35th Parallel

Click to listen to Armenian Wedding Dance by 35th Parallel

Introducing our newest artists!!

We are pleased and excited to welcome 35th Parallel (Gabe Halberg and Mac Ritchey) to the AAE Roster.

35th Parallel’s name comes from the latitude line intersecting the regions that inspire their music — the Middle East, North India, North Africa, the Mediterranean and the United States.

Their signature MediterrAsian sound blends Middle Eastern oud and Indian tabla with a variety of other non-Western instruments. With the subtle use of ambient soundscapes and electronic effects, the musicians create a dynamic backdrop over which they play an extensive repertoire of original and traditional songs.

35th Parallel is available for school programs, lecture-demonstrations and family performances. Please click here to visit their website.

FUNDING RESOURCES

35th Parallel is a team of juried artists with the Vermont Arts Council and listed on the New England States Touring Roster with the New England Foundation for the Arts. Their music has been used in numerous documentaries and radio broadcasts. For funding guidelines, please visit these websites or call Jean for more information: Vermont Arts Council (VAC) and New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA).

35th Parallel School Programs

35th Parallel brings a unique blend of music from around the world. Listeners of all ages are fascinated by the group’s unusual sound, blending a host of globally diverse instruments with the subtle use of modern electronics.

Focusing particularly on the music of the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent, 35th Parallel performs new renditions of traditional pieces as well as their own MediterrAsian compositions. The musicians discuss their different instruments and varied cultural influences with students, sharing thoughts on their creative process and improvisational approach.

35th Parallel’s visit will enhance your school’s multicultural curriculum and can provide a springboard for further discussions in both social studies and the arts.

School Program Descriptions (grades 3–12)

Performances: A 35th Parallel concert provides students with a focused listening experience, presenting a program that includes the full range of the group’s musical expression. The musicians provide context for the performance by incorporating some discussion and student participation. A presentation during the school day can be anywhere from 40–90 minutes, with longer programs allowing more time for discussion and questions.

Lecture/Demonstrations: A lecture/demonstration provides more opportunity for learning through discussion and student participation. Using musical performance to illustrate key ideas, the performers share more about their instruments, musical styles and the process of making music. Topics can include: improvisation and composition, differences and similarities between Western and Eastern music, approaches to North Indian rhythm and Middle Eastern melody, etc.

Classroom Visits: Students typically want to learn more after hearing a 35th Parallel performance. This smaller group setting (up to 30 attendees) allows for the most interaction and student participation. Students are able to view the instruments up close and engage in a more informal dialogue with the performers. The musicians respond to students’ questions with stories and information about the instruments and musical styles, as well as their own experiences learning, composing and performing their music.

Right-click here to download 35th Parallels's biographies.