Monadnock Music is offering a cultural event featuring an authentic Indian buffet lunch and a free musical performance featuring traditional Indian instruments on Sunday, Jan. 26 from noon to 2 p.m. at Heberton Hall at the Keene Public Library.
The event begins with a lunch catered by Minerva of Boston, specializing in the incredible flavors of India and known for impeccable dishes with rich infusion of Indian traditional preparation. Included in the lunch buffet will be, Samosa, Butter Chicken, PalakPaneer, MalaiKofta, Garlic Naan and Butter Naan and RasMalai.
The musical performance features George Ruckert on Sarod and Jerry Leake on Tabla, followed by music from contemporary classical Indian composer, Shirish Korde, on solo flute, and solo cello. Performing the Shirish compositions is Rafael Popper-Keizer, Monadnock Music’s Musical Director, on cello, and Mary Kay Robinson, on flute.
The lunch begins at noon with the concert to follow at 12:45 p.m.
Ruckert, who will be playing the Sarod, a twenty-five stringed lute, has taught western music, world music, popular music, music fundamentals, folk music, and harmony and counterpoint. But his major field is the classical music of North India, which he studied with the eminent Indian sarod master Ali Akbar Khan.
Leake will be playing on Tabla, a membranophone percussion instrument originating from the Indian, consisting of a pair of drums. He began playing on drums with inspiration from Buddy Rich, Keith Moon and Phil Collins, then became a vibes enthusiast soon after. Studied at Berklee and exposed to world percussion from Africa to Middle East, Caribbean and India.
Korde was born in Uganda to Indian parents and spent his early years in East Africa. He arrived in the United States in 1965, already well versed in the traditions of Indian and African music. Currently he is chair and Professor of Music at College of the Holy Cross, and also teaches at the New England Conservatory of Music.
Lunch tickets are on sale at www.monadnockmusic.org. Cost is $15 for age 11-plus, $10 ages 6-10, $5 ages 3-5, Children ages 2 and under free. Lunch tickets include the buffet and concert seating. Seating is limited and lunch tickets must be purchased by Jan. 22.
For questions, contact Laina Barakat, Executive Director of Monadnock Music, at info@monadnockmusic.org.