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Sacramento State hosts a world of music

The Wide World of Sports tagline used to say it spanned the globe in search of variety. Sacramento State does the same for its World Music Concerts. As the name implies, the Music Department’s series of performances reaches out to all nations in search of unique and inspiring acts.

The term “world music” has a rather broad definition, says professor James Chopyak, the series’ coordinator. “World music concerts are very different from one to another. I aim for diverse musical styles.”

This fall’s lineup certainly reflects that approach.

The series opens Thursday, Sept. 18, with Chirgilchin, a throat-singing group from Tuva, a small Russian province north of Western Mongolia. Throat singing is a vocal form in which one person produces two or more voices at the same time. The group also plays traditional, hand-made instruments. Two of the group’s three members have won international competitions in throat singing, and the third musician has won a best instrumentalist award at the International Folk Music Festival in Tuva.

Rajeev Taranath takes the stage on Saturday, Oct. 11, with North Indian classical music played on the sarod, a relative of the lute known for its lyrical and richly textured sound. Taranath has been acclaimed for his virtuosity, inspired imagination and emotional range.

Guests from the Bay Area will perform with the Melody of China’s Young Composers Concert as it travels from the Bay Area to Sacramento for a performance on Sunday, Oct. 19. The concert series gives young composers a chance to have their works performed in public. The first half of the program features traditional music performed on Chinese instruments. The second half will highlight the new compositions.

On Friday, Oct. 24, violinists and brothers Mysore M. Nagaraj and Mysore M. Manjunath will perform South Indian classical music. The two have won the Best Violinist awards from the Madras Music Academy and are considered the leading exponents of classical instrumental music in India.

“The concerts this semester have something for everyone,” Chopyak says.

All concerts are at 8 p.m. in Capistrano Hall’s Music Recital Hall. Tickets are $15 general admission and $8 for students and are available at 278-4323 or www.tickets.com. For more information, call 278-5155.