Indian rhythm with its complexity and depth has found an enthusiastic audience on the global stage. It’s on this stage that mridangam player and entrepreneur, Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy, was recently recognised with the Individual Artist Grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission to support a new, creative initiative.
A student of vidwan Guruvayur Dorai, the San Francisco-based artist was in Chennai to perform during the Season.
“I’m truly honoured to receive this grant,” said Rohan and added, “It’s for a multi-faceted project involving the creation and performance of a new, three-movement work for solo mridangam. Drawing on traditional and experimental techniques, the socially-inspired piece reflects the fast-changing rhythm-scapes of San Francisco.”
His compositional process involves field recordings of the soundscapes of the built and natural environments in San Francisco’s eclectic neighbourhoods. These natural and manmade sounds will be reinterpreted on the mridangam.
The work will premiere in April at the San Francisco Community Music Center. Starting next Fall, the SF Music Center will also offer for the first time an accredited Hand Drumming and Indian Rhythm Institute to the campus and community directed by Rohan. A month prior to the premiere, Rohan will conduct a free weekly interactive Rhythm Workshop.
