Baylor Professor Finishes Global Issues Series with Lecture on Israeli Folk Music and the Latin America Music Diaspora

by Lauren Venegas, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

Dr. Alfredo Colman, assistant professor of musicology and ethnomusicology at Baylor University, will present a lecture on "The Soundscapes and Nostalgia in Israeli Folk Music and 'The Parvarim' and the Latin American Music Diaspora," at 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13 in Draper 116 on the Baylor Campus. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is part of the Global Issues Lecture Series and presented by the Center for International Education.

With a strong interest in the academic and traditional musical repertoires of Paraguay and other Latin American countries, Colman also has an interest in liturgical music from Colonial Latin America.

"Colman is a native of Paraguay with a vast experience in studying the music of Colonial Latin America," said Dr. Lilly Souza-Fuertes, coordinator of the Global Issues Series and director of Latin American studies at Baylor. "Together with his contributions in the area of ethnomusicology and his culturally unique background, he makes a wonderful addition to Baylor's faculty and the lecture series."
Colman also has co-authored a work entitled, "Thomas Robinson's New Citharen Lessons, 1609," a critical edition of Robinson's tutor for the Renaissance cittern in England." In addition, Colman has upcoming articles in Latin American Music Review and Greenwood Press publications. His current research focuses on the musical contributions of Paraguayan academic composer José Asunción Flores and on music and identity issues related to 20th century Paraguay.
"Colman carried out a fascinating research project last summer in Israel, in which he studied how the music of Latin America, with its performers, instruments and repertoire, has shaped the sound of 20th century Israeli folk music through the songs of 'The Parvarim,' a duet with over 40 years of continuous musical performances," Fuertes said. "It will be captivating to understand how Latin American music influenced Israeli folk music."
As a collaborative harpsichordist and pianist, Colman has performed in concert in Asunción, Paraguay; Austin, Fort Worth, Nashville and San Juan, Puerto Rico. He serves as music and worship director at First Baptist Church in Wells Branch.
Colman is the last lecturer in the Global Issues Lecture Series. Fuertes said that the semester has covered a variety of topics on Western Africa, Guinea-Bissau; Cape Verde, São Tomé & Príncipe, Cameroon, Thailand, Russia, China, Israel and Latin America.

"The goal in these lectures is precisely to expose and inform the public of events that have had a global impact," Fuertes said. "We covered a good portion of the world this time, and the speakers have given us a unique perspective of the issues. There is no doubt this semester's series was quite a success."
The Global Issues Lecture Series will continue in the spring semester. For more information contact Souza-Fuertes at (254) 710-4531.