NOW HEAR THIS with SERGIO ASSAD!
 

This past week Arcomusical had the distinct honor to collaborate with famed Brazilian guitarist and composer, Sergio Assad for a video taping of an episode of the PBS program, "Now Hear This." The episode will feature Sergio Assad in numerous contexts and is part of a three-part series that will spotlight successful immigrant composers in the United States.

In the early 1980's, Mr. Assad and his brother Odair, launched a famous career as the Assad Brothers, a classical guitar duo that has filled decades with beautiful music making and creativity at the highest professional and artistic level. 

For this special opportunity, Sergio asked Arcomusical Artistic Director Gregory Beyer about collaborating on a co-composition that would bring Sergio's gorgeous guitar playing together with Arcomusical's unique sound scape. The two succeeded in writing the first of what promises to be a series of collaborative works together.

This quartet for guitar and three berimbaus (played by Gregory Beyer, Ethan Martin, and Noel Streacker) will be featured in a segment of the PBS series featuring classical music, Now Hear This in the spring of 2022.

Additionally, the producers of Now Hear This asked to contextualize the berimbau in Brazilian capoeira. Our new friends at Gingarte, Chicago's oldest capoeira school, led by Mestra Marisa, were able to create an incredible spectacle for the episode, in the beautiful capoeira space of Axé Capoeira Chicago, directed by ContraMestre Bambu. Salve Mestra Marisa! Salve capoeira! Salve todos os mestres!
 

In short, this is going to be INCREDIBLE. Stay tuned for more news when we know the airing date!

NEW VIDEO FEATURING ARCOMUSICAL BRASIL!!
 

The music of our brothers and sisters in Arcomusical Brasil is featured in a new video by Iáiá Drummond, "Canto para Oxum e Iemanjá."

Oxum and Iemanjá are two Afro-Brazilian goddesses, Oxum representing freshwater and Iemanjá representing the oceans. A beautiful tribute to the power and life force of women everywhere, Drummond's wonderful vision for the video features a gorgeous collection of self-identifying women dancing freely to the soundtrack.

The arrangement for this beautiful song is by Arcomusical Brasil's own Natália Mitre! 

We couldn't be more proud of Natália and of Arcomusical Brasil. What a wonderful tribute to the power of what the musical bow can be!!!

 

Arcomusical's next gig is coming right up! Next Monday at 12PM the Arcomusical trio (Gregory Beyer, Ethan Martin, Elena Ross) will be playing "Um Dois Três!" a fun, interactive family program at Lord's Park Zoo in Elgin featuring new solos, duos, and trios from the Arcomusical repertoire.

This concert is organized by our friends at Chamber Music on the Fox, and we are deeply grateful to them for asking us to play in this beautiful location full of trees, sun, and community. 

Come out if you are in the area! Bring your lunch and spend an hour with Arcomusical!