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New Harmonies
October 2009 “New Harmonies” exhibit opens Oct. 15 in Omaha
“New Harmonies:
Celebrating American Roots Music,” a traveling exhibit developed by the
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit Service
Through roots music, “New Harmonies” celebrates the quintessential American values of freedom, democracy, independence, diversity, and ingenuity. Roots music embraces folk, country, blues, gospel, jazz, bluegrass, rock and roll, rap, and more.
This is the sixth and final stop of the statewide tour, which began in March in Alliance. Each site has developed public humanities programming related to the exhibit’s theme and created events and activities to encourage public participation.
Among special activities planned in Omaha is an opening event at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15, featuring the music of Omaha jazz icon Luigi Waites. A drummer, vibraphonist and music educator, Waites played in the house bands of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington, and his band opened for the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton.
In addition to his own contributions to the jazz scene, Waites has been instrumental in teaching Omaha’s young musicians. One of his early protégés was Victor Lewis, now a world-renowned jazz drummer living in New York City. In 1996, Waites was named Nebraska artist of the year by the Nebraska Arts Council. He was inducted into the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame in 2005.
“New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” is made possible in Nebraska with support from Cornhusker Press, a division of Dutton Lainson Company, the Berman Music Foundation, The Nebraska Rural Radio Network—KRVN, KTIC, and KNEB, Brown Transfer Company, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and the “We the People” initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
August 2009 “New Harmonies” exhibit opens Sept. 3 in Valentine
“New Harmonies:
Celebrating American Roots Music,” a traveling exhibition developed by the
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit Service and presented in
The exhibit will be housed through Oct. 11 in the Cherry County Historical Society Museum.
The exhibit tours six Nebraska sites through December 31, and celebrates—through roots music—the quintessential American values of freedom, democracy, independence, diversity, and ingenuity. Roots music embraces folk, country, blues, gospel, jazz, bluegrass, rock and roll, rap, and more.
Each site will develop public humanities programming related to the exhibit’s theme and create events and activities to encourage public participation.
The historical society will host an open house Sept. 9, from 7-9 p.m. Visitors to Valentine’s 18th Annual Nebraska Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Old West Days will have an opportunity Oct. 1-3 to view the exhibition, including its country music section featuring singing cowboys.
“New Harmonies” also will be on display Oct. 18-Dec. 31 at Loves Jazz & Arts Center in Omaha.
“New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” is made possible in Nebraska with support from Cornhusker Press, a division of Dutton Lainson Company, the Berman Music Foundation, The Nebraska Rural Radio Network—KRVN, KTIC, and KNEB, Brown Transfer Company, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and the “We the People” initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
July 2009 “New Harmonies” exhibit opens Aug. 4 in Kearney
“New Harmonies:
Celebrating American Roots Music,” a traveling
The exhibit tours six Nebraska sites through December 31, and celebrates—through roots music—the quintessential American values of freedom, democracy, independence, diversity, and ingenuity. Roots music embraces folk, country, blues, gospel, jazz, bluegrass, rock and roll, rap, and more.
Each site will develop public humanities programming related to the exhibit’s theme and create events and activities to encourage public participation.
The Buffalo County Historical Society, with support from the Kearney Area Arts Council, Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Humanities Council and area businesses, will present “Pilgrim—Classic Country Revue” 6-8 p.m. Aug. 15 at Trails & Rails Museum. Local musicians Mike Adams, Karen Earhart, Terry Sinnard, and Craig Link will be joined by Milt Myers and Cristina Seaborn to explore the evolution of country music (one of the musical forms explored in the “New Harmonies” exhibit) from its beginnings in 1920s American folk music through early Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Wills’ western swing, and Sons of the Pioneers through classics by Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb to the classic country era of the 1950s and 1960s.
“New Harmonies” also will be on display at Cherry County Historical Society Museum in Valentine (Sept. 3-Oct. 11), and Loves Jazz & Arts Center in Omaha (Oct. 18-Dec. 31).
“New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” is made possible in Nebraska with support from Cornhusker Press, a division of Dutton Lainson Company, the Berman Music Foundation, The Nebraska Rural Radio Network—KRVN, KTIC, and KNEB, Brown Transfer Company, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and the “We the People” initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
May 2009 New Harmonies” exhibit opens June 13 in Columbus
“New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music,” a traveling
exhibition developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit Service
and presented in
The exhibit tours six Nebraska sites through December 31, and celebrates—through roots music—the quintessential American values of freedom, democracy, independence, diversity, and ingenuity. Roots music embraces folk, country, blues, gospel, jazz, bluegrass, rock and roll, rap, and more.
