Mysore brothers return to Bend

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 10, 2014

Every couple of years, Bend is treated to a visit from virtuosic Indian violinists Dr. Mysore Manjunath and Mysore Nagaraj.

The two brothers are the sons of a top-shelf violinist from the south Indian city of Mysore, and have grown up to become world renowned for their elegant presentation of Indian classical music, with its droning ragas and interesting rhythms. The Mysores travel the globe performing with a percussion ensemble; joining them in Bend will be Rajarao and Giridhar Udupa.

A YouTube video from a show last year in India offers a slice of a performance by the Mysore brothers, along with Udupa and another percussionist, as they travel a 16-minute odyssey of their style of Indian classical music, known as Carnatic music. Indian classical music has two major subgenres: Carnatic music and Hindustani music. The latter tends to be a bit more melodic and widely popular and thus is what we Americans tend to think of when we think of Indian music.

The Mysores’ sound is not what most people (especially in America) think of when they hear the words “classical music.” It is not based on an endless stream of carefully constructed notes, but is more improvisational, with one instrument providing a drone note (or notes) and the violins racing around in a beautiful salvo of sound. It is exhilarating.

On Tuesday evening, the Mysores and their group will perform at Central Oregon Community College’s Pinckney Center for the Arts. Earlier in the day, they will conduct a free lecture and demonstration at COCC’s Wille Hall from noon to 1:30 p.m. that is open to all.

Music of India: The Mysore Violin Brothers and Percussion Ensemble; 7-9 p.m. Tuesday; $15 plus fees in advance, available at www.j.mp/musicofindia and Taj Palace (541-330-0774) in Bend, $20 at the door, free for children and COCC students/staff; Pinckney Center for the Arts, Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend; bendashtangayoga@gmail.com or 541-350-9642.

— Ben Salmon