* In January, under the aegis of Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival

* By Dr L Subramaniam, Grammy winner Mark OConnor, Russian band Loyko, Kheir Eddine MKachiche, Catherina Chen, Benedicte Maurseth, Ambi Subramaniam

 
MUMBAI: In January 2011, the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival will host a very special series of concerts called Violins for Peace. This concert series marks a milestone event, the birth centenary of Professor V. Lakshminarayana, who was one of the most important figures in the history of violin playing in South Indian classical music. He was one of the pioneers who established the Indian violin as a solo instrument in the international stage, by developing new fingering and bowing techniques.

Violins for Peace brings together on the same platform some of the greatest violinists from different genres, who play different styles of violin and music. This never-seen-before event in India is being planned in six cities, during the first half of January, with representation from major musical styles including South Indian Classical (Carnatic), Western Classical, Gypsy, Arabic, Norwegian Folk and Country.

Each ensemble will showcase its own traditional style of playing, and as a grand finale and tribute to Professor V. Lakshminarayana, all the artistes will perform a song specially composed by Dr. L. Subramaniam for this event.

Dr L Subramaniam said, This event is the culmination of twenty years of the festival. For some time now, we have desired to have a very special series of concerts to mark the centenary of my father,  and we realized that there could be no better way than to go back to his roots – the violin – and bring together some of the best players from around the world. I have enjoyed every single concert the festival has presented since its inception, but Violins for Peace promises to be something special, and our most spectacular concert series yet....
 

Violins for Peace: The Artists include:

Dr. L. Subramaniam – Hailed as the God of Indian violin, Dr. L. Subramaniams career has spanned over five decades and many genres of violin playing, although he has always remained true to his roots as an South Indian classical violinist. As a performer and a composer, his collaborations read as a whos who of music and he has released over 150 albums.

Mark OConnor – Mark OConnor is the pioneer of what is now called the new American Classical music, a style influenced by folk and country fiddle, jazz, and western classical violin. With sales of over 2 million albums and a Grammy award to his credit, Mark OConnor has established himself of one of the great artistes of his generation on the American music scene.

Loyko – Loyko, the foremost gypsy band from Russia consists of Sergey Erdenko, Vladimir Bessonov and Michael Savichev. Loyko has been performing for twenty years and has collaborated with artists from the Rolling Stones to Lord Yehudi Menuhin. They have released ten albums and performed thousands of concerts across the globe.

Kheir Eddine MKachiche – Kheir Eddine hails from Algeria and is quickly establishing himself as one of the strongest musical forces from that region. His trademark soulful style has earned him many fans and led to many interesting collaborations with musicians of different backgrounds. He plays the traditional Algerian style of violin, where the instrument is placed on the lap and bowed (in a style similar to a cello).

Catherina Chen – Catherina Chen, at 24, is already a well-established Western classical violinist in her native country, Norway, due to her numerous international prizes, prestigious awards, well-attended radio and television appearances and profiled concert performances, both in recitals and as soloist with orchestras. She recently completed the Artist Diploma/Master Program at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Benedicte Maurseth - Benedicte Maurseth performs both as a Hardanger fiddler (Norwegian instrument belonging to the violin family) and traditional singer. Along with fiddler Knut Hamre, shes charted new paths by playing on old instruments from the 17th century. She evokes a deep, warm tone in these fiddles by using gut strings and a baroque bow. She won the 2007 Young Folk Musician of the Year Award.

Ambi Subramaniam – Hailed as the New King of Indian Classical Violin, Ambi Subramaniam is a reputed musician, performing Indian classical, western and fusion. He performs solo and duets with his father and guru, Dr. L. Subramaniam. He has also performed with leading orchestras around the world. In addition he received distinctions in exams in Western classical violin, piano and music theory.