Indian music to feature at concerts

MUSICIANS Ryohei Kanemitsu and Mattu Noone are set to perform two concerts in Clare at the end of the month.
After meeting some eight years ago, Japanese sitarist Ryohei Kanemitus and Australian-born Mattu Noone developed a deep friendship. They met while undertaking studies in North Indian Classical Music in Santiniketan in West Bengal. Each year, the pair would meet again during the winter season of concerts and encourage each other’s development and practice.
In 2011, Mattu was invited by Ryohei to go to Taiwan to travel, perform and teach. This year, Mattu wanted to return the favour. Mattu plays the Indian lute called the sarode and has studied under the guidance of Sougata Roy Chowdhurly since 2004. Mattu is well known to Irish audiences through his work with fusion group the Bahh band and performances of Indian classical music.
Ryohei, who is nicknamed Yo, is based in Taiwan but has been studying sitar since 2004. Yo has been instrumental in introducing the sitar into Taiwanese music since he settled there four years ago.
Their first concert will be at the Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery this Friday. They will be accompanied by the Indian drum, commonly known as tabla, played by Dublin-based musician Sadanad Magee. The trio will perform a jugalbundi or a musical conversation that is largely improvised and based around the principles of raga or the emotional aesthetic that underpins all Indian classical music. This type of performance can move from subtle and sorrowful airs to vibrant and passionate rhythmical interchanges.
The duo will also perform a special workshop and house concert in East Clare on Saturday, July 28. The workshop will run in the daytime and is for any musicians interested in learning the basics of raga and Indian improvisation.
Musicians can bring any instrument they are comfortable with, an Indian instrument is not required. Entry to the concert is included in the cost of the workshop. Tickets for the house concert are extremely limited and are available by booking only, by calling Mattu on 086 2685061.