Sunday, November 22, 2009

MMP film at Bozeman, Montana's Emerson Cultural Center

Hey Bozeman! With gratitude for the years of support from the Montana community, we're proud to present the second US screening of the Mountain Music Project film at the Emerson Cultural Center on Sunday December 6th at 7PM.

Filmmaker Jacob Penchansky will be there for Q & A, there'll be stacks of MMP t-shirts available, and a $5 donation gets you in the door. Families & fiddles welcome!

Big thanks to KGLT-FM, the Emerson Center for Arts & Culture, and Tol & Mike!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Prem Raja Mahat joins MMP at National Geographic


The film screening and concert at National Geographic went exceptionally well, with a packed house. Thanks so much for everyone's encouragement, the compliments keep pouring in...


We were very lucky to have Nepali songwriting legend Prem Raja Mahat joining Tara and Danny onstage. Thanks to Rock Wheeler for setting everything up, and for everyone who helped out. It was so much fun, we'll just have to do it again sometime... Stay tuned!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Mountain Music Project at National Geographic, Oct.27th


Hey friends, we'd like to invite you to come and see the Mountain Music Project film at National Geographic's Grosvenor Auditorium in Washington, DC, Tuesday October 27th at Noon. There'll be live music from Tara, Danny & friends, we'll discuss the film and our work in Nepal, and present the 56 minute film on the big screen. If you can get off work that day, it's free, free, free! For more info and directions, please click here. Hope to see ya there...

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Sarangi Day 2009 and Gandharba Music Teachers



Well folks, Sarangi Day 2009 couldn't have gone better. With performances from Hum Bahadur, the Samundra Band, Bartha Gandharba, Buddhiman, Check Bahadur from Lamjung, and Akal Bahadur and Gopilal Gandhari (below) from Gorkha, the music really shined this year. Hats off to Mangal Gandhari, Buddha Gandharba, and several volunteers from the Gandharba Cultural & Arts Organization for putting together such a good show.

We also screened the Nepali-language version of our film, with a really great response. It was really exciting to hear the Nepali audience laughing out loud at the funny moments, and I had several comments that really made me feel like we told the story of both the Virginian and Nepali musicians in a way that made both sides proud of their culture. Now, we bring it home to the Americans.


Last year we began helping a few of our Gandharba friends by getting them hired as music teachers at local orphanages and other homes which care for and educate underprivileged kids. Here's a few shots from the Ghar Sita Mutu home, where our friend Buddhiman is now teaching traditional Nepali music to the children.


We're doing similar work at the Mitrata House, where Ms. Nanda Kulu cares for about 40 children and where MMP is providing musical instruments and funding for a dance teacher for the upcoming year. This opportunity to help keep traditional music alive in Nepal and aiding the education of these kids couldn't make us feel happier.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Sarangi Day 2009 in Kathmandu






















We invite our friends in Nepal to join us for Sarangi Day 2009, a celebration of traditional music in Nepal. The Nepali program runs from 2-6 PM, October 9th at the Nepal Tourism Board's Auditorium Hall, Bhrikutimandap Marg, just east of Ratna Park in Kathmandu.
This year's event will showcase several Gandharba musicians from all over Nepal, as well as a Nepali-Language screening of the Mountain Music Project film (at 4PM).

At 7 PM, we'll move the show to the Northfield Cafe in Thamel, with several performances for our tourist friends. Admission to both events is free and open to the public.

Sarangi Day 2009 will feature the traditional musical stylings of Gopilal Gandhari, Hum Bahadur, Junga Bahadur, Akal, Lal Bahadur, and Bartha Gandharba, Shyam Nepali, the Samundra band, a dohori group, and several performances from the Gandharba Cultural & Arts Organization, our brothers in cultural preservation here in Nepal.

Hope to see you there!