In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Anzanga Marimba Ensemble will make their eighth annual appearance at Bainbridge Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17.
Celebrating 32 years of performing throughout the Northwest and globally, the troupe returns to perform the lively and beautiful melodies of Southern Africa, for one night only.
This Seattle-based ensemble brings the electrifying and energizing music of African marimba to the national and international stage with regional appearances at the Northwest Folklife Festival and Bumbershoot, as well as performances in South Africa and China.
The troupe’s repertoire is primarily from Zimbabwe, with influences from throughout Africa, in addition to original compositions.
Anzanga plays using seven marimbas — three sopranos, two tenors, a baritone, and a bass — and hoshos, or gourd shakers. The marimbas are hand-crafted xylophones made from various hardwoods.
The tuning is based on the tonalities found in Zimbabwean music.
Each key sits above a resonator that has a vibrating membrane which amplifies the sound and adds a unique “buzz” to the music.
For additional information, visit www.anzangamarimba.band.
Tickets for the public performance, $12 for adults, and $10 for children, may be purchased online at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, by phone at 206-842-8569 or in person at BPA (200 Madison Ave. North)
BPA box office hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and one hour prior to each performance.
Additionally, and new this season, Anzanga enthusiasts may choose to participate in the 4 p.m. drumming/percussion workshop for ages 10 and older.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own instruments. Tickets for the workshop, $20 per person, include admission to the evening performance and may be purchased by calling the box office at 206-842-8569.
Anzanga will hold their annual school outreach demonstration and performance for teachers and K-12 students at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 17 by arrangement with BPA operations manager Siobhan Maguire (206-842-4560×2).
This 45-minute performance ties to the academic curriculum in a number of areas including geography and social studies; the context, structure, and format of African music; and the role music plays in a global world.
Student tickets are $7 per person, and the accompanying teacher and up to two chaperone tickets are included free of charge.
