The lecture and lead sessions on how to play the Sarangi by the Gandharva musicians will start from 12pm followed by a musical performance from 6pm. Another public performance will take place on May 22 at Dattatreya Square, Bhaktapur.[break]
A unit of The Southasia Trust (SaT), the Hri Institute has a four-member research team to lead the study. According to Surabhi Pudasaini, the program manager of Hri Institute and a member of the research team, the institute has been conducting research on the Gandharva musicians of Nepal since June 2010.
“We traveled to Jhapa, Bhojpur, Dang and Salyan interviewing and recording their music,” said Pudaisaini. “We came to know that there was little communication between the Gandharvas from different parts.” To encourage interactions among the community members and to showcase the long-standing and constantly evolving musical repertoire of the Gandharvas to Kathmandu audience, Hri Institute has invited 20 musicians from east and west Nepal to the capital.
According to the institute, these events are open to all musicians and students by pre-registration, with preference given to those learning the Sarangi specifically.
Ties of tradition