Artesani to deliver 15th Maine Heritage Lecture on October 17
The 15th Maine Heritage Lecture sounds like it’ll be music to your ears.
This year’s lecturer is Dr. Laura Artesani, associate professor of music in the Division of Music of the School of Performing Arts, and the title of her lecture is Folk Songs from the Four Corners of Maine: A Look Back at Rich Cultural Traditions.
The lecture is scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 17 at 3:30 PM in the Bodwell area on the third floor of the Collins Center for the Arts. There will be a reception immediately following the lecture in the CCA’s Hudson Museum. This event is free and open to the public.
The focus of Dr. Artesani’s lecture is the traditional music of Maine, and the ways that this music reflects the history of the diverse cultures from which it comes. Traditional music can be defined as music that is taught orally, through families or small, informal groups. It is primarily rural in origin and usually played on acoustic instruments.
There’s more to this lecture than just talking, however. Live musical examples of some of the works being discussed will be provided by Dr. Artesani and Mr. Kris Paprocki, accompanied by guitar and accordion. Mr. Paprocki is a UMaine alum and elementary school music teacher who has given numerous presentations of Maine traditional music.
The lecture will include historical information about Acadian music of Maine, as illustrated in songs such as Chère Leonore; mill songs such as The Lewiston Factory Girl; and songs of the lumbering camps such as The Crew of 36. Each song will be discussed in its historical context before it is performed.
In addition, the current state of traditional music of Maine will be explored, and the ways that these musical traditions are being passed along to the next generation. These include organizations such as the 317 Main Community Center in Yarmouth, the Maine Fiddle Camp, and the Acadia Traditional Music School. Summer festivals such as the Maine Celtic Celebration in Belfast, the Saco Maine Greek Festival, the Madawaska Acadian Festival, and the Native American Festival and Basketmakers Market in Bar Harbor will also be discussed. The rich traditional music of Maine is evident through the ongoing work being done by these organizations and festivals.
The Maine Heritage Lecture is an annual event produced by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences that showcases research and creative work about the state of Maine, with particular emphasis on Maine’s sense of place, history, diverse cultures, society, and policy.