Raaga-Rang is a unique concert where the elegance of Hindustani classical music renders itself to the masses through the ever popular medium of Hindi film music.

The show will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 5pm at Chinmaya Auditorium, (1 Union Street, Andover, MA).

This inimitable program is brought to you by Meru Education Foundation in collaboration with Anubhava School of Music and Learnquest Academy of Music. Meru has brought a decade of classical learning to the New England through its Camp Meru and Summit Meru programs. With Raaga-Rang they have strung together melody and mode and upped the ante in this Hindi-movie classical songs extravaganza. Hindustani classical raagas or melodies will be explored in Hindi, Kannada and Telugu film songs. The melodic structures of the raagas will emit the sweet fragrance of the timeless songs from old Indian films. These songs have survived through generations and are still revered and are steeped in history, and are all based on classical raagas.

“Indian Classical music is a deep well where all great music composers have sought inspiration for their next blockbuster creation. Raaga-Rang maps a melodious journey through a few selected classical raagas,” says Tara Bangalore, Director, Anubhava School of Music.

In a presentation designed to enthrall music lovers, classical enthusiasts as well as the Bollywood buff, Meru is giving you a star-studded line-up of some of the most illustrious New England area musicians. The vocal line-up includes Anuradha Palakurthi, Meena Sundaram, Shuchita Rao, Sowmya Sri Sandeep, Dilip Acharya, Sankar Gangaikondan, Sriharsha Sista, Vijay Kumar, and Shekhar Shastri himself, who is the Director of Meru Education Foundation.

A peerless set of classically trained musicians form the live Raaga-Rang orchestra: Christopher Pereji (Keyboard), Dilip Acharya (Keyboard), KVS Vinay (Violin), Gopi Shanker (Flute), Harshal Tole (Tabla), and Pranav Ghatraju (Tabla). You will hear an inspiring rendition of well-known classical and semi-classical compositions.

Proceeds from the show will support the teaching of Indian arts and culture in New England schools. Meru Education Foundation is a 501c(3) tax-exempt organization.

Hear what the participants and organizers have to say about this performance!

“Indian classical music provides a grammar for innovation; from a few notes and rules elaborate compositions can be created with intricate melodies and rhythms – and then it all hangs together as a consistent structure with a discernible core that is easy to remember, transmit, and teach. On the other hand, popular films songs are essentially targeted to generate catchy, memorable melodies that touch the heart – in a 3-minute song, an entire story is told, an image is captured, and a lilting melody is deposited on the lips of the listener.”
-    Shekhar Shastri, Director of Meru Education Foundation.

“Raaga is a unique concept that captures the essence of melody. In any musical rendition, it is the melody that touches the listener – it doesn’t matter if it is classical, folk, or popular. Learnquest is delighted to be partnering with Meru and Anubhava School in bringing Raaga-Rang. It is a fabulous precursor to the Learnquest Music Festival to be held soon thereafter.”
-     Pradeep Shukla, Director, Learnquest Academy of Music.

“The structure of the program is designed to bring joy to a wide range of audiences. I am truly enjoying the Raaga-Rang journey.”
-    Shuchita Rao, a well-known Classical Hindustani singer and teacher, based in Sharon, MA

“To enjoy and sing a song like, ‘Tu Ganga ki Mauj Mein’ (Baiju Bawara), one need not have known Raaga Bhairavi. Music composers packaged timeless gems to reach a larger audience. The songs of Raaga-Rang event will carry you to the ‘Mahavriksha’ (The Great Tree) of Hindustani music in an unforgettable and entertaining way. I am privileged to be part of this experiment.”
-    Anuradha Palakurthi, a noted singer who will be performing at Raaga-Rang.

“I am very excited to perform with so many wonderful artistes in this unique program… Classical songs take a special  form in film songs with  more liberal interpretation of the ragas... From Naushad to Madan Mohan to RD Burman and AR Rahman, numerous composers have created gems based on classical ragas. I love singing the songs that on the surface seem not to, however in fact have deep raga foundations. The audiences in New England are in for a treat! This is going to be an event to remember.”
-    Meena Sundaram who thanks her Guru Shri Warren Senders and many wonderful music teachers from LearnQuest, Anubhava School of music and many others teaching this art.

Visit Raaga-Rang on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/370137759744455/

For event details, sponsorship and tickets, contact:
Vanita Shastri (781) 862-9648 or Pallavi Nagesha (508) 736-5405
Email: raagarangboston@gmail.com

Delicious Indian dinner will be available at a nominal cost.

Check out listing here: http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/cal.php?event_id=9718&board_id=63205&stage=1

http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/cal.php?stage=1&event_id=9789

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