Greater than the sum of his parts
Marco Visconti-Prasca is not your typical grad student. At the age of 47, this 'aspiring' composer and native of Italy has already received the equivalent of a master's degree in music from the Italian public conservatory system, but has had to work his way up from scratch since entering the American university circuit.
The veteran baritone sax player, along with virtuoso clarinetist Michael Norsworthy and a talented ensemble will perform six original works of Visconti-Prasca's this Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. in Alumnae Hall. When asked to describe his sound, the composer was hesitant to comment on his craft. "The music should speak for itself," he says.
He does, however, offer a few cryptic hints. Self-proclaimed as more of a writer than a true composer, Visconti-Prasca explains that his creative process is a visual rather than an aural one, pointing to his well-developed writer's bump as a testament to his compositional skills. Finally, he compares his music to an Alexander Calder sculpture rather than the work of another musician in order to illustrate how his works are comprised of individual rhythms that work within a larger form.
But as Visconti-Prasca says, reading a description in a newspaper is "pointless" without hearing the music to back it up, so check out his concert this Wednesday to get the full scoop.
The 'ins and outs' of eating disorders
As a society, we often laugh off the ravages of eating disorders as the ridiculous attempts of privileged celebrities to appear even more impossibly beautiful. But for the millions of regular people who have to deal with the effects of such disorders on an everyday basis, eating disorders like bulimia nervosa are no joke.
Michelle Blair brings the struggles of bulimia victims to light with her touching documentary, "Inside Out: Stories of Bulimia," which will be shown in Barnum 104 this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. by Health Services. Bulimia is fast on the rise on college campuses with 1 percent to 2 percent of all students diagnosed annually, and unlike its more publicized counterpart, anorexia nervosa, is experiencing disturbing popularity among both males and females.
Clinicians and a nutritionist will be on hand to discuss the risks factors and health detriments of bulimia and other eating disorders after the film presentation.
Living the 'chai' life
In honor of the Tufts Hillel Chai (Life) Week that begins with a special faculty Shabbat on Friday night, world renowned singer Neshama Carlebach will perform at the Hillel Center at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.
"We're so lucky to have such a famous Jewish singer coming to Tufts," says Shir Appeal member and Tufts freshman Penina Goldstein. Carlebach has indeed achieved celebrity status, both for her lineage and illustrious career. The daughter of famed religious leader and composer, the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, Neshama began singing after the death of her beloved father in 1994. Since then, she has made a name for herself, touring the world with her soulful and spiritual musical style, and teaching about Jewish traditions, history, and contemporary issues as she goes.
The concert is open to all who wish to attend, as are the Havadallah (end of Shabbat) services in which Carlebach will also participate at 7:30 p.m.
-- by Kelly Rizzetta
