Take a musical journey to Mali with Rusty Eklund, master musician and drummer

                       Rusty Eklund

LA GRANDE, Oregon – Drawing from his seven years of experience studying in West Africa, teacher and performer Rusty Eklund will offer a presentation of Malian music and culture at Eastern Oregon University on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Ackerman Hall, Room 210. The event is free and open to the public.

 

Eklund will give a lecture examining the structures of Malian rhythmic families, a photo slide show, and a live presentation of rhythms and songs. Malian music finds its roots in the development of the former Mandé empire and is also thought to have contributed significantly to the development of the banjo and American blues music.

 

In his lecture, Eklund will briefly introduce the audience to Malian instruments and music before delving into the two main rhythmic families of Malian culture. The slide show is accompanied by recordings of various Malian string musicians, drummers and singers, highlighting six unique musical styles of three prominent Malian ethnic groups: the Maninka, Maraka and Bamana.

 

A musical performance by Eklund and Luke McKern and Miki Goodall, both members of the EOU African Drumming Ensemble, will end the presentation with the sounds of Mali as played on the jenbe and donun ensemble.

 

“This is Rusty’s second visit to Eastern, and we are delighted to have him back,” said John McKinnon, EOU professor of music. “He works the EOU African Drumming Ensemble pretty hard – usually lots of sore hands – but we learn so much in only a few days, and his ability to communicate the cultural traditions of music-making in Mali gives the ensemble much more than just notes and rhythms.  We get to see and feel the essentials of an art form, and try to absorb a little speck of it.”

 

Eklund will also offer free drumming classes on Saturday morning from 10-12 in Loso Hall, Room 126. Beginners are welcome and some drums will be provided.

 

A graduate of The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., Eklund spent the past decade studying and performing with numerous African musicians and teachers. For much of the past 15 years he has traveled and studied in 25 countries on five different continents. He currently performs and teaches when in the U.S. and maintains a music store and export operations, as well as a hosting service for artists visiting Bamako.

 

Eklund’s presentation is sponsored by a visiting artists grant from the EOU Foundation and the EOU music department. 

EOU Home   |   University Advancement