Navaratri, one of India’s major festival celebrations, is a time to see family and friends, enjoy music and dance, and seek blessings for new endeavors. Wesleyan’s 47th annual festival celebrates the diversity of Indian music and dance.

Schedule:

Thursday, October 5, 2023

4:30pm: Graduate Music Colloquium: Garrett Field - “Rethinking Raga in Free Rhythm: Karnatak Alapana and Eloquent Writing”

Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology/Musicology at Ohio University Garrett Field MA ’08, PhD ’13 examines the playing of South Indian Karnatak mandolinist U. Srinivas (1969–2014) to offer a clearer view of the interesting musical processes that occur during improvisational performances. This event is part of the 47th annual Navaratri Festival at Wesleyan.

The patterns of notes used as a basis for improvisation in South Indian Karnatak music are called raga. The free-rhythmic melodic improvisation of raga is known as Alapana, and it is common to consider Alapana as “musical speech.” Yet Field argues that Alapana is less like an unscripted, off-the-cuff speech, and more like the eloquent writing of a speechwriter. Field more specifically contends that three underlying principles of Alapana are coherence (the creation of sections to produce a portrait of the improvisation’s structure), cohesion (the musical ways that phrases within the sections are tied together), and rhetorical climax. Field seeks to bear out his argument through the analysis of these principles in four Alapana performed by Srinivas.

Field is the author of Modernizing Composition: Sinhala Song, Poetry, and Politics in Twentieth-Century Sri Lanka (University of California Press, 2017). He has published research articles in Modern Asian Studies, Anthropological Linguistics, Analytical Approaches to World Music, and The Journal of Asian Studies. He has received support for his research from the Fulbright-Hays Award, Ohio University’s Baker Fund Award, and two Sinhala Language Instruction Grants from the American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies. Field is a performer of South Indian classical music and leads the Ohio University Indian Music Ensemble. His teachers were Adjunct Associate Professor of Music B. Balasubrahmaniyan, Adjunct Associate Professor of Music David Nelson PhD ’91, and Kalpana Venkat.

Location: Adzenyah Rehearsal Hall, Room 003 (Daltry Room), 60 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown, CT 06459

Cost: Free!

7:00pm: B. Balasubrahmaniyan: Vocal Music of South India

Vocalist and Adjunct Associate Professor of Music B. Balasubrahmaniyan will be joined by Adjunct Associate Professor of Music David Nelson PhD ’91 on mridangam (double-headed drum) for their 20th annual Navaratri Festival concert together. The duo will be accompanied by violinist L. Ramakrishnan. This event is part of the 47th annual Navaratri Festival at Wesleyan.

B. Balasubrahmaniyan (voice) performs and teaches Karnatak music in India and in the United States. He began music lessons with his father, D. Balraj, and subsequently studied under several teachers, including B. Krishnamoorthy, T. Brinda, and T. Viswanathan. Balasubrahmaniyan (also known as Balu) has received several awards and fellowships for vocal music from a range of musical organizations. These include “Tamil Isaippanar,” from the Thanthai Periyar Tamil Isai Mandram Society, and the “Yuvakala Bharati” title from the Bharat Kalachar Cultural Center. He is a regular performer on All India Radio and Doordarshan television, and he has been invited to perform concerts at the St. Thyagaraja Aradhana music festival in Cleveland, Ohio. He holds a PhD in Music from the University of Madras. He is Adjunct Associate Professor of Music at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.

David Nelson (mridangam) has been performing and teaching South Indian drumming since 1975. From his principal teacher, the renowned T. Ranganathan, he learned to accompany a wide range of styles, including Bharata Natyam, South India’s classical dance. He has a PhD ’91 in Ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University, where he is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music. He has accompanied well-known artists throughout the United States, Europe, India, and China. He has also written extensively on South Indian drumming, including a major article in the Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. His first book, Solkattu Manual: An Introduction to the Language of Rhythm in South Indian Music, was published in 2008 by Wesleyan University Press. In March 2013, he was awarded the title “Kala Seva Mani” by the prestigious Cleveland Tyagaraja Festival. In December 2017 he was awarded the “Padmashree Palghat Raghu Memorial Award” for excellence in mridangam by the Neelakanta Sivan Cultural Academy in Chennai. His second book, Konnakkol Manual: An Advanced Course in Solkattu, was published by Wesleyan University Press in June 2019.

L. Ramakrishnan (violin) hails from a musical family and was formally initiated into a musical odyssey by his mother at the age of two. He was trained in vocal music for eight years before beginning his training in Karnatak violin under the guidance of Smt. Visalam Vageeswar at the Shanmukhananda Vidyalaya, Mumbai. Ramakrishnan performed his first solo concert at the age of twelve at Shanmukhananda, Mumbai. He came under the wings of the distinguished violin maestro ***.A.Kanyakumari at the age of thirteen. It was during this phase that he learned the importance of vocal orientation in instrument playing and the proper enunciation of Sahitya. Ramakrishnan has performed with Kanyakumari in her grand musical ensembles on numerous occasions. He has done additional training under Shri. T.K. Govinda Rao and Smt. T.R. Balamani. Ramakrishnan has accompanied many established and upcoming artists, including T. K. Govinda Rao, A. Kanyakumari, Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, M. Balamuralikrisha, and Abhishek Raghuram. Among the many honors and awards conferred on him are Naada Bhooshanam – Nadopasana (Mumbai), Shanmukha Mani – Shanmukhananda (Mumbai), and Best Violinist in sub-senior slot – Music Season (Music Academy). Ramakrishnan has performed all over India and across the United States. He currently works as the senior tech lead at Aetna in Connecticut.

