BMCC Modern Languages Colloquium Set for April 4

The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) Modern Languages Department is getting ready for its 19^th annual Colloquium set for April 4, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. in Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers Street. This year’s colloquium is called Music of the World: World of Music.

The event will celebrate music traditions from around the world. Several musicians, artists and professors will showcase the music of Italy, from classical to contemporary; the music of the Arab world, from secular to sacred; the French Chanson, both ancient and modern; the rhythms of the Spanish-speaking world, and finally, the music of China, its evolution through the ages.

“The colloquium will be devoted to issues that impact the music industry across the globe, and how languages and cultures are intimately involved in this topic. We are inviting experts in the field and musicians to share with the BMCC community their practices and understanding of such an important subject,” said event organizer and Modern Languages Professor Alejandro Varderi.

Sharing culture is just as important as sharing a language, he said. The colloquium is an open window to the world and a platform where the college community can discuss their views on the topics at hand, Varderi and other organizers of the event say.

Varderi says BMCC community members will identify with some of the activities. Students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to participate in dialogue about music from a historical, social and political perspective.

This year’s tentative schedule includes:

• 9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Welcome
• 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Italy and Its Music: The Classical versus the Contemporary with Lisa Sarti and Kristina Varade, Co-Chairs.
• 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Arabic Music: From Secular to Sacred
• 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. The French Chanson: The Ancient and the Modern
• 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Brownbag Lunch and Film
• 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Rhythms of the Spanish-Speaking World: A Wide Diversity of Genres and Styles with velin Gamarra-Martínez and Sophie Mariñez,
• 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. China: Music Evolution through the Ages Chun-Yi Peng and Ling Luo, Co-Chairs.