Kitka: Lullabies and Songs of Childhood October 12, 2008

The gentle rhythms, lilting melodies, and poetic texts of traditional Eastern European lullabies give voice to the innermost psyche of a mother. Through this voice, a child is ushered to the gateways of dreams, language, and culture.

For this adult-oriented concert program, Kitka, the Bay Area's internationally acclaimed women's vocal ensemble, has researched, collected and arranged a stunning set of Balkan, Slavic, and Eurasian cradle songs. To complement these lullabies in concert, Kitka will also perform songs sung by children at all stages of their life cycle: playful songs sung by the young; songs sung by grown children confiding in or remembering their parents; and songs that reflect on youth and aging. Traditional pieces learned directly from native folk song masters will be woven together with innovative choral arrangements by Kitka members and other contemporary composers.

Kitka began in 1979 as a grassroots group of singers from diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds who shared a passion for the stunning dissonances, asymmetric rhythms, intricate ornamentation, lush harmonies, and resonant strength of Eastern European women's vocal traditions. Since its beginnings, the group has evolved into a professional touring ensemble that has earned worldwide recognition for its artistry, versatility, and fresh approach to folk music. Kitka has recently been featured in national media including PRI's "The World", NPR's "The Story", WNYC's "New Sounds", and National Geographic's "World Music Profiles". A TV special "Kitka and Davka in Concert" has aired on more than 80 PBS stations nationwide and has been shown at film festivals from Beijing to Toronto. This year Kitka released "Sanctuary: A Cathedral Concert". Kitka will record highlights from "Lullabies and Songs of Childhood" this fall for a 2009 CD Release.

Kitka's Lullabies and Songs of Childhood Project, is supported, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

$25/$18.

Official Website: http://www.kitka.org