Celebrating Feminine Beauty and Cultural Pride
Female Mask, Okuyi
Punu peoples of Gabon

 Collaborations

In addition to leading the Muntu Kuntu Energy Ensemble, Baba Okantah has also performed in a wide variety of music formats including an ongoing engagement with the Cavani String Quartet called, "Collage: Poetry and Music," and a special concert performance with the La Catrina String Quartet for Egyptian composer Halim El Dabh's 85th Birthday Gala.

The Cavani String Quartet

Winner of the prestigious Naumburg Chamber Music Award, the Cavani String Quartet has been described by the Washington Post as "completely engrossing, powerful and elegant."  Since their New York debut in 1987, they have won the hearts of audiences across the country with their soulful and riveting performances.  The Cavani have been Quartet-in-Residence at the Cleveland Institute of Music since 1988.

"Collage: Poetry and Music"

The Cavani/MKE Poet collaboration was first conceived in 1990 to introduce classical music and contemporary poetry to Cleveland-area high school students.  This marriage between string quartet and performance poet takes the audience on an electrifying journey through spoken poetry woven in and around music.  The program has since become widely popular at universities and schools.  It was also a feature presentation at the 1996 Chamber Music America National Conference in New York City.



Breakfast at the Ibis
Saw an Old Woman
 
For more information about the Cavani String Quartet visit http://www.cavani.org

The La Catrina String Quartet

Founded in 2001, the La Catrina String Quartet has a triple mission: to work closely with living composers in order to promote the performance of new music, to promote Mexican and Latin-American art music and to perform the masterworks of the string quartet repertoire.  Its members have played as soloists with a variety of orchestras in Mexico and the United States and given recitals in Japan, England, the US and Mexico.

      "About La Catrina"

According to Mexican folklore, 'La Catrina--also known as death--can show herself in many different ways ... the relationship which the Mexican people have with La Catrina is defined by a unique set of circumstances that are intimately tied to the history and culture of Mexico....As Mexicans, we believe that death, and specifically the memory of our 'fieles difuntos,' which means 'our faithful deceased,' gives us a strong sense of identity and rootedness in our culture....
We only live once and La Catrina, with her mischievous smile, pleads with us to seize the moment and through music--and perhaps a little dance--find life's meaning.



Poem for El Dabh I & II

For more information about the La Catrina String Quartet visit http://www.lacatrinaquartet.com