Leading Salsa Expert Jose Obando Performs at the College of Saint Elizabeth, Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The sounds of salsa will fill Dolan Performance Hall, Annunciation Center, at the College of Saint Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road, Morristown, when Jose Obando and his band of musicians take to the stage, Tuesday, September 20, 2011. As the nation’s only musicologist dedicated to salsa, Obando will begin the program at 7 p.m. with a brief lecture about the more than 350-year evolution of this uniquely New World music. He will follow with a musical performance. Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for senior citizens, 65 years old or older; and $5 for students with valid student identification. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-290-4378 or emailing events@cse.edu.

Obando’s lecture includes geography, history, anthropology, ethnomusicology, religions, African studies, music, and dance history. Immediately following, , he will give a musical performance accompanied by five musicians that includes dance. The instruments that will be used in the performance are the clave (two wooden sticks used to keep the African rhythms), maracas, and the Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican guiro. The salsa, cha-cha-cha, and bolero dances will be demonstrated, and the meringue will be taught. Dancing is strongly encouraged for those so inclined!

Origins of Salsa Explained

Through its music, salsa tells the story of the New World. Its origins are in west and central Africa, where singing, dancing, and drumming were means of communicating with the deities. The music was brought to the Caribbean by African slaves, where it combined with new elements from the native population called Taino as well as with Catholic and Spanish traditions. The music continued to evolve as the people from the Caribbean emigrated north. These musicians began to collaborate with their African-American colleagues. The result is a distinctively American music that the College of Saint Elizabeth is proud to present.

The program is presented by the CSE music and art departments, CSE multi-cultural studies program,CSE Office of International and Multicultural Affairs, and the College’s Lectures and Concerts series.

Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, New Jersey, the College of Saint Elizabeth enrolls more than 2,100 full- and part-time students in more than 25 undergraduate, 10 graduate and one doctoral degree programs. For information on other activities or programs, visit the College of Saint Elizabeth web site at www.cse.edu.