Rudra veena master Bahauddin Dagar performs on stunning Indian classical instrument at the Chan Centre, November 23

Respected musician plays two shows devoted to India’s oldest-surviving genre alongside pakhavaj artist Tejas Tope

Chan Centre for the Performing Arts presents Form & Formless: Bahauddin Dagar in Concert on November 23 at 4 pm and 7 pm in the Telus Studio Theatre, in collaboration with Early Music Vancouver and the Indian Classical Music Society of Vancouver

BAHAUDDIN DAGAR’S TWO upcoming concerts at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on November 23 are nearly sold out, and rightfully so—the Indian musician is one of the world’s few true masters of the rudra veena, a classical plucked-string instrument.

With ancient origins that trace back to North India, the rudra veena figures prominently in dhrupad music, India’s oldest-surviving classical genre characterized by its contemplative and spiritual sound. The instrument, which gives off a deep reverberation, is a key component of the genre. Its long body is traditionally fabricated using bamboo, while two resonators on either side are made of gourds.

At the Telus Studio Theatre, Dagar will perform alongside pakhavaj artist Tejas Tope (who plays a type of barrel-shaped South Indian drum that is also popular in dhrupad music). Audiences will get a taste of Dagar’s signature sound—though explorative, it remains prayerful, expanding on the traditional techniques of dhrupad with improvised melodies and thoughtful virtuosity.

The concert, programmed by Chan Centre and UBC School of Music director T. Patrick Carrabré as part of his inaugural Director’s Cut series, is presented in collaboration with Early Music Vancouver and the Indian Classical Music Society of Vancouver.

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Emily Lyth

Stir editorial assistant Emily Lyth is a Vancouver-based writer and editor who graduated from Langara College’s Journalism program. Her decade of dance training and passion for all things food-related are the foundation of her love for telling arts, culture, and community stories.

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