A free concert featuring two prominent performers of Indian Classical music will be held Friday night at 6:30 p.m. in Fisher Theater on the ISU campus.

The Society for Indian Tradition and Arts (SiTaR), a campus-run organization, is presenting a concert that will feature a flute recital by Hariprasad Chaurasiaas as well as a performance by Grammy Award winner Vishwa Mohan Bhatt on the acoustic slide guitar.

SiTaR puts on two concerts a year featuring Indian Classical music. This year the organization is very proud to have two such prominent artists.

“We normally arrange one concert in the fall and one concert in the spring,” Chidu, SiTaR treasurer, said, “This time we have been lucky to get two good artists, and each of them is the top artist in their field.”

Hariprasad Chaurasia is acclaimed world-over for his mastery of the Baansuri, an Indian bamboo flute. His renditions of classical and light classical compositions are considered to be imaginative, Chidu said.

Among Chaurasia’s recognitions and awards is the title of Padmabhushan, one of the highest civilian awards that is bestowed on an Indian national.

“Vishwa Mohan Bhatt has modified the acoustic guitar by adding a number of different strings and slides,” Ravi Avancha, SiTaR member said.

Bhatt has named this new style of acoustic slide guitar “Mohan Veena.” He is known for combining vocal and instrumental styles in his interpretations of classical compositions.

Among Bhatt’s recognitions and awards is the 1994 Grammy Award for the Best Album of the Year in the World Music category for his composition “A meeting by the River.”

Each performer will play a separate concert which will last an hour and a half. Both will be accompanied by performers on the tabla, which is an Indian classical instrument.

SiTaR, which has 75 members on campus, is a student run organization that is dedicated to the promotion of Indian culture in the Ames community.

“Our prime motive of this organization is to be able to educate people in the community where we are living about Indian culture and tradition,” Avancha said, “And classical music is a very important part of Indian culture.

“One reason it is important,” Avanche added, “is that it stands out different from other forms of music anywhere else in the world. Therefore, we think the community here will be attracted to the music.”

Bhatt will also be on campus tonight from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the South Ballroom of the Memorial Union to give a lecture and demonstration on Indian Classical music.

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