April 6, 2013

Drexel University’s Main Building will be the site for the first 24-hour North Indian Hindustani classical music concert, the Raga Samay Festival, to take place in the Western Hemisphere in decades. Ten soloists from India and the United States will perform what are actually 15 concerts spanning Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7th.

Each performance is improvised within a raga, or melodic system, which is traditionally reserved for a specific time of day or night. The Raga Samay Festival will include vocal solo performances accompanied by tabla and harmonium, instrumental solo performances accompanied by tabla, and instrumental jugalbandi (duets), and other activities for the enjoyment and understanding of novices and experts alike.
 
Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar, one of the leading Hindustani vocalists of her generation, is among the festival’s performers. Known for her rich, resonant voice, and excellent command of rhythm and melody, she performs for huge audiences in India and tours regularly in Europe, North America, and Asia. Also appearing is Grammy-nominated Tarun Bhattacharya, who is widely credited for revolutionizing the style of play of the Santoor instrument.

A limited number of free tickets are available for Westphal students. If you are interested please email Lisa Visco at visco@drexel.edu. The Raga Samay Festival will be at Drexel’s Main Building located at 3141 Chestnut St. beginning at 6 PM on April 6th. For directions and other festival information click here.