Beyond the Borders
A Collaboration of Cultures 

 
 

Home | Mark Shepard | K-12 Schools | Beyond the Borders

 
  This is one of my favorite programs. It is probably what I would do if someone just asked me to perform whatever I felt like performing. It starts and ends with the haunting sounds of Overtone Singing from Central Asia and making stops around the world, this program celebrates how cultures come together and influence each other.   
  A World of Vocals:  
 
A combination of several different vocalization styles from Tuvan/Mongolian Overtone Singing, to Tibetan Undertone Singing all mixed in with Throat Whistling and a kind of African Yodeling, accompanied by Siberian Shaman Drum 
 
  Curiosity:  
 
An old African story that I've turned into an "Olde" Irish song. Accompanied by Irish Bodhran and plenty of audience participation
 
  The Silkie:   
 

This is an old Irish Story that has a lot in common with many Eskimo (Inuit) tales. Primarily seals that turn into human being and vice versa. I play the wooden whistle at the beginning and the end accompanying the chorus with Bodhran. I usually ask for a volunteer from the audience to play the ocean drum as accompaniment.

 
  Depending upon the situation, the theme, the age mix of the audience and my intuition, I move at this point into a spoken (rather than sung) story: Picking one of several possible choices:  
  Monkey & Leopard:  
 

A very funny African story which I tell in a very modern way. It works for all age groups but especially well for younger audiences  who may need to lighten things up at this point in the program. (It is also lighter on the sound effects so there is no time spent handing stuff out etc).

 
  Skeleton Woman:  
 

An Inuit tale about personal transformation. It is fairly serious but has a few funny parts that make for perfect comic relief. It has a lot of Sound effects possibilities.

 
  Coyote & Cicada:  
 

A Native American tale explaining why Coyotes howl and shy Cicada's shed their skin. quite funny with a modest amount of sound effects. Most audiences enjoy the opportunity at the end of the story to get in a good "Howl".

 
  Overtone Singing to finish...  
 
Instruments Used:
Djembe, Djun-Djun, Bodhran, Shaman Drum, Guitar, Wooden Whistle/Flute
 
  Sound Effects: Wind Tubes, Thunder Tubes, Thunder Drum (the Djun-Djun), shakers, Ocean Drum, Space Phones, Zing Thing, Wind Wands & more...  
  Study Guide: A hard copy study guide is available. It should be on-line soon.   
 

Home | Mark Shepard | K-12 Schools | Beyond the Borders

 
 

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All content Copyright by Mark Shepard.  All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. Revised: November 08, 2007 .