mattersadmin posted on October 23, 2009 14:50
Kuljit Bhamra and Jonathan Mayer
Brighton Early Music Festival has never been content with sticking to early classical music. This autumn the event, which attracts audiences of 4000+ and attracts significant BBC Radio 3 coverage is promoting world music artists alongside classical stars through its festival theme, East meets West.
www.bremf.org.uk/
Matters Musical artists Kuljit Bhamra:
www.mattersmusical.com/tabid/1195/xmmid/2654/xmid/112/xmview/2/Default.aspx
Jonathan Mayer:
www.mattersmusical.com/tabid/1195/xmmid/2654/xmid/461/xmview/2/Default.aspx
and Shahid Kahn:
www.mattersmusical.com/tabid/1195/xmmid/2654/xmid/460/xmview/2/Default.aspx
are just three of the world music performers who will explore extraordinary collaborations across the centuries between western classical music and musical traditions from China, India, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. With the main events running from 23 October to 8 November, there are 21 events in venues across Brighton & Hove, and three events will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
“The Festival has always quite naturally straddled the divide between early classical music, world music, folk and jazz,” explains Deborah Roberts, Co-Artistic Director. “It’s fascinating how much these musical genres share and how much closer the roots become the further back in time you go.”
“History is full of surprising examples of musicians from different traditions coming together to create an exciting new fusion of sound,” adds Clare Norburn, the other Co-Artistic Director. “We think of fusion or crossover as a new concept, but it really isn’t at all.”
Fusion festival highlights include:
• Asian classical musicians Shahid Khan (voice), Jonathan Mayer (sitar) and Kuljit Bhamra (tabla) join leading medieval ensemble The Orlando Consort explore the musical traditions of Goa and its 16th century Portuguese missionary colonisers - Friday 6 November, 8.00 pm at St Bartholomews Church (Event 17);
• the musical courtesan cultures of Italy and India, with Purnima Chaudhuri Thumri vocalist and Anureka Ghosh Kathak dancer and Musica Secreta;
• Ashigs from Azerbaijan celebrate a musical and poetic tradition dating from the 14th century (Asian Music Circuit tour).
• Tempus Fugit presents baroque and Indian fusion music from the streets and soirées of 18th century Calcutta in a multi-media event combining dance, theatre and music – Indian artists include Debipriya Das (voice) and Sanjay Guha (sitar).