Music of the Americas: Colombian Music

Thursday, July 16, 10 am

Pala is back with "Ponme."

Friday, July 18, 10 am

Colombian musicians Jakob Valbuena Casas and Elvis Díaz are the members of Dúo Calambú, a group dedicated to the research and performance of the country's traditional musical styles.  

Valbuena is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, researcher of traditional music, and director of Calambú-Música. His compositions and arrangements are performed by renowned musicians. His research focuses on the history and preservation of indigenous instruments, and the characteristics and interpretive differences of Latin American music.

Díaz is a virtuoso on the arpa llanera with extensive experience in national and international festivals, and is also a member of groups such as Zumbao and Dúo Alcaravan. 

From Bogotá, the duo sent us two videos featuring the calambú, a traditional Colombian clarinet made of bamboo and gourd. Today, we share Valbuena's "Calambú." 

The MetLife Foundation Music of the Americas concert series is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor MetLife Foundation.

The 2024–2025 series is also supported, in part, by the Howard Gilman Foundation, Augustine Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, Mex-Am Cultural Foundation, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, Amphion Foundation, and Mid Atlantic Arts.