An exceptional musical event at the Museum RIFF – When Africa got us grooving
June 2, 2010, to March 13, 2011
RIFF: noun. – In jazz or pop music, a short melodic fragment used repeatedly and rhythmically to accompany a musical piece. When you put an Angolan djembe, a Cameroonian horn, and a Gabonese xylophone next to Louis Armstrong’s trumpet, Gerry Boulet’s organ, and Jimi Hendrix’s guitar, it’s easy to see the influence African musical culture has had on today’s popular music in North and South America. More than any other cultural phenomenon, music has traveled from continent to continent, where it has been adopted blended, and transformed over the years. That’s the captivating topic of the big exhibition RIFF – When Africa got us grooving, which will run at Musée de la civilisation from June 2, 2010, to March 13, 2011. A Musée de la civilisation exhibition based on Music in Motion by the National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden, the Netherlands. The exhibition is presented by Sun Life Financial in collaboration with Tourisme Québec, Québec City Tourism, and Hôtel Loews Le Concorde, as the official hotel of the exhibition. Alcoa is a partner for all Musée de la civilisation programming.
Since the arrival of the first African slaves in Virginia in 1619, music has migrated to the four corners of the globe through a complex network of inspiration and imitation. And styles ranging from gospel to spiritual, jazz, rock, bebop, salsa, rap, hip hop, techno, and others clearly owe a debt to African roots.
Legendary objects from legendary figures
The exhibition invites visitors to follow this musical journey through objects, musical instruments, movies, and soundtracks, while highlighting the importance of key figures and pivotal events in the history of pop music across North America, South America, and Africa. Some of the amazing memorabilia presented in the exhibition include a jacket worn by Elvis Presley, Miles Davis’s red trumpet, a dress worn by Ella Fitzgerald, one of James Brown’s capes, Dédé Fortin’s guitar, Charlie Biddle’s bass, and so many more legendary objects from the biggest names in music.
An exhibition in two parts, three movements!
The exhibition layout invites visitors to discover just how omnipresent music is in everyday life. First, after exploring some sounds associated with African culture, visitors follow a timeline illustrating Afro-American music’s influence on pop music, from blues to hip hop. Then, an educational zone offers insight on the complex influences that have given rise to hundreds of musical styles.
And no music exhibition is complete without an area where people can actually listen to the music. The concert garden gives the public the chance to watch, hear, and enjoy excerpts from concerts by some of the leading lights in popular American music. An extraordinary sensory experience!
At the end of the exhibition, visitors can get an up-close-and-personal look at the legendary musical instruments and objects that belonged to the some of the biggest names in American music.
Riffs and rhythms for the family
The exhibition also features an educational zone where visitors can embark on a fascinating journey of sound. In it, people can explore their ear for music, rhythms, and the science of sound through high tech displays and unusual musical objects and instruments.
RIFF – When Africa got us grooving runs at Québec City’s Musée de la civilisation from June 2, 2010, to March 13, 2011. The exhibition is presented by Sun Life Financial, in collaboration with Tourisme Québec, Québec City Tourism, and Hôtel Loews Le Concorde, as the official hotel of the exhibition. A Musée de la civilisation exhibition based on Music in Motion by the National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Information and Reservations
Press relations : Serge Poulin, 418 528-2072 / Email
Issued: March 17, 2010
