Alejandro Brittes and his Trio

Alejandro Brittes, one of the most celebrated figures in contemporary chamamé music will perform at the Grant R. Brimhall Library on Wednesday, September 11 at 7:00 pm.

Chamamé – just like tango – has been declared as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Born of the centuries-long interaction between ritual practices of indigenous Guaraní and the Baroque music influences brought by Jesuits in the Mission period (16th to 18th Centuries), chamamé can be conceived of as a ritual that seeks to communicate with the Earth and the Universe and maintain harmony among humans, through music and dance that lead participants to moments of trance.

In Buenos Aires, chamamé was discriminated against and criminalized for decades (much like other popular music such as tango). Alejandro Brittes´s parents migrated from the interior of the Province of Corrientes to Buenos Aires, where his father was a pioneering chamamé event organizer and his mother a chamamé radio host, both attending to the cultural needs of the rural migrant community in the city. It was in this environment that Brittes was born and raised, amongst the most-respected chamamé musicians and ensembles, beginning his professional career at 15 years old.

As part of this tour, TOArts is sending Brittes and his trio out to engage with the local community with residencies at West Lake High School, Newbury Park High School and Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

This is a free event. Seating will be open and available on a first come first serve basis. For more information call 805-449-2787