Indian classical music is simultaneously spiritual and secular. The relationship between the devotee and the divine is mirrored in familial, or even romantic, relationships that play out in daily life. Bringing to life these centuries’ old traditions from the Indian subcontinent, the Srivani Jade Ensemble will highlight the music that evolved under royal patronage in British India and reorganized itself along more democratic lines after the Independence of India and the creation of Pakistan in 1947-48. The program will feature the compositions of musicians whose creative careers processed the Partition of India and whose lyrics speak to the common ethos of the people of India and Pakistan, even as the musicians themselves and their lives were deeply affected by the dramatic and traumatic changes of their time. The ensemble will narrate and sing 'bandishes' in three voices, to the accompaniment of harmonium, tabla, and tanpura.
Srivani Jade is a captivating performer and story-teller of the folk and classical traditions of North India. She is a singer, composer and educator, and has performed in major festivals in India, North America, and Europe. She has recorded eight solo albums; her debut album ‘Meera’s Love’ won an IMA nomination in 2009. Her background scores for films (Tapasya, 2003, Siddhanto, 2014) and the Tom Stoppard play ‘Indian Ink’ (Sound Theater Company, 2014) received much critical acclaim worldwide. She is a three-times Washington State Master grant recipient, a Visiting Artist at the University of Washington, and has won grants, awards and residencies at the national level. In addition to vocals, Jade is a an accomplished tanpura player.
Anindita Das was born and raised in Bangladesh, where she was trained in North Indian classical music and different forms of light music by different Gurus. She was an enlisted “Nazrul Geeti” singer in Bangladesh National Television and Radio and won many prestigious music competitions at the national level. Her first Bengali album was released in 2008, for which she received the “Best Debut Singer” award in Bangladesh.
Suchitra Iyer is an Indian classical vocalist in the Hindustani tradition. She has been passionate about music from a young age, starting her journey with the south Indian Carnatic genre. Her years of rigorous Carnatic training helped make a smooth transition to the Hindustani khayal genre.
Aryan Prakash, currently an undergraduate student at U.C. San Diego, has learnt the samvadini, or harmonium, under the tutelage of renowned gurus. He began his musical journey in Southern California as an accompanying artist, and has recently performed to acclaim in the Festival of Tabla.
Shivam Sudame, on tabla, has been learning and playing tabla since the age of 7 and has trained and performed with leading tabla maestros in India, the U.S., and around the world.
The Srivani Jade Ensemble's Athenaeum performance is part of a 4-part musical series for this academic year: Devotional and Spiritual World Music featuring Ghanian, South Asian, American Gospel, and Brazilian traditions.
