Experience the music of India

India’s Hasu Patel, one of the few world-class female artists performing on the sitar, will bring her country’s classical music to Heidelberg College during a guest performance at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, in Brenneman Concert Hall.

Patel plays a special style known as “Gayaki Ang,” or singing style, where the sitar – India’s most popular string instrument – replicates fluidity and the nuances of the human voice. The body of the instrument is crafted from a seasoned gourd and its long, hollow neck from teakwood. Accompanying her will be Arup Chattopadhyay on the tabla, a set of two drums.

Born in the culturally rich city of Baroda, India, Patel began studying music at the age of 10. She went on to pursue higher education, and is the first woman to receive a music degree with a Gold medal in the 75-year history of the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University in Baroda. She has performed the Classical Music of India at various universities, performing arts centers, music and sound healing conferences, world/jazz/country music festivals, radio/television stations, churches, temples, yoga ashrams and more. She has been pursuing music in the U.S. for the last 30 years.

Chattopadhyay began training in tabla at the age of 6 with his father. Today, he is considered to be one of the most sought-after tabla artists of India. Since 1999, he has served as a visiting guest lecturer of tabla at the University of California, San Diego. In 2000, he released his first CD and cassette, The Art of Tabla Solo, which was followed by a second album in 2002.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, is being held in coordination with the Tiffin City Schools, with special funding from Mercy Hospital. It is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Music Department at (419) 448-2073.

Posted Jan. 23, 2008