BOSTON– With over 30 musicians from approximately 15 countries, Berklee Indian Ensemble will present “Untold Stories” on Dec. 15th at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston.
Melding Indian music in all its forms, music from other parts of the world, and original music with spoken word, poetry and visuals, the Berklee Indian Ensemble will bring together unheard voices to tell their stories, Annette Philip, founder and director of Berklee Indian Ensemble, told INDIA New England News.
“We chose to focus on untold stories. We see so much going on around us in the world, not just in our neighborhoods, but globally, that concerns us,” said Ms. Philip. “Our modern world connects us to so much information. Yet, we remain disconnected to each other. There is so much in front of us that we can’t or don’t see. We listen to so much but hear so little. So much we know, yet don’t understand.”
Ms. Philip said that much change is needed on every front: right from the #metoo and #timesup movements, to racism, LGBTQ rights, gender equality in the workplace, and myriad other subjects.
“At the same time, so much positivity also occurs in our world, that often, we don’t hear about. This December, our focus is on helping unheard voices share their stories,” said Ms. Philip. “Through the semester, the students and faculty of the Berklee Indian Ensemble have spent a lot of time delving into various topics.”
She said the “Untold Stories” will focus on several topics, including:
- Untold stories of suffering and hardship which have to be unapologetically spoken about
- Unsung heroes and stories of courage, fortitude and strength. Timeless wisdom with medicine that still holds true today.
- Personal stories of healing. How people overcome incredible grief, despair and trying times in their lives, and
- Our new story. What do we CHOOSE for our future? The one we write together? What we can do. What is our responsibility? How we can remind those who are on the periphery who are ALREADY open, that they are an important part of the solution and the change that is beginning to occur globally.
“Stories exist to teach and guide us. To shock us out of our passivity, to awaken us out of inertia, to remind us of the courage we have inside us, and to help us ask “Why” – There are thousands of stories that need to be told,” Ms. Philip said. “Stories help us relate. When we relate, it becomes personal. When it’s personal, it impacts our thinking. And that could impact our behavior. And that, in time, may lead to change. Some may argue – to what extent? We believe minute change; even imperceptible shifts, awareness… all count. And sometimes that’s where we need to start.”
