Staff Writer
Absolute magic!
This best describes Anna Mudeka’s concert held Monday in the United Kingdom at The Halls Norwich where she reportedly put up some magical moments from start to finish.
The concert dubbed “Connecting Cultures” also featured the talents of Jose Ferrera, Obase Aboli and Zimbabwe’s very own mbira princess Anna Mudeka for the first time on stage.
The trio’s repertoire also included the classic hit song Guantanamera originally popularized by Joseito Fernandez as far as back as 1929 although it is unclear when it was first released.
Guantanamera (the woman) from Guantánamo) is perhaps the best-known Cuban song and that country’s most-noted patriotic song, especially when using a poem by the Cuban poet José Martí for the lyrics.
Also as part of the performances was the acclaimed The African Choir of Norfolk which Anna Mudeka is also a member.
A good number of attendees took to social media expressing their joy at the concert.
Edd Bateman commented: “One of the reasons this sounds really interesting is that temperate tuned instruments at 440hz like guitar and keyboard just don’t have the frequencies that naturally land between the notes C C# D D# E etc. In Middle Eastern music the microtones between these notes are very clearly defined. In wooden African instruments they’re more of a mystery and can change pitch with the temperature of the room. The minute discord (if you think about it with only the experience of knowing music in 440hz) between the microtonal notes of the balafon combined with the microtonal notes of the mbira create a massive symphony of eerily harmonic frequencies. Or at least they do in my ears.”
Joe Ferrera said: “Hola everyone, It was an amazing Anna Mudeka concert last , it was a pleasure to share the stage with some brilliant musicians like Sefo Kanuteh ,Obase and Anna’sAfrican choir. Special and big thank you to Gary Newland and his great team for organising just a Fab night.”
Samia Malik wrote: “Well that was pretty special. An amazingly spectacular evening with the talented Anna Mudeka and her groundbreaking Africanchoir Norfolk a wonderful attentive audience who gave such detailed and informative feedback with the help of Karen Buchanan. Special shout out to Camilo Tirado for sound and Sukhdeep Dhanjal for providing super tabla grooves. And Lois Lelland for lovely piano in one of the tracks. I am still flying! Thank you all and hopefully see you at the next show in Norwich on Tuesday – and if you can’t make it in person, watch this space for details of how to catch the LIVE-STREAM!!.”
Anna Mudeka replied: “Incredible evening Connecting Cultures last night, all made possible by the children from Norwich Primary Academy, Arts Council England Gary Newland
“Hard to believe it was a Monday night in Norwich some coming as far as Ipswich.
An ensemble of beautiful singers, live music and impressive dancing, The African Choir of Norfolk will be inviting you to sing, dance and rejoice with them at #RSFFEST in July!
“Have you booked your tickets yet? You don’t want to miss out!”
Connecting Cultures concert was made possible by the children from Norwich Primary Academy and Arts Council England Gary Newland.
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