The Ranger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 58, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, March 16, 1984 Page: 4 of 12
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March 16, 1984/The Ranger/4
ARTS & LEISURE
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entertainment by which they have been
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the group’s return.*
en-
BACKSTAGE
Bizarre Bazaar
Arts of the ’30s
SAC Exchange
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Musicians dressed like gypsies invaded
McCreless Hall Friday night.
After several weeks, the ‘ Arts
of the ’30s” series will finish its
presentations March 26-31.
The last week of the student
activities sponsored series will in-
clude several Carole Lombard
films, a musical review and a
television movie.
The Carole Lombard series in-
cludes ”20th Century,” to be
“two people disguised as a horse”
number, except Merz performed solo
as traditional American cowboy music.
“Anywhere where people raise cattle,
The last scheduled event for
the series will be the showing of
a movie entitled “U.S in the 20th
Century” at 11 a.m. and noon
March 30-31 in the SAC
Exchange.
The “Arts of the ’30s“ program,
which has presented a variety of
activities over the past few
weeks, is sponsored by the fine
will highlight the music of the
period at 7:30 p.m. March 29 in
McCreless Theater.
arts committee of student ac-
tivities. The program has includ-
ed lectures, seminars, films and
musical reviews on the period of
the 1930s.*
Emilie Aronson and Wayne
Greene will bring their unique
blend of acoustic music here
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 28
town has at least one Greek club," Peter-
son said.
Greenspan said they are on the lookout
in the SAC Exchange of Loftin Stu-
dent Center.
Aronson, a songwriter, and
Greene, a guitarist, have perform-
ed thoughout Texas including the
1983 Texas Folk Life Festival.
Greene is known for his
delightful stories and variety of
musical skills which range from
blues to rock to country.
Aronson is an award-winning
songwriter of both the 1982 New
Folk Competition in Kerrvile and
1982 Rising Star Competition.*
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Musicians
provide
excitement
for crowd
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Not for a moment did the show lag
or become tedious.
*‘1
shown at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30
p.m. March 26. “My Man God-
frey" scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
and 7:30 p.m. March 27, and
“Nothing Sacred” to be shown at
1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. will con-
clude the film series.
All three fdms will be shown
in the SAC Exchange of Loftin
Student Center and are free to
everyone.
Also this week, “Arts of the
’30s” will include a show entitl-
ed “Music of the ’30s” which
Individual students, as well as
clubs and organizations, can sign
up for this year’s Bizarre Bazaar.
The festival will be April 4 on
the grounds of the Bennett Estate.
For more information, students
may see Brenda Pacheco, student
activities technician, in the stu-
dent activities office.*
*
chanted as the children in the audience
and clapped and whistled with
delighted approval.
Although the company hails from
Miami, it is hard to believe members
are American considering the expertise
with which they delivered songs in a
myriad of languages such as Greek,
Russian, German and Yiddish.
After the show, the group was sur-
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making their living for the past six years, balalaika which Merz plays came from
I “Our relations with Russia are not the best
Greenspan, discussed the unique form of they have been.”
brief signs.
With enthusiasm group members en-
couraged the audience to join in on
Spanish bullfight music and a Greek
selection.
And the audience was only too hap-
jr II
Rumania, and a smaller balalaika used by
Peterson was procured from Russia “back
when relations were better.”
Greenspan added the prima balalaika us-
ed by Gans was made by a violin maker
in Iowa.
Greenspan said the instruments are
more common in the United States than
one might imagine.
“You would be surprised. There are
plenty of balalaika players around the
country,” Greenspan said.
In May the company will travel to
Greece, Turkey and Israel.
“We want to learn from the horse's
mouth for a change,” Greenspan com-
“We always go to Greek clubs. Every mented, adding they are eager to add to
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rounded with newly found, adoring fans '■*
complimenting them and questioning
them about their authentic folk music
and dances.
Although it is sad to see the close of
this season’s performing artists series,
the American Balalaika Company was
a delightful treat to end it with, and no
doubt there will be many requests for *
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Sandra Peterson, company member, dances at performance.
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as they are always looking for new in-
struments to include in the show.
“‘When we reach the point where we
are
we
By Barbara Clark
News Editor
By Barbara Clark
News Editor
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musicians.
Adults watching seemed as
“You would be surprised.
There are plenty of balalaika
Fortunately though, an enthusiastic au- players around the country. “
dience received the four strangely attired Michael Greenspan
individuals bearing “Donto Chip in-
struments, as one member described
them.
