussion led by CMW Resident Musician Jesse Holstein on the topic of "Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation" in anticipation of the Saturday, February 1st concert at the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts.  W e'll discuss these challenging topics while looking at three works for string quartet that are inspired or influenced by indigenous folk music. Excerpts from works by Debussy, Bartók, and Zhou Long will be performed by the MusicWorks Collective.
 
Join Community MusicWorks for a performance of the full works by Debussy, Bartók, and Zhou Long at a concert on Saturday, February 1 at the Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts at Brown University. Admission is free, more information and reservations here .
25th Annual Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading
Sunday, February 2 | 1 - 4 pm
Providence Career & Technical Academy
41 Fricker Street, Providence

Free and open to all

Langston Hughes’ poems, dating from the Harlem Renaissance through the 1960s, continue to resonate today. These powerful, poignant, and often amusing works are read aloud by members of the community, accompanied by Becky Bass and Friends. Refreshments will follow the reading.

PPL is a proud member of the Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading Committee.