Location: Crowell Concert Hall, 50 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown, CT 06459

Cost: $12 general public; $10 senior citizens, Wesleyan faculty/staff/alumni, non-Wesleyan students; FREE! for Wesleyan students and youth under 18.

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Friday, October 6, 2023

7:00pm: The Akkarai Sisters Violin Duet: Akkarai S. Subhalakshmi and Akkarai S. Sornalatha

The violin, celebrated for its bright tones and its capacity to follow and respond to the human voice, was introduced to Indian classical music from the West in the 19th century. Although the construction of the violin is the same in both Indian and Western music, the tuning, playing posture, and techniques are quite different.

The Akkarai Sisters-S. Subhalakshmi and S. Sornalatha-are renowned for their soulful and nuanced, creative interpretations of classical Indian Karnatak violin and vocal duets. The duo has collaborated with musicians working in genres ranging from Hindustani to jazz and Western classical. Their performances have graced stages globally, captivating audiences with their musical virtuosity. The sisters are primarily trained by their father, Akkarai Shri S Swamynathan.

The duo will make their Connecticut debut as part of the 47th annual Navaratri Festival at Wesleyan.

Location: Crowell Concert Hall, 50 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown, CT 06459

Cost: $20 general public; $15 senior citizens, Wesleyan faculty/staff/alumni, non-Wesleyan students; FREE! for Wesleyan students and youth under 18.

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Saturday, October 7, 2023

7:00pm: Pilu: Suhail Yusuf Khan and Henry Hodder with Vishal Nagar

At Wesleyan, North Indian sarangi master and PhD candidate Suhail Yusuf Khan MA ’18 and California-native guitarist and songwriter Henry Hodder ’20 perform the world premiere of tunes from their forthcoming debut EP Soon, developed as part of “Music and Mysticism of the Indian Subcontinent,” Hodder’s senior tutorial at Wesleyan directed by Khan. The duo will be joined by tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. This event is part of the 47th annual Navaratri Festival at Wesleyan.

The sarangi is a short-necked, bowed string instrument regarded as one of the closest instruments to the human voice. The concert will follow a story-telling journey, from traditional sarangi and tabla music, to the addition of Western guitar, culminating in the contemporary style the group calls “sarangi futurism.”

Suhail Yusuf Khan follows in the footsteps of his grandfather, sarangi legend Ustad Sabri Khan. He has performed with the likes of Steve Vai and New York City-based artist Cassandra Jenkins, and has released renowned albums with multicultural groups including Yorkston/Thorne/Khan.

Location: Crowell Concert Hall, 50 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown, CT 06459

Cost: $12 general public; $10 senior citizens, Wesleyan faculty/staff/alumni, non-Wesleyan students; FREE! for Wesleyan students and youth under 18.

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Sunday, October 8, 2023

11:00am: Saraswati Puja (Hindu Ceremony)

This religious service, led by Joseph Getter MA ’99, marks the most auspicious day of the year for beginning new endeavors. The audience may participate and bring instruments, manuscripts, and other items for blessing. This event is part of the 47th annual Navaratri Festival at Wesleyan.

Location: World Music Hall, 40 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown, CT 06459.

Cost: FREE!

2:00pm: Kathak Dance Performance: Jin Won

Kathak (North Indian classical) dancer and tabla player Jin Won explores the sonic and visual possibilities of rhythm through dance and music with a singular style. Originally from South Korea, she spent over fifteen years training in India under Pandit Divyang Vakil and Shrimati Shubha Desai. At Wesleyan, Won’s performance will feature two pieces–Khoj and Nrrita–as part of the 47th annual Navaratri Festival.

Andaaz describes the unique expression, personal flair, and individualistic interpretation that an artist brings to their performance. Encompassing improvisation and creative expression, andaaz is how artists showcase their personality and emotional depth within the framework of their particular art form.

As Artistic Director of Pradhanica Dance and Music Company based in New Jersey, Won has created, choreographed, and performed across North America, and has also taught master classes and workshops. She is currently under the mentorship of dancer Shrimati Durga Arya. For her Wesleyan performance, Won is accompanied by Mike Lukshis, tabla, and Rohan Misra, sarangi.

A talk-back moderated by Professor of Dance and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Hari Krishnan will follow the performance.

Location: Crowell Concert Hall, 50 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown, CT 06459

Cost: $20 general public; $15 senior citizens, Wesleyan faculty/staff/alumni, non-Wesleyan students; FREE! for Wesleyan students and youth under 18.

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Navaratri Festival Subscription
Subscribe and Save!

Navaratri Festival subscription packages include all four ticketed performances, including world premiere music and Connecticut debut dance concerts. Subscriptions are available now as follows:

- FREE! for Wesleyan students and youth under age 18

- $23.50 for senior citizens, Wesleyan faculty/staff/alumni, and non-Wesleyan students

- $30 for the general public

Enjoy a 47% discount off regular prices when you purchase a subscription to all ticketed events. 

Offer ends on Thursday, October 5, 2023 at 7pm.

Presented by the Center for the Arts, Music Department, Dance Department, and the Department of Film Studies, with leadership support from the Madhu Reddy Endowed Fund for Indian Music and Dance at Wesleyan University, and additional support from the Jon B. Higgins Memorial Fund.

Date:
October 5-8, 2023

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