IMG

The Indian Music group of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai was founded in the year 1973 with the support of the then principal, Fr. Lancy Pereira and the great Ustad Alla Rakha Khan. The Indian Music group (IMG) has always strived to promote love and appreciation for Indian classical music amongst the youth. The organization houses a library in the college, which is a storehouse of many musical treasures. The IMG library has collected, collated, and stored tapes, cassettes and vinyls of many of the most legendary performances where classical legends have enthralled their audience. This priceless collection is available to members of the IMG, who can come to the library and listen to such treasures.

The IMG organizes many concerts around the year. Right from Listening sessions in the library itself to the grand celebration – Janfest, there is always a treat for lovers of Indian music. Here’s a glimpse of the events and the concerts organized by the IMG over the course of the year.

  • Aaroh

  • Aaroh, or the notes of a raag in ascending order is the first annual concert of the Indian Music Group, which sets the tune of a series of upcoming musical concerts of that year. Giving way to the young budding student artists of St. Xavier’s College, it brings into the picture a humble yet melodious beginning. Starting with Aaroh, IMG aspires to take Indian classical music to an increasing note and pitch with every concert and reach a pinnacle with Janfest.

  • Malhar Ke Prakaar

After having established a sound foundation with Aaroh, the Indian Music Group presents Malhar Ke Prakaar. Keeping with raag Malhar’s intimate association to the atmosphere of rains, Malhar ke Prakaar takes place in the month of August amidst the monsoons. The Indian Music Group has had the honour of hosting eminent artists such as Pandit Jasraj, Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Shubha Mudgal, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan and many more for this monsoon concert. These artists with their powerful performances have surely induced showers of applause if not actual rain.

  • Music Appreciation Course

In the process of achieving its objective of increasing the reach of classical music among all, the Indian Music Group organizes an annual Music Appreciation Course. Aiming to acquaint the youngsters and develop their taste for Indian Classical Music, this 2-day course attracts several college students and keen music enthusiasts.

  • Viraasat

This concert captures the essence of the rich legacy and heritage that Indian Classical Music has left for us. Being one of our students’ concerts, Viraasat has been a platform for our talented students since 2015, where they put up brilliant performances involving vocals and instruments. This concert aims at providing the final push to students who aim to master classical music.

  • Birthday Concert

The Indian Music Group celebrates the anniversary of its inception and a rich legacy of inculcating classical music among the youth. For 43 years, the IMG has held a concert in early January to honour the classical tradition. This is a precursor to our flagship concert Janfest, of which the lineup is revealed at Birthday Concert.

  • Janfest

All these concerts lead to our flagship event, Janfest. This two-day festivity on 25th and 26th of January is a grand celebration of the best that Indian classical music has to offer. Spread over three sessions in these two days, Janfest has enthralled all music lovers for the past 43 years. The IMG has received great artists in the past – from veterans and stalwarts like Ustad Alla Rakha Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, Pt. Ravi Shankar, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Rashid Khan, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Dr. Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, Parveen Sultana, to newer brilliance like Rahul Sharma, and Kaushiki Chakraborty.

  • Listening sessions

Filled with their spontaneous jugalbandis, delightful encores and the palpable joy of the audience, live concerts have always been a great musical treat.

But for those who missed these concerts and those who want to relive the magical moments, the IMG organises regular ‘Listening Sessions’ at the IMG library, which brings an opportunity to listen to these very concerts through our collection of over 2000 hours on records, tapes and CDs.

  • Baithaks

Apart from our grand concerts, the IMG also serves as a platform for our budding performers to help them prepare for bigger stages, and greater applause. Mini Baithaks bring to our younger audiences a chance to familiarize themselves with the nuances of Indian Classical Music.

The Indian Music Group strives to inculcate appreciation for classical music among all. Members can partake of our rare collection of mesmerizing performances by legends of classical music in the form of Vinyl records, CDs, and cassettes. Our library at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai is open to public the members of the institution. Find your haven among old records and soft lights on all days except Sundays, from 10:30 AM to 4 PM in the midst of our iconic gothic architecture.

Contact us

Tel: 022 22634548

Mail: img.music@gmail.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/indianmusicgroup