Renovation Week 4: We Spin the Whole World with Our Hands!

As the construction crew continues to wire electrical, paint, and carpet, the Museum staff is busy finalizing the new content for the Museum.  At the top of the list is the Global Spotlight interactive.  Featuring musical samples from around the world, visitors spin a virtual globe on a large touch-screen wall to view performances from the selected country.

Each country contains two clips:

ECHO:  Expression of musical traditions
EVOLUTION:  Musical Transformations in a Connected World

We wanted people to understand both the musical roots of the selected country as well as how music has transformed over time.  Each clip is accompanied by information about the instrument, artist or musical style.   Here’s a sneak peek at some of the featured artists:

Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán (Mexico)
Ali “Farka” Touré (Mail)
Debashish Bhattacharya (India)
Terem Quartet (Russia)
Madera Limpia (Cuba)
Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe)
The Kamkars (Iran)
Hu Jianbing (China)
St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band (Scotland)

While it may not be as dangerous as hooking up the new electrical, this project has ignited a new spark in the Museum team!  We look forward to lighting up our visitors with this rich music from around the world.

Global Spotlight Images (click to enlarge)