Washington and Lee University’s Lenfest Series will present a World Music Concert featuring one of the most respected performers of classical Afghan and North Indian music, Humayun Khan, this Friday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m. in the Wilson Concert Hall.
Khan, a vocalist and harmonium player, has spent the past 10 years mastering his unique style of blending Persian poetry with Indian classical Ragas. In addition to performances of traditional music, Khan regularly collaborates with some of the most well-known artists in the world music scene, including Grammy-winning harmonica great Howard Levy, guitarist/producer Shahin Shahida, guitar virtuoso Lawson Rollins, Grammywinning drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez and oud-master Haj Youness.
Khan will be joined by musicians from across the country performing on instruments of the North Indian tradition, such as the Bul Bul Tarang (Indian banjo) and tabla (hand drums) along with instruments more familiar in these parts, like the saxophone, guitar, violin and electric bass. Also, some selections will feature whirling dervishes, members of Sufi Muslim orders who practice active meditation through spinning, thus representing a journey of spiritual ascent.
Additionally, the public is invited to attend a master class presented by Khan at 4:10 pm on Friday in which he will discuss the cultural significance of music in the Afghani and Sufi Muslim tradition. The master class is free and will be held in Wilson Concert Hall.
Tickets are required for the concert. Ticket prices are $21 for the general public, $19 for seniors, $17 for W&L faculty and staff and free for students. Online ticket sales are available at https://my.wlu.edu/lenfest-center/humayunkhan. Patrons can contact the Box Office by calling (540) 458- 8000 or emailing boxoffice@wlu. edu.
