Paul Livingstone, Alma Cielo, and Aminah Chisthi: Ragas and Rhythms



Classical ragas and talas infused with the spirit of the Qawwali Sufi tradition with Paul Livingstone on sitar, a disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, Aminah Chisthi, tabla disciple of Ustad Dildar Hussein, and Alma Cielo, sarangi student of Pankaj Misra. Enjoy an afternoon of meditative melody and dynamic rhythms bringing together traditions of India and Pakistan.



Saturday, September 23, 2023, 2 p.m.
Drinkward Recital Hall



Two photos next to each other in one image file. On the left is Paul Livingstone; and on the right are Aminah Chisthi and Alma Cielo. They are all either holding or sitting next to musical instruments.
Paul Livingstone, Aminah Chisthi, and Alma Cielo. Photo courtesy of the artists.


International performing artist and activist Paul Livingstone spent a highly formative teenage year initiating his study of music in India, eventually becoming one of the few American disciples of the legendary Pt. Ravi Shankar. He has performed around the US, South Asia, Europe, and Latin America, developing a reputation as a serious proponent of Indian classical raga music. In 2022 Livingstone completed a 6-month research fellowship researching dhrupad, one of the planet's oldest living music traditions and performed widely around India.

Tabla artist and disciple of classical South Asian and Qawwali music, Aminah Chisthi was adopted into the lineage of Sufi by Ustad Dildar Hussain in 2002, tabla player for the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Chisthi broke the gender barrier as the first woman tabla player to perform in a traditional context and has performed in Pakistan, India and around the world with Fanni Fi Allah.

Alma Cielo is a visual and performing artist and educator.  She learned the rare classical tradition of sarangi playing from her teacher Pankaj Misra in India and USA.


HMC is deeply grateful for the generous support that created The Ken Stevens ’61 Founding Class Concert Series.


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