Tokyo, Japan. (Top40 Charts/ New Wave Part III) - This year provides the opportunity for people from
India and Japan to remember and celebrate the links between their great nations. Situated within the Asian sphere -
India on the Western edge and Japan on the Eastern - interaction between Japan, China and
India has grown since ancient times through trade, the arts and shared philosophies. For Japanese people, often there is a feeling of recognition and immense pleasure in listening to sitar. This may have something to do with the commonalities in music and emotional responses that have developed throughout Asia over many years. As part of the India-Japan Friendship Year 2007 this concert, through the merging of Indian sitar and Japanese blues harmonica, provides another occasion for Indian and Japanese people to nurture and expand their warm relationships.
To mark the 50th Anniversary of the India-Japan Cultural Exchange Agreement, the year 2007 is being celebrated as the India Japan Friendship Year. As a part of this friendship year, a Festival of India in Japan and Festival of Japan in India will be held.
Proactive to the call of the countries, since last year the Darshanam organization started a unique collaboration of Japanese and Indian musicians and music traditions in a concert event series featuring internationally acclaimed sitarist Dr. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh. Based in Tokyo, he represents the sound of traditional Indian music in all its dynamic range and rhythmic styles.
In a rare convergence of cultures New Wave Part III extends the collaboration of Indian and Japanese traditional music through the sitar and the koto. Two stringed instruments are brought together to embark on an exciting evening with a fully improvised traditional Indian composition for koto. Previously unheard melodic variations while accompanying the sitar are revealed. Vibrant and pulsating yet gentle and flowing at other times, the music is a multi-layered experience bringing you an adventurous journey of harmony and peace that will touch your soul.
New Wave Part I in June highlighted Sardeshmukh playing sitar accompanied by Tsugaru shamisen. The audience was thrilled to hear the wonderful harmonies of these stringed instruments together. Many said they had never heard such beautiful sounds on the shamisen before. Now the second concert New Wave Part II is eagerly awaited.
In a rare convergence of cultures New Wave Part II extends the collaboration of Indian and Japanese traditional music through the sitar and the koto. Two stringed instruments are brought together to embark on an exciting evening with a fully improvised traditional Indian composition for koto. Previously unheard melodic variations while accompanying the sitar are revealed. Vibrant and pulsating yet gentle and flowing at other times, the music is a multi-layered experience bringing you an adventurous journey of harmony and peace that will touch your soul.
New Wave Part III - Dr. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh will play the sitar with Yasujiro Asami san, an exponent of the Harmonica in a melody specifically composed for the event. Tabla (Indian drums) accompaniment is by Kenji Sakasegawa san.
New Wave Part III is supported by the following organizations: Indian Embassy, and The Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Currently Presale tickets are available at JPY 3,500
The voluntary organization Darshanam has promoted Indian culture and traditions in Japan since 1991. Their major activities have focused on Ayurveda (traditional Indian science of healthy living) through lectures and demonstrations and traditional Indian music through concerts and activities such as individual and group therapeutic music sessions including those for mentally and physically challenged persons.
Darshanam in turn supports the charitable trust named Bharatiya Sanskriti Darshan Trust in Pune, India (www.ayurved-wagholi.org) an organization dedicated to the propagation of traditional Indian sciences, arts and culture throughout the world.
