April 2021 ®

ON Stagevolume 10 • issue 9

THE SCREENING EFFECT THE BEST OF OPERA, BALLET, PLAYS AND DOCUMENTARIES

Chairman’s Note

ortune favours the brave. We had just finished the SOI’s Spring 2020 Season and within a fortnight of it, the Flockdown was announced. In the last one year, we have spent time on creating infrastructure for the dissemination of our concerts through the digital medium and I am happy to say that some progress has been made. Several of our SOI musicians are resident and we are making use of that for creating a stockpile of recordings while also taking stock of our archives. We are examining various other ways in which our facilities at the NCPA can be utilised to conduct workshops, seminars, talks, etc. These will take some time. Please don’t mistake this, dear member, for us giving up our passion for live performances, which remain our raison d’être. However, until we can safely return to hosting performances, we want to make this interim period interesting for you. This long absence from the office seems to have naturally affected the quick decision-making atmosphere which was possible when colleagues could interact with each other face to face on a regular basis. Since this situation is not ending as early as we thought, the NCPA will have to garner its strength and depth of management by adopting creative managerial strategies to meet this challenge and to ensure that these decisions are scrupulously followed.

Khushroo N. Suntook NCPA Chairman Khushroo N. Suntook

Editorial Director Radhakrishnan Nair

Chief Executive - PR, Marketing & Events, NCPA Pallavi Sahney Sharma Contents Editor Snigdha Hasan Consulting Editor 14 Vipasha Aloukik Pai 38 Editorial Co-ordinator Hilda Darukhanawalla

Art Director Tanvi Shah

Associate Art Director Hemali Limbachiya

Assistant Art Director Nandkishor Sawant

Graphic Designers Gautami Dave

Advertising Anita Maria Pancras ([email protected]; 66223835) Tulsi Bavishi ([email protected]; 9833116584)

Production Manager Mangesh Salvi Senior Digital Manager Jayesh V. Salvi the NCPA-Citi Online Edition brimming with an appreciative Cover Credit Features The Metropolitan Opera, celebrates a cherished association audience. But when audiences The Bolshoi Theatre, The National Theatre, through stellar performances. have a plethora of avenues of White Wall Screenings the SOI Music Academy look back on entertainment to choose from, their journey and how it has shaped how do we get them interested Produced by 06 Reflections them, inside the classroom, on the 28 in live performances of classical Musical repose. stage and out in the world. Improvised Times dance? By Usha Rk Editorial Office By Anil Dharker International Jazz Day is here, and 4th Floor, Todi Building, we take a look at how lovers of Mathuradas Mills Compound, 20 this beautiful genre of music are 38 Senapati Bapat Marg, The Instrumental Case celebrating this special day across The Big Band Theory Lower Parel, 08 Please note: Eclectic Connections When played as accompaniments, the world. By Benaifer J. Mirza High energy, good vibrations, In view of the fluid situation we find ourselves in, we do not think it fit Mumbai - 400013 The NCPA’s many they gracefully play second fiddle funky dance forms and a rich to publish information on upcoming events in this issue. We do hope Printer collaborations—old, new and to the vocalist, bolstering the and distinctive musical sound to be able to safely welcome you to our theatres very soon. Until then, Spenta Multimedia, Peninsula Spenta, renewed—are bringing a performance. As the cynosure of across crowded dance halls of please visit our website, www.ncpamumbai.com, and our social media Mathuradas Mill Compound, 30 unique experience for lovers solo recitals, their sound commands Culture, Covid and the State 20th-century America marked channels to keep abreast of the latest developments at the NCPA and do N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai – 400013 of cinema and the arts. From a rapt audience and encores. Ahead While the world struggles to the beginning of the big band stay safe, dear readers. screenings of short films, of Saz-e-Bahar, a festival celebrating achieve normalcy, how much era. Anurag Tagat analyses Materials in ON Stage® cannot be  documentaries, opera, ballet the rich diversity of instruments in cold, hard cash countries are how the sound of the big reproduced in part or whole without the and theatre, the titles on offer Indian music, a brief acquaintance willing to spend on supporting band made jazz a universally Follow us on: written permission of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this magazine here include world-class, with four instruments that are part the arts and its artistes is more popular form of music that has facebook.com/NCPAMumbai critically acclaimed works as of this edition, and their leading revealing than all manner of spin influenced a bevy of artistes in are not necessarily those of the publisher. @NCPAMumbai All rights reserved. well as little-known gems that contemporary exponents. relied on by any form of public subsequent decades. are not to be missed. By Snigdha Hasan relations. By Jawhar Sircar @NCPAMumbai NCPA Booking Office 2282 4567/6654 8135/6622 3724 By Kusumita Das youtube.com/user/TheNCPAMumbai1 www.ncpamumbai.com 42 27 34 Kaleidoscope 14 The Gift of Music Spectator Sport Your window to the latest in the The Graduates With a series of select Indian and The biggest applause in the performing arts across India and We look forward to your feedback and suggestions. Please do drop us an

