ARKADELPHIA, Ark.—Ouachita Baptist University will host guest artist Sandip Burman on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 10:30 a.m. in the Mabee Fine Arts Center’s band room on Ouachita’s campus. The professional tabla and sitar player specializes in instruments used prominently in North Indian music. He tours the world presenting formal performances and demonstrations.
“Making sure this is an interactive experience, Burman prefers to be sitting on the floor with people seated around him, talking, playing and asking questions,” said Dr. Ryan Lewis, assistant professor of percussion at Ouachita.
There are a limited number of tickets available for the recital, and those who are interested should contact Dr. Lewis in his office in Mabee Fine Arts Center room 405 to receive a free ticket distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“Burman’s visit to OBU is important because outside of Fine Arts Music courses, there are few opportunities for students to hear, see and experience the many types of music from around the world,” Lewis said.
Burman is a native of Durgapur, India, and is a disciple of the late tabla master Pandit Shyamal Bose of Calcutta. His performances are marked with spontaneous innovation and tonal purity while delivering complex rhythmic patterns (tala) or melody (raga).
Some of his many accomplishments include performing at locations such as the Kennedy Center, Nashville Symphony, First Night Providence in Rhode Island and Ravinia Festival in Chicago. Burman also teaches master classes and has traveled to such settings as as Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, North Africa, Singapore and Ireland.
This demonstration is made possible through the support of Ouachita’s Division of Music and Daniel and Betty Jo Grant Center for International Education. For more information, contact Ryan Lewis at lewisr@obu.edu or (870) 245-5421.
