East meets West through music at Pompallier Mission

January 24



MEDIA RELEASE

East meets West through music at Pompallier Mission

Russell will come alive to the exotic sounds of European and Middle Eastern music on February 3.

Rosewood – a folk music duo made up of husband and wife Larry and June Jacobson – will perform their own unique blend of traditional and contemporary music in a series of concerts at Pompallier Mission, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust property in Russell.

Rosewood’s repertoire ranges from Brittany to the Middle East – and many places in between.

“There is an ‘East meets West’ thing going on in our music, which arises from applying Western styles of playing to traditional Eastern European and Middle Eastern instruments; and conversely by using these instruments to play Western tunes,” says Larry.

“There are some common elements which carry across, and there are some that do not – though we’ve had some fun applying Eastern European ‘broken rhythms’ to Western tunes and creating something different again!”

The duo have lived in Northland for the past 30 years, and have been involved in this particular form of music for the past 10 years. They are renowned for playing an eclectic range of unusual instruments – both stringed and percussion – extremely well.

Larry’s skill lies in playing the oud – the Middle Eastern Lute – and the Turkish cumbus (pronounced “joomboosh”) – a stringed instrument that resembles a kind of banjo. June plays the djembe (African hand drum), the darbuka (Turkish hand drum) and other percussion instruments.

The name Rosewood connects the audience to Larry’s new oud which was purchased in Istanbul, and is made of rosewood, ebony, spruce and pearwood.

“Our music provides the opportunity for people to be transported to other countries, to hear exciting new rhythms and to sample cultures where music is an integral part of life,” says Larry.

“We’re really looking forward to performing at Pompallier Mission where we’ll be playing music, ranging from rhythmic dance tunes to haunting medieval melodies.

“We’re inviting people to pack a picnic, come down to Pompallier Mission and enjoy something new and exciting in music.”

Stop Press: The winner of the Pompallier Mission Sculpture Contest will be announced at the Rosewood concert.

Don’t miss Rosewood performing at Pompallier Mission in Russell on February 3, 12.30-2pm.

Caption: Rosewood – Larry and June Jacobson – will be performing at Pompallier Mission.

ENDS

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