SM Volunteers Get Together: 29th December 2013

 Over the last 6 months, we have all worked very hard and given of our time, resources and ourselves to the revival of the presence of SPIC MACAY in the UK.

To celebrate our hard work throughout 2013 along with its many successes and failures, as we have only grown from strength to strength; learning from our mistakes and repeating good practices. A big thank you to all the lovely volunteers and friends who came and joined us in our celebration.A big thanks also to those who couldn't make it in person but were there very much in spirit at the First Annual Get Together of Spic Macay UK volunteers. There was home cooked food made lovingly by the volunteers and served affection. 

More photos on our Facebook page: www.facebok.com/spicmacayeurope

Paying our tribute to the sitar maestro - Late Pt. Ravi Shankar

It is exactly a year since the maestro, the guru Pt. Ravi Shankar left for the heavenly abode. 


"It is very important that our government introduces classical music, dance and other art forms on a compulsory basis right from the kindergarten level. We need a conservatory of music and music colleges. I wish all the millionaires and billionaires in India would contribute something to the art of their country. I am not condemning any type of music but when the whole world comes to see and visit India, it’s the incredible tradition of this wonderful country that attracts them." - Excerpts from a conversation between Raviji and Satish and Shashi Vyas, June 2007.

(http://www.ravishankar.org/)

The maestro helped nurture and preserve the beautiful legacy passed onto him by his seniors and he left a legacy that we today proudly uphold. Every one of us as volunteers of this beautiful movement called SPIC MACAY have a responsibility and duty to carry forth this torch. Please pause and reflect on the life and legacy of our gurus. 

Holywell Music Room resonates the sound of the sitar and cello: Oxford Chapter Inaugural

The performance by Pt. Shubhendra Rao (sitar) and Smt. Saskia de Haas (Indian cello), accompanied by Sh. Biplab Bhattacharya (tabla) marked the inauguration of the Oxford chapter of SPIC MACAY, UK.  

We are delighted to share with you glimpses of this beautiful event organised by the volunteers of Spic Macay, UK. Special thanks to our lovely team at Oxford led by Vikaran Khanna, President of the Oxford India Society.

We are extremely grateful to our esteemed artistes, Pt Shubhendra Rao (sitar) and Smt Saskia de Haas (Indian cello), accompanied by Sh Biplab Bhattacharya on tabla, for giving us all glimpses into the magic of the ragas. The marriage of the sounds of the sitar and Indian cello was absolutely mesmerising.

There were 140 people in the audience and they didn't want the artistes to stop!!! So mesmerised that they just insisted on 'one more'. The audience included not only the students, professors but also professionals residents of Oxford.


The QnA that followed saw a number of questions being asked. One of the most interesting questions asked was: "what is the role of silence in music?"Another was on the importance of having the drone - tamboora/tanpura in the background.

The performance lasted for close to 1 hour 40 minutes followed by the QnA. Once the performance was over, the audience gathered up near the stage to ask more questions and interact.

We are grateful to the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for their kind support in making this event possible. This was a first of its kind event for the crowds and clearly there is a lot of demand and need to organise more such interactive programmes. We are also very grateful to Shubhendra ji for very kindly telling the members of the audience, the value of being a part of this beautiful movement - Spic Macay!