Nation’s First Kirtan Documentary to Feature Kirtan in the Heartland of America
Recently featured on the local FOX and NBC affiliates, Milwaukee's Kirtan with Ragani event is being featured in the nation’s first kirtan documentary. Nearly 300 people gathered in Milwaukee on Friday, November 14, 2003, for the shooting of the nation’s first video documentary of the kirtan experience in heartland of America. Film producer, David Lee Hendrickson, Ltd., has scheduled the release for December 2004.
Milwaukee, WI (PRWEB) January 20 2004--Kirtan (yoga chant) is the musical
counterpart to the physical poses of yoga. In Time Magazine (Oct 2003), this
musical genre received recognition as a participatory, cross-cultural experience
that is fast gaining popularity throughout the U.S. as it follows on the heels
of the yoga craze. Recently featured on local FOX and NBC affiliates,
Milwaukee's Kirtan with Ragani is second only to New York for the largest
ongoing kirtan scene in the country. Nearly 300 people gathered in Milwaukee on
Friday, November 14, for the shooting of the nation’s first video documentary of
the kirtan experience in heartland of America. Film producer, David Lee
Hendrickson, Ltd., has scheduled the release for December 2004.
Hundreds
of people of diverse ages (from kids to seniors), backgrounds and beliefs flock
to the Milwaukee kirtan on a monthly basis to take part in this dynamic
call-and-response world music that incorporates the audience right into the
performance. Led by Ragani, who has over twenty years kirtan experience, the
East Side Kirtan features traditional Indian instruments such as the tanpura and
harmonium, mixed with world drums & percussion and modern Western bass,
guitar, flute, and more. East meets West and past meets present through the
blend of exotic Indian and traditional western instruments and lyrics sung in
ancient Sanskrit by modern Americans. “Ragani is the Maharani of the Milwaukee
kirtan scene”, says YOGAChicago. “Ragani’s kirtans are the most devotional and
non-pretentious ones I have attended… [she] blend[s] the spiritual and the
earthly seamlessly,” quotes OnMilwaukee.com.
A special performance of the
kirtan took place in November 2003 to capture the phenomenon on video for the
nation’s first documentary to feature Kirtan in the heartland of America. The
documentary will highlight one of the country’s fastest-growing musical trends
and cross-cultural experiences, and will feature Ragani and her Milwaukee-based
ongoing Kirtan event, as featured on local FOX and NBC affiliates. Ragani has
been leading kirtan for more than 20 years. Learning the craft directly from her
Indian guru, Swami Rama, founder of the Himalayan Institute, Ragani is one of
America’s most authentic kirtan performers and one of the foremost authorities
on the practice.
For more information (event dates, demo CD, short
kirtan demo video, etc.):
Contact: Ragani
Message Center:
414-964-0690
Website: http://www.RaganiWorld.com
Soundclips of music & Order
CD’s online: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ragani.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/1/prweb99451.htm