Darbari Trio to Perform Indian Classical Music
MADISON, NJ—The Music Department at Drew University announces a performance of Indian Classical Music by the Darbari Trio to take place in the Concert Hall at Drew on April 3, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. The trio consists of Allyn Minor on Sitar, Steve Gorn on Bansuri Flute and Samir Chatterjee on Tabla.
Darbari means "courtly." Until the early decades of the 20th century, Indian music was performed in the palaces and homes of patrons remembered for their refined taste and enthusiastic encouragement. The interactive, lively setting is an atmosphere we seek to evoke in our music. Darbari is also the name of a beautiful late-night raga.
Raga means “to color the mind” and is traditionally associated with a time of day, a season or a quality of light. In this concert Gorn, Miner and Chatterjee play Indian ragas for the evening hours on the bansuri bamboo flute, sitar and tabla.
Chatterjee, who often performs with Pandit Ravi Shankar, plays the tabla with rhythmic mastery and a lyrical sweetness. Gorn and Miner, who are both highly regarded by Indian critics, blend the distinctive ‘voices’ of the sitar and bamboo flute seamlessly in renditions of traditional ragas while exploring a fascinating range of tone color and style.
"Sitarist Allyn Miner was trained in Banaras by Thakur Rajbhan Singh and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Her treatment of raga Marubihag greatly impressed the audience. Her understanding of the raga, handling of the instrument, perfect tonal renditions left one spellbound."
-The Pioneer, Mumbai, India
“The strains of Gorn’s wooden flute chased one another like fireflies as Mr. Chatterjee used the lightest of touch. When the dynamics grew more intense the utter attentiveness of the musicians kept the audience rapt.”
-The New York Times
“This was almost painfully reflective music, ending, finally, in an exuberant improvisatory interchange with Samir Chatterjee, whose Tabla playing also seemed less percussive than vocal.”
-The New York Times
Tickets for the April 3 concert are $15 at the door for general admission and $2 for Drew students, faculty and staff with valid id. For more information call Norman Lowrey at 973/408-3421.
###
Posted: March 16, 2009
