Tomsk Artists Bring Siberian Music to India

In March, India hosted the cultural and educational project "Art Teachers," initiated by the Tomsk State Pedagogical University (TSPU). The event was supported by Federal Agency for CIS Affairs, the Russian House in Delhi, and the Department of International and Regional Relations of the Tomsk Region Administration.

The project featured a group of professional artists from Tomsk who also teach at local educational institutions: Tatiana Stukalova, Ekaterina Clemens, Igor Ivanchenko, as well as multi-instrumentalist Artem Brantov. The project was led by Natalia Romanova. Guests at the Russian House in Delhi enjoyed a presentation of TSPU’s academic programs and scientific achievements. The program also included photo exhibitions showcasing artwork by graduating students and faculty from the Department of Music and Art Education at the TSPU, along with photographs highlighting Tomsk’s own events dedicated to Indian culture.

The key event of the project was a concert titled «The Musical Lace of Siberia». Before the performance, Elena Remizova, Director of the Russian House, delivered a welcoming speech. The audience got acquainted with the vocal music of Russian and Soviet composers, traditional folk songs, and ethnic music of the small indigenous peoples of Siberia. The program ended with the performance of Indian songs and bhajans by Russian artists.

The audience heard vocal works by Russian and Soviet composers, traditional folk songs, and ethnic music of the small indigenous peoples of Siberia. The program closed with the Russian artists performing Indian songs and bhajans – devotional hymns commonly sung in praise of Hindu deities.

«The concert was vivid, rich, and genuinely resonated with the audience, — said Natalia Romanova, Head of the Department of Music and Art Education at the TSPU. — Professional musicians were among the listeners were, and they expressed their admiration for our performance of Indian bhajans. For any artist performing music that is not their own cultural heritage, that is the highest praise you can receive from the very people whose culture it belongs to».

Romanova noted the success of this year's project and mentioned that they have already received proposals to organize similar cultural and educational events at various venues across India, including universities in New Delhi.