March 16: The Paul Winter Consort And Great Rift Valley Orchestra Present The World Premiere Of Flyways At The Cathedral Of St. John The Divine March 16, 2012

The Paul Winter Consort and a new international ensemble, the Great Rift Valley Orchestra, will join forces to perform the world premiere of Flyways, a musical celebration of the Great Bird Migration from Africa through the Middle East to Eurasia, on Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17, at 8:00 P.M. at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street), Manhattan.

The Great Rift Valley Orchestra is comprised of indigenous musicians from cultures along the Great Rift Valley flyway.

Each spring, more than half a billion birds of 350 species follow the Great Rift Valley along the length of the African continent from South Africa to Ethiopia, and continue across the Middle East to Turkey where they diverge to Europe and Asia. This flyway is one of the most important bird migration corridors in the world. Flyways, a musical celebration almost two decades in the making, is a chronicle of the birds’ long journey, using music from each culture they migrate over, featuring unique and indigenous instruments including ennanga harp, amadinda xylophone, mbira (thumb piano), kfar (traditional harp), oud, nei (traditional flute), yayli tambur (traditional string instrument), godulka (traditional string instrument), and a wide variety of drums and percussion.

The two evening performances of Flyways will usher in the final week of The Value of Water, an art exhibition featuring the work of over 40 contemporary visual artists, including Jenny Holzer, William Kentridge, Kiki Smith, Bill Viola, Pat Steir, Dixie Peaslee, and others whose work focuses on depicting and reflecting on water. Works from the artists, including paintings, sculptures and multi-media pieces, are currently on display in all areas of the Cathedral, from the Great Crossing to the Nave, Chapels, Bays and other intimate areas. The exhibition will be on view until March 25, 2012.

Tickets are available for $50 and $80. For more information or to purchase tickets please visit http://www.stjohndivine.org/Flyways.html.