To Dr. Sachdev, it was another sign that the 10 students who make up the ensemble have truly developed a reverence for the traditional music. Dr. Sachdev, assistant professor of music, began teaching at BSC in September. Both music majors and students with little or no musical experience came forward to join, and thus Khakatay was born. The name of the group is a Senagalese word that means laughing loud. Western classical music tends to be formal, Dr. Sachdev said, particularly in terms of performance, when the audience sits quietly, usually at a distance from the musicians.
African music tends to involve the audience in the music-making.
Not all of the members of the ensemble are experienced musicians, but all have displayed an impressive amount of dedication and enthusiasm, Dr. Sachdev said. The ensemble meets to practice three times a week. The more advanced musicians are asked to play the more difficult parts, while the others hone their skills with simpler rhythms. Dr. Sachdev has seen the interest of the students grow throughout the fall semester, and hopes to take their performances to quite an advanced level in the coming months and years. The BSC community was introduced to the ensemble s music last month during their first concert and at a performance at the annual Kwanzaa celebration.