Two members of the American Balalaika
Company, Sandra Peterson and Michael
“Arthur (Gans) and I met and took
balalaika in high school,” Peterson said.
“For a few years we played semi-
professionally. Then we met Paul (Merz)
and Michael, and we got more interna-
tional,” Peterson said.
Peterson said they go to ethnic shows
to get ideas for their material, which con-
sists of dancing, singing and playing in-
struments in a variety of languages.
“We take every opportunity we can to
meet artists from folk dance troupes,”
Greenspan said.
“We find most of those people are will-
ing to share information; it’s kind of like
a semi-official fraternity,” Greenspan said.
■. they also used the accordion. Company member Michael Greenspan Musicians Paul Mertz, Michael Greenspan, Arthur Gans
The company played the numbers fatigue, it certainly did not show any
quickly pausing only to give a 1
description of the next selection or to
encourage audience participation.
The graceful transition from one
number to the next was no small feat
as the dance sequences and switching
of instruments seemed quite strenous py to oblige the colorfully garbed
affairs.
However, if the group felt any
and improve their repertoire while
overseas.
For the overseas tour, the company is
for people who play unusual instruments working on a program of cowboy songs.
“We sort of put together a thing on
cowboys. We will be doing cowboy
songs, both traditional and non-
proficient with it (a new instrument), traditional,” Greenspan said.
include it in the show,” Greenspan
said.
Greenspan added the program will in-
clude cowboy music from such diverse
A problem for the group is finding the places as Argentina and Hawaii, as well
Traveling American Balalaika Company
delivers unique song, dance performance
there are cowboys,” Greenspan said,
defending the international flavor of the
cowboy theme.
A unique facet of the show is the com-
pany sings folk songs in the original
foreign languages.
Although they sing in such exotic
tongues as Russian, Greek and Hebrew,
both said it is surprisingly easy.
“One thing which helps is we listen to
albums or have friends make tapes for us
and coach us,” Peterson said.
“It’s not as difficult as it seems,” Peter-
son said.
“Also, when we start to learn other
songs (in the same language), we pick up
the sound, the grammar and meaning,”
Greenspan said.
Greenspan added many of the same
phrases recur in different songs from the
same country.
Greenspan said amoung the four of
them, they can read the Greek, Russian
and Hebrew alphabets.
He added they are trying to improve
their Greek in anticipation of the overseas
tour in May.
The hardest part of touring, both agreed,
is the traveling and setting up for shows.
“We do everything ourselves,”
Greenspan said.
Greenspan added this means setting up
and breaking down the equipment, tak-
ing turns driving their van and designing
and sewing costumes which Peterson
does.
“Doing the show is the easy part. It's the
before and after that is the hard part,”
Greenspan said.
He added they never experience stage
fright.
“The show is so well oiled—so well
rehearsed, we all know what we are do-
ing, and we are never nervous about
performing.”*
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unusual instruments for use in the show.
“It’s very difficult,” Greenspan said.
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The American Balalaika Company
thrilled an almost full house with its
international music, dancing and sing-
ing Friday night in McCreless Hall.
With one short break in between, the
company comprised of Paul Merz, San-
dra Peterson, Arthur Gans and Michael
Greenspan presented selections from
Eastern and Western Europe, Israel,
Egypt, Canada and American favorites
as well.
The balalaika, a three stringed instru-
ment similar to a guitar except for the
triangular shaped body, proved to be
a versatile instrument as the troupe ex-
pertly demonstrated.
Starting off with the familiar
“Somewhere My Love (Lara’s Theme)”
from "Dr. Zhivago,” the company took
the audience on a whirlwind tour of
music from all over the world.
Although the company used several
balalaikas throughout their perfor-
mance.
tamborine, bells, flutes, drums and a
variety of exotic instruments.
Two interesting dance sequences
were a Rumanian dance performed by and the speed and agility he displayed
Peterson and Gans and a belly dance were incredible considering the
performed by Peterson. awkward costume he was wearing.
By far the most popular of the dance A highlight of the show was the pace
routines, though, was a Russian dance with which the numbers were
performed by Merz in a getup which executed,
disguised him as a very short couple.
The routine was similar to the old
tr
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San Antonio College. The Ranger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 58, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, March 16, 1984, newspaper, March 16, 1984; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1351905/m1/4/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting San Antonio College.