A musical journey through the Himalayas” – Classical Music of the World / Hamburg International Music Festival
Nepal – an undiscovered cosmos
Nepal’s landscape stretches from tropical plains to the icy peaks of the Himalayas. Its music possesses a similarly exciting diversity. The NIGHT ensemble brings these hidden treasures to light, amid rural folklore, Indian influences, and spiritual coloring.
The quintet was formed in 2006 in the capital Kathmandu around singer and multi-instrumentalist Jason Kunwar. After an initial phase as a metal band, the musicians decided to explore and preserve the cultural cosmos of the country’s more than 100 ethnic groups and languages. Accompanied by intensive field research trips to remote villages, they have developed a repertoire that rediscovers old songs and nearly lost instruments. These include the paluwa flute, made from fresh reeds, the three-stringed, sheepskin-strung bowed instrument sarangi, and the tungna string instrument from the Tamang ethnic group.
Drawing on their deep understanding of traditional music, the ensemble also composes new songs. This “new school folk” speaks of spirituality as well as the arduous life in the countryside. The ensemble also documents its work on film – thus opening up an opportunity for Nepal to share its fascinating heritage with future generations and the world.
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