Karnataka - Mysore   

A confluence of East and West

Staff Correspondent

Programme sought to highlight nuances of classical music

ARTFUL: Musicians Julia Southwell and David Garigues demonstrating different styles of American music to students at the University College of Fine Arts, in Mysore on Monday.

MYSORE: University College of Fine Arts (UCFA) in association with the International Centre offered connoisseurs of music and students of fine arts a rare opportunity to relish Western classical music on Monday.

A special lecture organised by UCFA on "Soundscapes: An Ethno-musicological Approach to Musical Experience" and a demonstration of different styles of music in America by international musicians Julie Southwell and David Garigues aimed to introduce music lovers to the nuances of different forms of Western and Indian classical music. The occasion was a true convergence of Carnatic and Hindustani music experts and Western classical musicians. The concept was thought up by noted violinist Mysore Manjunath and director of the International Centre R. Indira.

According to Ms. Indira, the programme aimed to provide over 800 foreign students from 41 countries and local students a single stage on which to showcase their music.

Ms. Southwell and Mr. Garigues, both of whom are studying different forms of Indian classical music, also performed their Western composition of "Karaharapriya raga", which was a blend of both Carnatic music and various Western compositions. A native of Seattle, Mr. Garigues is a student of psychology. He first visited Mysore to study Ashtanga Yoga with K. Pattabhi Jois in 1994. Ms. Southwell has been playing the violin for the past 20 years and is presently studying in greater detail under Dr. Manjunath. Both American musicians are also studying contemporary Western music forms such as jazz, country, Irish and bluegrass.

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