Bija
Artist Bio:
Jan Eyer
A passion for music and culture directed Jan's path, taking her from Rome, Italy to England and to India to study art, language, music and culture. Along the banks of the Ganges River, Jan's love for Indian music and culture grew..... watching the rising sun as it would streak its fiery tongue across this perennial river, turning it into a sacred corridor of infernal light, memorizing Sanskrit verses and mantras in an ancient Hindu temple.. performing daily morning vocal practice amidst the intoxicating smoke rings from incense. She found the vocal tradition an ideal medium through which to experience not only the fine nuances of this musical system, but also a rich textual tradition drawing from the poetry and sacred verse of saints and poets from different religious traditions. Her sound background in Western music on piano enhances her ability to explore and develop the divergent musical expressions that you find on Seeds of Prayer.
Along with her musical background, Jan is versed in Indian languages so she has been able to deeply explore Indian culture and religion, with translation projects in the areas of Kashmiri Shaivism, and medieval song compositions. Currently, she is focusing her research on the ancient system of learning, Sanskrit education, looking at women and Sanskrit education and their role in maintaining the Sanskrit tradition.
John Protopapas
Born and raised in South Africa, John was always drawn to the rhythm of African music and culture...and was inspired to play. When he was 18, he was drafted unwillingly into the South African Army and became deeply troubled by the reality of the appartheid and the implications of that type of thinking. This experience along with the grief in losing his father at an early age led him on a spiritual and musical journey which took him to India for many years.
While living in South Africa, he was trained as a meditation teacher and yoga teacher. He traveled to India in search for a yoga teacher and soon realized that he was to take on the discipline of Indian Classical Music on the sitar. Under the guidance of several well- established teachers, he studied in the traditional guru-shishya method. He also studied tabla (percussion)with Pyare Lala Mishra and pakhawaj with Toon Maharaj. While living in Rishikesh, he spent a few years in the company of many inspiring and great individuals. Making regular trips to the Himalayas, he visited Badrinath, Kedarnath,Hem Kund Sahib, sacred pilgrimage place for Sikhs. He has had many spiritual influences in life including Sikhism, Kabir panthi and Sufism. Having been initated into Nada Yoga, all of these influences and the love he received from his teachers continues to inspire him in his music.He currently teaches World Music at York College, PA and provides class in yoga.