Tuesday, February 05, 2013

United Nations of Indian Classical Music, Mullumbimby

A fortunate collusion of schedules this summer allowed me to collaborate with some great organisers and musicians to produce "United Nations of Indian Classical Music" in Mullumbimby and Brisbane on the Australia Day (and India Republic Day) weekend, Jan 26/27. I originally used this event name for a small concert in Varanasi in December 2009, which featured Indian classical artists from India, Japan, Canada and Australia. This 2013 edition added to that list of countries (albeit with different members) to also include South Africa and, for the Brisbane concert, Sri Lanka.

That fortunate collusion of schedules didn't turn out to be soooo fortunate though, as ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald also hit the Brisbane and Mullumbimby areas on the Australia Day weekend. All up we had mixed fortunes. The Mullumbimby concert was sold out and the rain not yet heavy enough to deter most, but in Brisbane the rain and wind had become dangerous enough to keep everyone indoors or at least close to home, and the concert was cancelled. (More next post...)

The Mullumbimby concert was absolutely fantastic: The small Drill Hall was packed with about 120 people, all intently listening to inspired Indian classical music. Many thanks to Barbi Joffe for doing all the local organising and promotion work, as well as Ku Promotions and Dana Mynard from Spirited Events for helping to spread the word. Thanks also to Hansa for taking all these lovely photos.

 Yuki Taniguchi Flindell (Japan) opened with Dhrupad, Raga Patdeep in Chautaal and Sooltaal. Tabla accompaniment by Shen Flindell (Australia)

Taro Terahara (Japan) and Maharshi Raval (India) played together for the first time ever and it was brilliant. (I'm quite happy to have paired them up.)  Raga Gunji Manduka in vilambit and drut teentaal. Tanpura by Yuriko Terahara (Japan).

 On this rainy night, Raga Miyan ki Malhar by Saikat Bhattacharya (India).
Tabla accompaniment by Shen Flindell (Australia), tanpura by Bipasa Bhattacharya (India).

 Final act was Tahir Qawwal (Canada) with Maharshi Raval (India) and Bhairavi Devi (South Africa), presenting a range of pieces including Khayal, Thumri and Qawwali.

 Finale piece: Raghupati Ragava Raja Ram: all members.


More photos on my Facebook album, United Nations of Indian Classical Music 2013.

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