Each site will develop public humanities programming related to the exhibit’s theme and create events and activities to encourage public participation.
The historical society will sponsor two evenings of LawnChairs on the Square in conjunction with the New Harmonies exhibit. On July 2, the 1st Nebraska Volunteer Civil War Band, a 60-piece, 1860s reenactment band dressed in period costume, will play music of the Civil War era, followed by the Consonaires singing blues, country, jazz, rock, gospel, and folk music.
On July 16, the Mark Vhylidal Band will provide polka, big band, blues, country and rock music. LawnChairs on the Square is held every Thursday night from June through mid-August in downtown Columbus’s Frankfort Square starting at 7 pm.
“New Harmonies” also will be on display at Kearney’s Trails & Rails Museum (Aug. 4-29), Cherry County Historical Society Museum in Valentine (Sept. 3-Oct. 11), and Loves Jazz & Arts Center in Omaha (Oct. 18-Dec. 31).
“New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” is made possible in Nebraska with support from Cornhusker Press, a division of Dutton Lainson Company, the Berman Music Foundation, The Nebraska Rural Radio Network—KRVN, KTIC, and KNEB, Brown Transfer Company, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and the “We the People” initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
April 2009 New Harmonies” exhibit opens May 1 in Cambridge
“New Harmonies:
Celebrating American Roots Music,” a traveling exhibition developed by the
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit Service and presented in
The exhibit tours six Nebraska sites through December 31, and celebrates—through roots music—the quintessential American values of freedom, democracy, independence, diversity, and ingenuity. Roots music embraces folk, country, blues, gospel, jazz, bluegrass, rock and roll, rap, and more.
Each site will develop public humanities programming related to the exhibit’s theme and create events and activities to encourage public participation. Among activities planned in Cambridge is a special opening event at 2 p.m. May 2.
“New Harmonies” also will be on display at the Platte County Historical Society Museum in Columbus (June 13-July 24), Kearney’s Trails & Rails Museum (Aug. 4-29), Cherry County Historical Society Museum in Valentine (Sept. 3-Oct. 11), and Loves Jazz & Arts Center in Omaha (Oct. 18-Dec. 31).
“New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” is made possible in Nebraska with support from Cornhusker Press, a division of Dutton Lainson Company, the Berman Music Foundation, The Nebraska Rural Radio Network—KRVN, KTIC, and KNEB, Brown Transfer Company, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and the “We the People” initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
April 2009 “Nebraska Companion" documents state's music history
Nebraska’s rich music history is documented in a Nebraska Humanities Council (NHC) publication produced as a companion to the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibition “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.”
“The origins and history of music in Nebraska are as rich as our state itself. From the earliest days of the Native Americans and their religious tribal songs to the music of today’s generation, music has served the citizens of our state in happy and sad times, in work and in play, and in celebration and defeat,” writes Robin Koozer, professor of music and department chair at Hastings College, in the introduction to the new 36-page publication.
Brought to the state by the NHC, the Smithsonian exhibition celebrates through roots music the quintessential American values of freedom, democracy, independence, diversity, and ingenuity; and explores the origins and development of spirituals, gospel, country, bluegrass, blues, tejano, polka and more.
As state scholar for the 2009 Nebraska tour of “New Harmonies,” Koozer worked with many contributors to highlight Nebraska while complementing the exhibition’s national focus.
“The Nebraska Companion” samples the state’s music history and explores such topics as barbershop music, the 80 years of the Hastings Symphony, Nebraska’s heritage of jazz, the tradition of community and fraternal bands, music of the pioneer days, tributes to the local piano teacher, the enduring qualities of Native American music, and the renaissance of Nebraska’s opera houses.
“New Harmonies” will visit Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in Alliance (through April 23), Cambridge Museum (May 1-June 7), Platte County Historical Society Museum in Columbus (June 13-July 24), Kearney’s Trails & Rails Museum (Aug. 4-29), Cherry County Historical Society Museum in Valentine (Sept. 3-Oct. 11), and Loves Jazz & Arts Center in Omaha (Oct. 18-Dec. 31).
To receive a copy of “The Nebraska Companion” by mail, send $2 for postage and handling to NHC, 215 Centennial Mall South, Suite 330, Lincoln, NE 68508.
Additional sponsors of the Nebraska tour of “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” include the Berman Music Foundation, The Nebraska Rural Radio Network—KRVN, KTIC, and KNEB, Brown Transfer Company, Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and The “We the People” initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
February 2009 “New Harmonies" tour debuted March 12 in Alliance
The Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” made its Nebraska debut in March at the newly constructed Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in Alliance.
