Maracas Artist Manual Alejandro Rangel to Play With UK Wind Symphony
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 10, 2019) — The University of Kentucky Wind Symphony will present a concert featuring music inspired by the cultural, historical and artistic influences of Spain, Venezuela and Argentina with guest soloist Manuel Alejandro Rangel, considered to be one of the world’s finest maracas artists. The concert, "Duende: Celebrating Diversity through the Spirit of Music," will begin 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Singletary Center for the Arts.
Manuel Alejandro Rangel will join UK Wind Symphony to perform “Pataruco: Concerto for Venezuelan Maracas” by Ricardo Lorenz. The program will also include “La Procession du Rocio” by Spanish composer Joaquin Turina, “Danza de Los Duendes” by American composer Nancy Galbraith and “Duende” by contemporary Spanish composer Luis Serrano Alarcon.
The concert draws its name from el duende — the spirit of evocation. It comes from inside as a physical/emotional response to art. It is what gives you chills, makes you smile or cry as a bodily reaction to an artistic performance that is particularly expressive. Folk music in general, especially flamenco, tends to embody an authenticity that comes from a people whose culture is enriched by diaspora and hardship; vox populi, the human condition of joys and sorrows.
Rangel is an internationally acclaimed maracas player from Venezuela. As a soloist, he earned first place at the International Villavicencio Festival in Colombia and recently represented his home country in the Tatuí International Percussion Festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He contributed to the Latin Grammy-winning album "Tesoros de la Música Venezolana" and released his first solo album, "Instinto," in 2008. Touring throughout South America and internationally, he has shared the stage with Celia Todd, Pablo Gil, Carlos “Nen” Quintero and Gonzalo Teppa, among others.
UK Wind Symphony is part of University of Kentucky Bands, which represent over 400 student members from several different organizations including the Wildcat Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, Concert Band, and the UK Basketball and Volleyball Pep Bands.
Tickets for "Duende" are $12 for the general public and $5 for students. Free tickets are available for UK students in advance up to the day before the show when picked up at the Singletary Center box office. Tickets can be purchased through the Singletary Center ticket office by phone at 859-257-4929, online at www.scfatickets.com/ or in person.
UK Wind Symphony is part of the UK Bands program at the School of Music at UK College of Fine Arts. The school has garnered a national reputation for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, music therapy, composition, and theory and music history.
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