Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: A&E

Media Credit: courtesy of Arts & Issues

Musician Mark Holland is all about fusion.

His group, Autumn's Child, combines the haunting sound of the Native American flute with other instruments and Holland's unique compositions to create something unclassifiable, he said.

The musical fusion results in several soothing, meditative songs, which, according to Holland, the Native American flute is known for.

"The majority of the music is very relaxing and has a calming effect on people and brings more peace," he said.

Holland will bring his fusion music to SIUE Wednesday with "Autumn's Child featuring Mark Holland." The show will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Morris University Center's Meridian Ballroom. The performance is the second installment of SIUE's Arts & Issues series.

Director of Arts & Issues Grant Andree said Holland's skill with the Native American flute left an impression the first time he saw him perform, and when he approached Holland with the show, he hoped the musician could bring something original to SIUE.

"I wanted him to brainstorm about him doing something different and unique," Andree said. "The only place you will see this concert is here at SIUE."

Andree said many performers look forward to working with the Arts & Issues series because it gives them the opportunity to do something outside of their normal performances.

"We're almost a producer rather than just a presenter," he said.

Andree said Holland played at SIUE during one of last season's Arts & Issues show, "Beyond Abbey Road - Peter Mayer and Company."

"We received a great reaction because of all the great musicians," Andree said. "Mark Holland really stood out because the Native American flute is so different."

Holland grew up playing the concert flute and became interested in wooden flutes during college.

"The tonality of the [Native American] flute is what's totally different than anything else," Holland said. "It has a haunting sound that nothing is like it."

Holland took up the Native American flute in 1995, the same year Autumn's Child formed. At that time, the trio played at small coffee house shows, and Holland said the band's size and popularity grew organically from that point.

"The flute kind of led the way," Holland said. "It wasn't like anything was preplanned."

Increased requests for CDs led to recording sessions, and soon Holland started his own record label and publishing company, Cedar n Sage Music. In 2002, he made it his fulltime business.

Holland said his music is most easily described as global chamber music.

"It's a hybrid of classical jazz, world music and folk music all blended together," he said.

Holland called it "genre bending," a mix of different types and instruments creating a new sound. For SIUE's concert, Holland and seven other musicians will play instruments ranging from the electric harp to the tabla, a traditional Indian drum.

"I've always been big on fusion, music that's fusing different elements together," Holland said. "It's just what comes out naturally."

Autumn's Child began with three members, which expanded to a touring group of four. Often, the group brings additional musicians for performances, and for Wednesday night's show, six additional artists will take the stage along with Holland and Autumn's Child guitarist, Billy Engel.

The artists include: Ranya Iqbal on cello, Cory Edwards on piano, Terri Langerak on electric harp, R. Scott Bryan on percussion, Jim Feist on tabla and N. Scott Robinson on world percussion.

Bryan has played with Sheryl Crow, and Holland has played with folk artists such as R. Carlos Nakai, Oregon and Mary Youngblood.

"Each of these players is multitalented and masters of their instruments," Holland said.

In addition to Holland's skills with the Native American flute, the show will also feature traditional Native American hoop dancer, Lowery Begay.

Click here, for a video of Begay's hoop dancing.

"It's hard to describe," Holland said. "You've seen people do hula hoop before and use a bunch of them? That would be just the tip of the iceberg as to what he does…. A person has to see it in order to really appreciate it."

Producer Dan Rubright worked on the Arts & Issues Peter Mayer show last year and has worked with Holland in the past. Rubright said Holland is not only a skilled musician, but he also has knowledge of American Indian history and culture.

"He's always taken so much care to each detail, and they are just very well prepared," Rubright said.

Rubright said the Native American flute's sound connects with the audience on a spiritual level.

"There is something very spiritual and soulful about the Native American flute that sort of relaxes people, makes them very human," Rubright said. "People respond to his playing and the way he approaches the flute."

Rubright said he has several of Holland's pieces in his own music collection and said the compositions are just as important as the skill.

"I've got some of his work on my iPod, and I really listen to them," he said. "He is one of the experts in Native American flute, and he's done a great job crafting his music and his career."

Rubright said Holland's unique rhythms make a special connection with the audience.

"It's not just great melodies, but he always knows how to package it so it's enticing," Rubright said. "Your body just moves with the stuff. It puts you in a relaxed and inspired state."

Holland said he hopes the show will expand the SIUE audience's musical palate.

"Music doesn't have to be just one genre," Holland said. "It doesn't have to be this or that. It can be something that is all encompassing with stuff that creates a new sound."

Arts & Issues continues to offer 50 free tickets for SIUE students who present their Cougar Cards at the Fine Arts Box Office in Dunham Hall. The tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. A student ticket is $13, and a general admission ticket is $27, also available at the Dunham Hall Box Office.

Click here to order tickets online or call 650-5774 for more information.

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