Merasi Musicians wrapping up U.S. tour this week (pics & video from NYC)
On an abbreviated tour of the East Coast after visa issues resulted in travel delays, a group of Merasi people, (aka Master Musicians of Rajasthan) were still able to include two sold-out shows in New York City in their schedule. Those happened earlier in the month and due to contractual agreements, the Merasi couldn’t do any more public events in the city. However, this past weekend, on October 15, the five musicians performed at two private loft parties in Tribeca. The intimacy allowed for audience members of all ages to see the musicians, led by Dr. Sarwar Khan, up close. After their performance, people could meet with the international travelers and get a feel of some of the instruments. Photos from the first loft event are in the gallery above and a short video clip is below audio clips from other recent U.S. performances.
The Merasi tour was made possible by Folk Arts Rajasthan, a non-profit committed to improving the standing of the Merasi (a low caste group in India) through literacy programs, community development and the celebration of cultural understanding through music education and preservation. The Merasi’s final shows are in the D.C. area this week. The first is at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, October 19 at Silver Spring Civic Building and the second is at 7 pm on Friday, October 21, at D.C. Hill Center.
