In Color: Western Medieval Meets Raga

Musical ideas have been exchanged between the Eastern and Western worlds since the days of the Silk Road, when music, instruments, and ideas traveled along with traded goods between China, India, Europe, and the Middle East. In this program, we will uncover ancient connections between very different musical styles and create new ones.

Joining forces with Hindustani raga musicians, we will place European Medieval songs side by side with North Indian classical ragas, with musicians from both traditions working together on new collaborations. Our musical pairings will be based on similarities of musical scale or emotional tone, with creative improvisation. These two musical styles go together surprisingly well: both styles are rooted in melodic line and drone (instead of chords), both styles use unusual musical scales, and both were heavily influenced by Persian music. Raga singer Soma Sarkar Preciado and tabla player Debanjan Bhattacharya will perform with soprano Emily Nelson and visiting artists, Medieval fiddle player Niccolo Seligman and Persian flute specialist Kelariz Keshavarz.