Erfurt
About
Matyas Wolter is a highly specialized instrumentalist devoted to classical South Asian music aka Hindusthani Raga music. His instruments sitar and surbahar (bass-sitar) are considered to be among the toughest string-instruments in the world. With more than twenty years of experience in the field Matyas stands out among the very few European exponents of this rare art form as a virtuoso performer and an in-depth researcher of the music and its historic modes of presentation.
Matyas received his initial training from Pt. Subroto Roy Chowdhury during many years spent in his first teachers Kolkata household. Here he received profound insights into the rich traditions of Sitar music. Since Subrotos demise in 2017 Matyas sought further guidance under Ustad Irfan Khan –the head of the ancient Lucknow-Shahjahanpur Gharana of instrumental music -and currently Matyas imbibes the largest repertoire of historic instrumental compositions handed down from Mr. Khan’s ancestors.
As a composer and performer in the famed jazz-outlet Pulsar Trio Matyas´ music found wide appreciation outside the Indian-music-circle. Focused on traditional raga interpretation, Wolter has performed internationally, released albums in both raga and jazz, composed film scores, and co-founded the Berlin Raga Tribe to support authentic raga performances.
His recent project, the Lucknow-Shahjahanpur-Gharana-Archive, preserves and shares historic recordings of raga masters.
Concerts
Erfurt
Syrnau (AT)
Eisenach
Attenkirchen
Bayrisch-Gmain
Dresden
References
Dover Lane Musikkonferenz Kolkata
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Nehru Centre London
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Indische Botschaft Berlin
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Nikolaisaal Potsdam
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Staatstheater Cottbus
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Sitar Festival St. Petersburg Russland
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Glastonbury Festival Großbritannien
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Leverkusener Jazztage Deutschland
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Fusion Festival Deutschland
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International Jazz Festival Izmir Türkei
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ICCR Hall Kolkata
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Sur Sadhana Festival Vilnius Litauen
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Rudolstadt Festival / TFF Deutschland
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Shared Values Festival London Großbritannien
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Delhi International Jazz Festival Indien
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Bengal Heritage Festival Kolkata Indien
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Deutschlandfunk Kultur - Radio Konzert
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Alte Oper Frankfurt
Teaching
I primarily teach in Jena and – by arrangement – in the greater Berlin area. Additionally, I offer online one-on-one lessons via Skype.
Sitar beginners benefit from personalized practice sessions and are guided step by step into the art of raga improvisation.
Advanced players can expand their knowledge and skills, drawing from a wide repertoire of ragas and traditional instrumental gat compositions and gat todas. On the surbahar, I teach alap-jor-jhala based on the traditional 2-mizrab-3-finger Beenkar technique, as well as instrumental dhrupad compositions in Dhamar, Chowtal, Sooltal, and Jhaptal-Sadra.
Archives
Lucknow-Shahjahanpur Gharana Archive
Welcome to the Lucknow-Shahjahanpur Gharana Archive, a dedicated collection celebrating the rich heritage and artistic legacy of one of the worlds oldest instrumental-music traditions.
The archive offers an immersive journey through rare recordings, historic performances, and invaluable documents that capture the essence of the gharana's unique styles, techniques, and innovations and allows a glimpse into an old and almost lost world of music.
Whether you're a student, scholar, performer, or enthusiast, explore the deep-rooted traditions and evolution of an illustrious musical family/gharana, preserving its contributions for future generations.
Explore Lucknow-Shahjahanpur Gharana Archive
The archive offers an immersive journey through rare recordings, historic performances, and invaluable documents that capture the essence of the gharana's unique styles, techniques, and innovations and allows a glimpse into an old and almost lost world of music.
Whether you're a student, scholar, performer, or enthusiast, explore the deep-rooted traditions and evolution of an illustrious musical family/gharana, preserving its contributions for future generations.
Vintage Instruments
Discover a collection of vintage instruments, where history and character meet exceptional sound quality. These timeless pieces have been carefully restored to preserve their unique charm and original resonance, offering musicians a chance to connect with the rich heritage of music-making.
Explore Vintage Instruments
Dieter Zarnitz Instruments
Honoring Dieter Zarnitz (1934-2024), a masterful self-taught German luthier who crafted seven sitars, a surbahar, and three tanpuras with a unique twist—using lute-inspired resonators instead of traditional pumpkin gourds. As the custodian of his extraordinary instrument collection, I aim to document these treasures and connect them with musicians who will continue their legacy.
Explore Dieter Zarnitz Instruments
