If you’ve got the Homecoming blues already and feel you need a change of pace, then you won’t want to miss out on the Society for Indian Tradition and Arts (SITAR) at Iowa State University’s special cultural event.

There will be a classical music concert in the Hindustani style of India. One of the premier vocalists, Shri Rashid Khan, will be performing Thursday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Music Building.

He will be accompanied by Ananda Gopal Bandopadhyay on the tabla, which is traditional Indian drums, and Jyoti Goho on harmonium.

Indian classical music has two distinct traditions: North Indian or Hindustani, and South Indian or Barnatic. These systems emphasize melodic structures, as compared to Western classical music, which is harmony based. The microtonal structures within a melody are very distinct in both the Hindustani and Carnatic styles.

“Music soothes the human heart. It has to do with the feelings, moods and expressions of human beings. Music is a universal language; it’s common to everyone,” said Prosoon Surti, vice-president of SITAR. “I hope everybody comes to this concert and feels the same way.”

Western listeners new to Indian music find this aspect very refreshing. The Hindustani vocal music has three important genres: Dhrupad, Khayal and Thumri. Among these forms, Khayal, the genre to which Shri Rashid Khan belongs, is the most prominent one. Khayal has a text and is composed in a particular raga, which is the melody, and taal, which is the rhythm. The compositions range from praise of kings and descriptions of seasons, to the pranks of Lord Krishna, the Hindu God.

Born in 1966, Rashid Khan comes from the great lineage of traditional musicians. Khan has developed into an artist of great maturity and is considered to be one of the torch-bearers of the new generation of singers in the world of Hindustani classical music. Rashid’s steadiness in rendition, clarity of taans, which are improvisations, and precision of swara (notes) are truly remarkable.

“We are trying to promote Indian culture, and we are going to participate in intercultural activities such as International Week, Veishea and Food Fest,” Surti added.

This concert is funded by the Committee on Lectures. “We are going ahead to a new time where we’ll see all the cultures come together as one,” Surti said.

So put down everything that’s stressing your tired bones out and get yourself down to the Music Hall at 7:30 p.m. for an event that will bring together the cultural forces at ISU.