This concert was organised by Professor Nandini Chatterjee, supported by ZeroClassikal. I was invited to perform spring time ragas on sitar, accompanied by Dhanraj Persaud on tabla, in one of the chapels of St Cross college. The concert took place just after evensong in the neighbouring chapel, so the aroma of incense filled the space.
I gave a brief introduction to explain the history of the Lucknow Shahjahanpur Gharana, before speaking about the raga I was about to play – Raga Basant. This was followed by a short performance in Raga Bahar. There was a Q&A that followed, which covered the aesthetics of Hindustani music, the particularities of the style and more detailed history of our gharana, and audience members thoughts and reflections of the concert.
Dr Pete Yelding 