Libana is another Old School / Old Guard favorite in the Pagan and Wiccan Community.  Libana is a women’s world music ensemble and is still going strong in its 33rd performance season.

The focus of the Libana ensemble has been to “illuminate(s) the creativity, vision, and spirit of the world’s women through the performance of traditional and contemporary music and dance. By raising awareness and appreciation for diverse cultural expressions and the universal themes that unite us all, Libana inspires intercultural understanding, healing, and peace building.” (See website.)  To that end, they have succeeded over the years and continue to be an inspiration to us all.

The group was founded by its Artistic Director, Susan Robbins in 1979, with the idea of exploring and performing music and dance which reflect women’s often undocumented creative contributions to their cultures.  They perform ancient melodies and contemporary tunes (usually a capella) which is drawn from the divergent cultural expressions of the Mediterranean, the Balkans, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.

The multi-talented members of Libana include Lisa Bosley (vocals, bendir, charango, claves, clarinet, darabuka, kompang, kontra, riqq, zils), Allison Coleman (vocals, bendir, bombo, cabasa, charango, flute, kompang, mazhar, riqq, dancer), Marytha Paffrath (vocals, bells, bendir, bombo, djembe, dumbek, frame drums, kompang, naqqara, pakawaj, recorders, riqq, shekere, tapan/tabl, dancer), Susan Robbins (vocals, accordion, bendir, chonguri, guitar, hammered dulcimer, ipu, kompang, oud, psaltery, saz, shekere, tambura, zils), Linda Ugelow (vocals, bell, bendir, darabuka, double bass, kompang, riqq, shekere, dancer), and Cheryl Weber (vocals, bendir, kompang, riqq, shekere, woodblock).  For more information regarding the individual members, please be sure to visit their website.

Upcoming Events:

Libana is performing a concert in Littleton, MA on Saturday, Feb 11th and workshop + concert at Stonehill College (Easton, MA) on Sunday, Feb 12th.

Libana is having an up-close concert of music and dance from the women of the world at Creating Life Studio, a wonderful new intimate studio space in Littleton, MA! http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/221562 .

In the next installment of the Nakamichi Concert Series, the musical ensemble group Libana will perform in Stonehill’s Alumni Hall on February 12 at 7 p.m. In conjunction with their evening concert, Libana will also offer a hands-on workshop in the afternoon at 2 p.m. to learn the musical ways of this eclectic group. http://www.stonehill.edu/x25302.xml

Contact Info:
Website – http://www.libana.com/
Facebook – www.facebook.com/libanamusic?sk=wall#!/libanamusic
Twitter – www.twitter.com/libanamusic

Albums:
A Circle Is Cast (1986)
Fire Within (1990)
Borderland (1993)
Night Passage (2000)
Turning,
Songs of Earth Reverence and Peace (2009)
Women of India~Travels with Libana 2012 (2011)

A River of Birds

Dark Moon performed live.

Ancient Mother