Become a part of Red Baraat this Saturday.
Credit: Erin Patrice O’Brien
With eight members, Red Baraat are already a bigger band than most of their Brooklyn contemporaries. But this Saturday they’re hoping to have almost 50 times as many people playing their music. As part of Make Music New York, the Bhangra band are inviting as many musicians as are interested to head to the Brooklyn Public Library to perform a piece composed by the band’s Sunny Jain.
“I think it’s going to be a spectacle,” says Jain.
The title, “100+ BPM,” carries a double meaning, as it’s the tempo for the composition (100 beats per minute), and there are 100+ musicians playing Brooklyn Public Music. And it looks like the plus is important in this title.
“Make Music New York said they’re expecting 370 musicians,” says Jain, almost in disbelief. “This is an event people can’t miss, [judging] by the sheer numbers of folks turning out.”
Musicians can download the score and learn it so they can be a part of the concert. Different musicians will play at different spots in Brooklyn, and at 4.30 p.m. they will all come together to perform at the Public Library.
“The melodies and the rhythms you’re going to hear are traditional Punjabi rhythms, but translated to other instruments, too,” Jain explains. “It’s a big global sound as well as a Brooklyn sound.”
