Leah Androski
reporter@greenepublishing.com
Anna Stange recently held a Music Around the World event at the Madison Public Library, located at 378 College Loop, in Madison, on Tuesday, June 25, at 10:30 a.m.
The first country Stange visited was Kenya, where she showed a lyre from Kenya. She sang a Kenyan lullaby called “Malaika.” She also introduced the participants to some Swahili words, like hujambo (hello), sana (very much) and maliaka (angel).
Next was Ireland, where Stange introduced a bodhrán drum and beater. After, they visited Germany, where they sang “Kopf, Schultern, Knie und Zehen” (Head, shoulders, knees and toes). After Germany, participants went over to France where they sang “Frere Jacques.”
Next was Sweden, where Stange introduced them to the song and dance called “Små Grodorna” (Little Frogs). Then, Stange showed them serving spoons from Russia which could be used as instruments. They sang “May There Always Be Sunshine,” where she taught them Russian words like solntse (sun), oblaka (clouds), mama and ya (me).
Then Stange showed coloring pages from Mexico, she showed “De Colores” and “Los Pollitos.” Then, she showed everyone a tongue drum and rain catcher from Mexico. Then, Stange showed everyone a shaker from Alaska, bear paws from up north, frog scraper from Tennessee and a gandy dancer from Wisconsin. She sang, “This Land is Your Land” while participants played one of the U.S. instruments.
Lastly, Stange showed everyone a steel drum from Jamaica. She explained how settlers kept destroying drums so natives could not communicate with each other. Using the metal in the settler’s discarded oil barrels, native’s made steel drums, which could not be destroyed easily. Then she sang “Tingalayo,” which was about a little donkey.
Stange then wrapped up the program with all the participants picking an instrument and playing, while singing “This Land is Your Land.”