Presented in the state
by the Nebraska
Museum Director Becci Thomas will showcase the new museum with a grand opening of the exhibition at 6 p.m. March 12, featuring Victorian parlor music presented by Robin Koozer. Among the displays and collections that the museum will highlight during the special exhibition are vintage sheet music, music cylinders, instruments, and a phonograph that plays metal records. Beginning in March, the museum will sponsor speakers, musicians and other special events each Monday, Thursday and Friday evening in conjunction with “New Harmonies,” which will be on display in Alliance through April 23.
Koozer, chair of the department of music at Hastings College, is serving as state scholar for the tour of “New Harmonies.” Working with many contributors, Koozer compiled “The Nebraska Companion” with a sampling of Nebraska’s musical history.
“The Nebraska Companion” explores such topics as the 80-year history of the Hastings Symphony, Nebraska’s rich heritage of jazz, the tradition of community and fraternal bands, the enduring qualities of Native American music, and the renaissance of Nebraska’s opera houses.
The 36-page “Nebraska Companion” is available at each of the six sites hosting “New Harmonies”—Alliance (March 13-April 23), Cambridge Museum (May 1-June 7), Platte County Historical Society Museum in Columbus (June 13-July 24), Kearney’s Trails & Rails Museum (Aug. 4-29), Cherry County Historical Society Museum in Valentine (Sept. 3-Oct. 11), and Loves Jazz & Arts Center in Omaha (Oct. 18-Dec. 31). To receive a copy of “The Nebraska Companion” by mail, send $2 for postage and handling to NHC, 215 Centennial Mall South, Suite 330, Lincoln, NE 68508.
“New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” is made possible in Nebraska with support from the Berman Music Foundation, The Nebraska Rural Radio Network—KRVN, KTIC, and KNEB, Brown Transfer Company, Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and The “We the People” initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
“The Nebraska Companion” was produced with support from Cornhusker Press of Hastings.
July 2008 “New Harmonies" will visit six communities in 2009
The Nebraska tour of "New Harmonies" will begin with a March 13 grand opening at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in Alliance, where it will be through April 24. It travels next to the Cambridge Museum for a stay May 1 through June 6. The next stop will be the Platte County Historical Society Museum in Columbus June 13 through July 24, followed by an visit to Kearney’s Trails & Rails Museum from Aug. 1 through Aug. 29. The Cherry County Historical Society Museum in Valentine will house the exhibition Sept. 3 through Oct. 11, and the Nebraska tour will conclude with a visit Oct. 18 through Dec. 31 at Loves Jazz & Arts Center in Omaha.
The exhibition examines the growth of American music, which is as rich and eclectic as the country itself. American music reveals distinct cultural identities and records the histories of peoples from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. "New Harmonies" explores how our country’s ongoing cultural process has made America the birthplace of great music—from the blues and country western to folk and gospel.
The NHC cooperates with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and the Federation of State Humanities Councils to bring Museum on Main Street (MOMS) to Nebraska. Nebraska museums receive the exhibition free of charge with a stipend from the NHC to help with educational programming and publicity.
Each host community develops public humanities programming related to the theme of the exhibition. These programs include lectures, local exhibits and school tours. With "New Harmonies," local communities will be encouraged to explore their own musical heritage.
The NHC has sponsored five previous MOMS tours in Nebraska: "Between Fences" in 2007-08, "Key Ingredients: America By Food" in 2005-06, "Yesterday’s Tomorrows" in 2003, "Barn Again!" in 2001-02, and "Produce for Victory" in 1996. To visit the MOMS website, click here The "New Harmonies" webpage is here
The 2009 Nebraska tour schedule:
Alliance March 13-April 24 Knight Museum and Sandhills Center 908 Yellowstone 308-762-2384
Cambridge May 1-June 6 Cambridge Museum 612 Penn Street 308-697-4385
Columbus June 13-July 24 Platte County Historical Society Museum 2916 16th Street 402-564-1856
Kearney Aug. 4-29 Trails & Rails Museum 710 West 11th Street 308-234-3041
Valentine Sept. 3-Oct. 11 Cherry County Historical Society Museum US Highway 20 and Main Street 402-376-2015
Omaha Oct. 18-Dec. 31 Loves Jazz & Arts Center 2510 North 24th Street 402-502-5291
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“The Nebraska Companion”
is available by mail and at each of the six sites hosting the yearlong touring
exhibition. It was produced with generous support from Cornhusker Press, a
division of Dutton Lainson Company of Hastings.
Six
Nebraska communities have been selected to host the Smithsonian Institution
traveling exhibition "New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music" in 2009.|
Phone 402-474-2131 or e-mail nhc@nebraskahumanities.org |
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