Semantron Performance

University of North Texas musician Kayla Liptak will perform on the semantron, an ancient instrument used in Eastern European and Orthodox Catholic monasteries to call monks to worship.  While semantra predate bells, churches and monasteries in the Ottoman Empire reverted to them when the ringing of bells was outlawed under Islamic rule, thus making the simple, wooden planks an unassuming symbol of subversion and perseverance.  The instrument can also be seen as a source of healing through connections with music, prayer, and culture.