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Research

Baluji_Antardishti-collage-background we

Projects

The Baluji Music Foundation composes and produces visionary and innovative music events drawing on our diverse musical and cultural origins and featuring blind artists or blind and sighted artists working together. We also work with award-winning filmmakers to produce compelling documentaries which raise the profile of and awareness about blind musicians. Do contact us if you would like to be involved, help fund any of our projects or would like to find out more. 

ProjectsAnchor

Original composition: Sohini and Mahival

The worlds first Urdu Ortorio which was then extended to become the world’s first Urdu opera. Music by Baluji Shrivastav OBE and Dario Marianelli, Libretto by Baluji Shrivastav OBE.

Sohini and Mahival - Sohini in the river

Original composition: An Indian in London

Contemporary compositions by Baluji Shrivastav OBE and transcribed by Dario Marinelli expressing the experience of immigration through music

An Indian in London - Southbank Centre

Original composition: Antardrishti - Inner Vision

Unlimited International Commission by Baluji Shrivastav OBE. An international music, dance and visual performance, the project is inspired by Chapter 11 of the Hindu philosophical epic the Bhagavad Gita. Music now available on ARC/Naxos.

Antardrishti title image

Original Composition: Roche Global Change Makers Campaign

Our Change Makers campaign aims to raise awareness of the impact of vision loss on daily life. Using art as a creative vehicle, three talented artists living with vision impairment – Dave Steele, Rachel Gadsden and Baluji Shrivastav, OBE – have come together to create an audio-visual performance including poetry, painting and music. The music was composed, performed, and directed by Baluji Shrivastav, OBE, with the Inner Vision Orchestra.

Change Makers IVO image - the orchestra being filmed performing for the campaign

Original Composition: Sitar Guitar Suites

Commissioned by renowned guitarist Timothy Walker with support from the Arts Council

Sitar-guitar suites

Film: The Colours of Sound (2020, Dir. Cecile Embleton)

Exploring movement, touch, imagination and love, this triptych of films reveals the sensorial world of three blind musicians and celebrates the resonating power of music.

Victoria - cast image for the Colours of Sound

Film: Inner Vision Film (2014, Dir. Cecile Embleton)

A documentary following the Inner Vision Orchestra on their first national UK tour showing “the power of music to transform lives”. Produced by the Baluji Music Foundation and filmed by award winning cinematographer Marie-Cecile Embleton.

Inner Vision Orchestra first tour picture

Film: The Lives and Music of Blind Musicians in Post-War London (2018, Dir.Cecile Embleton)

Heritage Lottery Fund Project to capture the oral history of visually impaired musicians.

The Lives and Music of Blind Musicians in Post-War London

Special Projects: Music Workshops

Regular sessions across London & UK with the Inner Vision Orchestra & guests

Sitting in a circle at a workshop; Baluji Shrivastav is playing the sitar, Abi Baker is playing the violin, Peter Bosher is playing the flute, Gow Ratnarajah is playing the mridangam and Kevin Staizabal is playing the keyboard.

Special Projects: Inner Vision Orchestra

The UK's only ensemble of professional blind musicians, brought together from all around the world by Indian multi-instrumentalist Baluji Shrivastav OBE. "joyously cross-cultural, stylistically boundless" BBC Radio 3 Music Matters

Inner Vision Orchestra first tour picture

Collaboration: Orchestra of samples

Addictive TV sampled musicians from the Inner Vision Orchestra for their ambitious and exciting global project Orchestra of Samples

Addictive TV Headshot

Collaboration: Antardrishti-Inner Vision Multi-Media with Addictive TV

Addictive TV was asked to record and film blind musicians in India (both from Inner Vision and guest artists) and audiovisually sample them, bringing both a visual and mixed-media element to the Antardrishti-Inner Vision project.

Antardrishti AV image

Concert Series: Indian Classical Interactions

Indian classical music interacts with Indonesia, flamenco, opera and world music from the Inner Vision Orchestra

Sitar-guitar suites

Concert Series: Inner Vision Orchestra Online Concert Series

Supported by the Arts Council, Vision Foundation, Garfield Weston and the Chapman Charitable Trust and filmed by Eva Maria Spielvogel, this series of concerts during the 2020 lockdown streamed on Youtube premiere showcased individual musicians from the Inner Vision Orchestra and their own repertoire.

IVO Orchestra Series Poster

Concert Series: Blind Spot at St John's

Launch series of Blind Spot events

Abi laughing headshot
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