VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents their  September Artful Thursday: High Notes,  Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 6:30 PM, at the Caroline Wiess Law Building. Presented by Hussein Rashid, (pictured) Adjunct professor, Hofstra University; associate editor, Religion Dispatches

Up to thirty percent of the slaves brought to the United States from Africa were Muslim. They spoke and wrote Arabic, and carried a rich musical tradition. Centuries’ worth of Muslim instrumental and singing traditions were combined with those of other cultures encountered in the United States, eventually forming blues, jazz, rock, and hip-hop—uniquely American musical genres.

Billie Holiday’s wavy intonation has its roots in the muezzin’s call to prayer. The syncopated riffs and rhythms of blues guitar legend John Lee Hooker echo a traditional call-and-response, with painful lyrics about life, love, and faith. The be-bop and cool-jazz improvisations of John Coltrane are informed by numerous musical and meditative traditions, including those of Islam. Also indebted to this tradition are the folk rock of Steve Earle and the hip-hop of Mos Def.

In this month’s Artful Thursday lecture, Hussein Rashid uses music to explore how the Muslim-American community has made a lasting cultural contribution to American music.

This Artful Thursday program is generously supported by His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for the Southwestern United States.

Artful Thursday programs receive generous funding from the Rockwell Fund. Promotional support is generously provided by Houston Public Radio—KUHF 88.7 FM & Classical 91.7 FM.