Larry Berk Words & Music
The Words and Music Series, begun in 2008, is sponsored by Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc., and is dedicated to the late Larry Berk, Dean of Library and Information Services, who initiated cultural events that have brought renowned writers, artists, and musicians to the college and the community. This series focuses on the multi-disciplinary blending of music and the spoken word.
2011 Words and Music Guest
An Evening of Harp and Sung Poetry with Julia Haines
7:00 p.m., September 22, 2011Vanderlyn Hall Student Lounge
Her visionary ecological rant, "Let's Enjoy Global Warming While It's Fun," has been
a favorite podcast of Penn Futures for the past few years. The Words and Music Series is sponsored by the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. and is dedicated to
Larry Berk.
For more information about Julia Haines, visit the following sites:
Julia Haines Website
The Night Owl Show, Julia & Sue at the Reservoir, Woodstock,1982 (video)
2010 Words & Music Guest
An Evening with Jules Shear
7:00 p.m., October 7, 2010
Vanderlyn Hall Student Lounge
Shear is an influential American singer, songwriter and guitarist who as the guest
artist for the Words and Music Series will conduct a musical workshop and perform
an original new song-cycle called "The Surreal Housewives of Woodstock."
Shear has recorded close to 20 albums and conceived and hosted the first 13 episodes
of the MTV series "Unplugged". His songs have found commercial success through other
artists including Cyndi Lauper. The Words and Music Series is sponsored by the Ulster
Community College Foundation, Inc. and is dedicated to Larry Berk.
2009 Words & Music Guest
Peter Rogen & Rumi Night of Poetry, Music & Whirling Dance
The Words and Music Series, sponsored by the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc., and dedicated to the
late Larry Berk, Dean of Library and Information Services, who initiated cultural
events that have brought renowned writers, artists, and musicians to the College and
the community, presents Rumi Night of Poetry, Music & Whirling Dance as the fall 2009
offering.
Rumi Night of Poetry, Music and Whirling Dance
7:00 p.m., October 24, 2009
Vanderlyn Hall Student Lounge
Come join us for a fascinating dramatic/musical presentation of the 13th century Persian
poet, Jalaluddin Rumi. Enjoy Rumi¹s mystical poetry and "teaching stories" with Amir
Vahab reading in Farsi and Peter Rogen in English.
Musicians Amir and Arsalaan accompany on original Persian and Turkish instruments
highlighted by the whirling dervish dances.
2008 Words & Music Guests
Mikhail Horowitz and Gilles Malkine
Comedy and Music with Mikhail Horowitz and Gilles Malkine
Vanderlyn Hall Student Lounge, SUNY Ulster
7:30 p.m., September 13, 2008
The polymorphously oxymoronic poet and plagiarist Mikhail Horowitz and the gastronomically anachronistic guitarist Gilles Malkine will perform a 24-kazoo salute to academia, unauthorized and unforgivable versions of great works of literature, and their usual panoply of folk-song parodies and political squibs. They’ll be aided and abetted by Harvey Kaiser on reeds, Charlie Kniceley on bass, and several guests who, understandably wish to remain anonymous.
Mikhail Horowitz, comedian, satirist, and poet, and Gilles Malkine, guitarist and
comic sidekick will perform spoofs of great literature, musical parodies, and satiric
commentary on contemporary society and politics on Saturday, September 13 at 7:30
p.m. in Vanderlyn Hall, Student Lounge (second floor) on the Stone Ridge campus of
SUNY Ulster. They’ll be accompanied by Harvey Kaiser on reeds, Charlie Kniceley on
bass and other guest artists. The free performance is the first event in the Words
and Music Series, sponsored by the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc., and
is dedicated to the late Larry Berk, Dean of Library and Information Services, who
initiated cultural events that have brought renowned writers, artists, and musicians
to the college and the community.
Mikhail Horowitz describes the duo’s upcoming performance at SUNY Ulster as “neo-vaudeville:
poetry, acoustic music—blues, jazz, country, roots music-- parodies of folk tunes
and political and social satire.” The entire second half of the show will be one long
performance piece entitled “ Conspicuous Christopher Columbus Consumption ,” his take on the origins and lunacy of current-day consumerism. He calls it a combination
of guerilla theater, slapstick, singing, and even a slide show.
Horowitz and Malkine have been performing together in the Hudson Valley since 1989
and have a large and enthusiastic following. In addition to performing his own work
as an actor and musician, Mikhail Horowitz is a poet, playwright, and journalist.
His published poetry books include Big League Poets , The Opus of Everything in Nothing Flat , and his newest, Rafting Into the Afterlife . He has also produced a CD of jazz fables, The Blues of the Birth . Horowitz and Malkine have collaborated on two CDs: Live, Jive, & Over 45 and Poor, On Tour, and Over 54 . Horowitz is a member of Actors & Writers, a playwriting and performing group based
in Olivebridge and is also an editor in the Publications Office of Bard College. Gilles
Malkine is a musician and composer who has recorded with John Sebastian, Billy Faier,
and his mother, renowned Breton folksinger, Sonia Malkine and performed with Tim Hardin
at the original Woodstock Festival in 1969, as well as many other musicians.