Singing Strings of the East and West

Born out of a unique musical friendship between cello and tabla, Singing Strings of the East and West celebrates the intersection of European and Indian classical music. Conceived by Chris Votek and Neelamjit Dhillon, this exceptional vision for intercultural music making stems from a deep understanding of tradition and how it can be respectfully expanded.

Bhajan in Raga Bhairavi

Composed by Pandit Jasraj, Arranged for String Sextet + Tabla + Indian Violin by Neelamjit Dhillon and Chris Votek

 Singing Strings of the East and West is a part of Votek and Dhillon’s unique mission to connect communities through intercultural artistic practice. Drawing on deep knowledge of both Indian and Western idioms, they aim to create new spaces for musicians of different backgrounds to collaborate and create art that reflects their diverse communities.

Traditional Hindustani Raga Jog

The human voice is the primordial source of song and music across every culture on planet Earth. Gayaki-Ang is singing style raga, where a string instrument replicates the subtle nuances and ornaments of the ancient hindustani vocal tradition.

Chris Votek : Memories of a Shadow

Memories of a Shadow succeeds with its unusual combination of classic Indian ragas mixed with contemporary forms, an unconventional string ensemble and a high technical level of performance…beautifully wrought, the musical equivalent of a finely carved wooden sculpture…a refined and artful exposition of the emotional potential inherent in string music, masterfully performed - the kind of music you wish would last longer.

— Sequenza 21 

Sands of Time

Traditional Rajasthani Folk Medley arranged for String Sextet, Indian Violin, and Tabla by Neelamjit Dhillon and Chris Votek. This is a medley of three Rajasthani folk songs that depict different aspects of this desert region of India. Although the landscape is harsh, the people of this region are resilient. Their traditional clothing is vibrantly colored and music plays a central role in everyday life. This arrangement was originally created for a virtual concert by the San Francisco Symphony curated by Ustad Zakir Hussian.