The @Percussion - Episode 117 - Interviews with Patience Munjeri and Rob Sanderl

117 - Interviews with Patience Munjeri and Rob Sanderl

With Megan at Mizzou is Patience Munjeri, one of the only acclaimed female mbira players in the world.  She's in the middle of a very long US tour, taking her all over the country as a performer, lecturer, and coach for college ensembles.  It was so interesting to hear of the spiritual aspect of the instrument, as well as some of her personal stories coming of age as a woman who felt called to play the instrument.

 

We have a slightly different format this week, with two recorded interviews as our content for you all.  With us at JMU is Rob Sanderl, who presented his class on Basel drumming for our students.  You can see the same thing at PASIC! He intentionally focuses more on aspects of playing than of cultural history.

 

Watch here. Listen below.

0:00 intro and hello
1:20 Can you please tell us about this tour?
4:17 Coming to the US to work and why.
5:40 The mbira choosing you
8:25 The physical challenge of mbira playing.
10:00 What you wear, and why, when playing.  
12:00 Playing for entertainment vs spiritual playing?
16:20 Mbira is over 1000 years old.
21:30 Being a musician in Zimbabwe?
23:09 First song you ever learned?

24:21 Rob Sanderl intro and hello.  Celanesen and snare rep. in Basel?
27:38 Traveling to Croatia?  
30:07 What else are you looking forward to at PASIC?
31:44 Upcoming compositions?  
36:15 Fasnacht in Basel