Prasenjit Guptasarma, the college’s associate dean for Academic Affairs, will deliver a narrative to open the Present Music concerts at the Jan Serr studio in the UWM Kenilworth building on Friday and Saturday, March 20 and March 21.
The Present Music ensemble will perform a live musical score, “Radhe Radh Rites of Holi,” a homage to Igor Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring,” created by jazz pianist/composer Vijay Iyer. The music was released in 2014 as a soundtrack for director Prashant Bhargava’s experimental documentary film “Radhe Radhe.”
Present Music performs this suite with cinematic episodes from the eight days and nights the Holi festivities in Mathura, India.
Guptasarma, whose talk begins at 6:45 p.m., will discuss the themes of mysticism, spirituality, and music in this Indian tradition. The event aims to exude the breathless energy of an Indian street festival, so guests are encouraged to wear bright colors or Indian attire. Other features of the show are:
- Tilak forehead applications and intricate henna tattoos by live artists
- Traditional Indian beverages and snacks for purchase
- India-themed photo booth
When purchasing tickets, use discount code: 25PMHOLI