These interlinked programmes feature leading musicians, singers and dancers from the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Centre, the premier centre for Indian Culture outside the subcontinent. Narrated by conductor David Murphy, they are an ideal introduction to Indian music for new listeners, and provide much that is new for those already familiar with this fascinating musical world. The opening performance, featuring an ensemble of instrumentalists, singers and dancers explores ragas associated with Ganesh, the remover of obstacles; the second explores the richness and variety of Indian song; and the third, the drama and excitement of Indian rhythm featuring tabla, mridangam and a variety of Indian percussion.
The sitar and tabla virtuosi who first popularised Indian music in the West come from the North Indian tradition. The first programme explores this tradition and its roots in Hindustani song. The equally rich tradition of Karnatic (South Indian) music is explored in the second performance. Little known in the West, this is one of the oldest intact musical traditions in the world, with perhaps the most spectacular approach to rhythm of any music on earth. In the third performance we encounter the fireworks that result when North and South unite and the series closes with meditative night-time ragas.
Opening Celebration
Date: Wednesday 1 October
Time: 10:30
Venue: Hall Two
Ganesh! remover of obstacles and bringer of good luck.
Passage to India: Song – the Soul of Indian music
Date: Wednesday 1 October
Time: 11:45
Venue: Hall Two
Passage to India: Rhythm – the Heart of Indian music
Date: Wednesday 1 October
Time: 13:00
Venue: Hall Two
Passage to the North
Date: Friday 3 October
Time: 19:30
Venue: Hall Two
Ganesh! remover of obstacles and bringer of good luck.
Passage to the South
Date: Friday 3 October
Time: 20:45
Venue: Hall Two
Ganesh! remover of obstacles and bringer of good luck.
Passage to India: North Meets South!
Date: Friday 3 October
Time: 22:00
Venue: Hall Two
Exploring what happens when these two traditions come together
Nada Brahma
Date: Friday 3 October
Time: 23:15
Venue: Hall Two
Meditative Night Ragas featuring sitar and violin
