ENTERTAINMENT
Nube elicits happy sighs in concert
Nube, "music for a new millenium," was well received in Lewistown last week. Photo by Meryl Rygg McKenna by Meryl Rygg McKenna
News-Argus Staff WriterNube arrived in Lewistown last week in time for the third show in this season’s Community Concert series. Its four members brought with them the sounds of South America in native acoustic instrumentation, rhythm and vocal harmony. Audience members talked after the concert about closing their eyes and simply listening, riding the mellow sounds.
The music Nube presented forms the soundtrack for “The Golden Bird,“ a South American story of Urubamba and his mysterious journey across geographical areas and historical transformations. At the heart of the story is a quest for peace and acceptance of change in the world.
If Nube’s program notes had arrived earlier, audience members would have had short explanations of each musical piece, starting with “In the Beginning,” depicting the mysterious creation of Earth. The music follows Urubamba, a beloved and wise healer, as he journeys to the mountaintop in search of water (“All water is the same; it all comes together in one place”) and answers for his people. It continues with his subsequent flight on the golden bird – through rainforest, plateaus, the arrival of the Spanish conquerors and the emergence of modern cities. Fundamental to the story are gratitude and a deep call for unity and understanding – and to trust the flow of history.
“Walk through peace
Walk through love
Surrender your spirit
And all is found.”
The narration of “The Golden Bird” was written by Nicolas Carter (Nube’s harpist) in collaboration with Renato Lombardi (guitar player) and Clem and Elizabeth Nagel. Lombardi and Carter also wrote most of the music, incorporating traditional styles from the Andes Mountains, Brazilian songs, Paraguayan harp music and a milonga from Argentina.
Nube’s ability to represent urgency and tranquility, water, fire and earth was a refreshing delight.
“Now is the time for all people to work together,” Nube said. And who would argue with that?Copyright © 2010 - Lewistown News-Argus
Meryl Rygg McKenna - Lewistown News-Argus (Feb 25, 2010)
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