Seven graduating students of Western classical music concerts, performing arts is auditoria the world. email at [email protected]. COMMONS BERNHARD/WIKIMEDIA HANS OPINION

Reflections Musical repose. By Anil Dharker

If music be the food of sleep, play on. With apologies to Shakespeare, of course, who would imagine that the great music we so avidly listen to in concert halls could be prescribed by doctors for insomnia? There’s a new science out there, called Arts on Prescription. The U.K. currently offers this for people with mental health problems. Music plays an important part in the therapy; additionally, it also helps people relax and sleep soundly. The prescription can last three weeks to three months, after which presumably, listening to soothing music becomes a habit and no prescription is required. Music dosages? ‘Six longitudinal music lines to help slow down a listener’s heart Lune’ (a description of moonlight) and his sleep studies using the Pittsburgh Sleep rate, reduce blood pressure and lower levels ‘Reverie’ round up the list. Quality Index’. It is enough to make you of stress hormone cortisol. Debussy might be a master of creating a toss and turn in your bed. Nevertheless, As a genre though, classical music works dreamlike atmosphere, but since you hear the role of music in inducing better quality best. A survey of 600 people conducted by the music played by piano, we don’t hear sleep has been established clearly, and for a research group showed that as many as the original song’s disquieting lyrics, “Our that we don’t need a doctor’s prescription or 32 per cent of participants chose classical love is a dream, but in my reverie/I can see a visit to the chemist. Besides, it is the only music as the best relaxant. Apparently, the that this love was meant for me/Only a drug which is good if it becomes addictive. right kind of music works on something poor fool never schooled in the whirlpool/ But it can’t be every kind of music. called HRV (Heart Rate Variability) which Of romance could be so cruel as you are to Certainly not heavy metal. Or big band jazz measures how efficiently a person’s heart me…” Luckily, we can ignore the sadness or for that matter, many pieces of classical rate adapts to the changing demands of a and go happily to sleep. music. Imagine trying to sleep listening working day. Speak of sleep and you think of dreams. to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with its Bach wrote The Well-Tempered Clavier While writing this, it struck me with a cannon shots, or Holst’s ‘Mars, the Bringer in which he said the 24 preludes and sudden jolt of pain that I have never had of War’ from The Planets. Sleep experts (it fugues were, “for the profit and use of a dream with music in it. But a study in is a lucrative profession, by the way) tell musical youth desirous of learning, and psychomusicology made me feel better: us that the tempo of the music makes a especially for the pastime of those already they found only six per cent of participants difference; the best is music with a rhythm skilled in this study.” From this complex remembered dreams with music. And the of 60 beats per minute. As we fall asleep, our composition, the Prelude No.1, with ones who have musical dreams are more heartbeat slows down to about that level. its simple beauty consisting of broken likely to be professional musicians or those William Congreve said this rather well: chords is wonderful to sleep by. But the who listen to it for extended periods. These ‘Music hath charms to soothe the piece of music considered the very best in lucky few use their dreams creatively. In savage breast this field is ‘Wiegenlied’ by Brahms. Not fact, Paul McCartney of the Beatles and To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.’ surprising because the translated title is Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones said The most relaxing song ever created is ‘Cradle Song’, so it is a lullaby which goes: they dreamt full songs which they quickly ‘Weightless’ by a group called Marconi “Guten Abend, gut nacht!/ Mit Rosen wrote down and used. Even Beethoven and Union. According to research by Dr. David bedacht,/Mit Näglein Besteckt/Schlupf Stravinsky dreamed up bits of music which Lewis-Hodgson of Mindlab International, unter die Deck…” they were able to use in their compositions. the song resulted in a 65 per cent reduction A close second is Bach’s ‘Air on a G So this is what I’m going to do. Spend in participants’ overall anxiety and a 35 per String’ from his Orchestral Suite No.3, a whole Sunday listening to a variety of cent reduction in their usual resting heart followed closely by Chopin’s Nocturne composers, then just before turning in, rate. The song was actually ‘constructed’ No.2 (you cannot do better than the put on ‘Air on a G String’. Hopefully, I will to do this: the group worked with sound Rubinstein recording) and Rubinstein dream musical dreams, and even if no great therapists (another career option) and playing the first movement of Beethoven’s composition emerges from them, at least I arranged harmonies, rhythms and bass ‘Moonlight Sonata’. Debussy’s ‘Clair de will wake up with a song in my heart. shutterstock

6 • April 2021 NCPA

COVER STORY

ven as entertainment appears to have with some of the world’s most prestigious live shrunk to a palm-sized screen during performance venues—the Metropolitan Opera, New the pandemic, the big screen’s charms York, the National Theatre, London and the Bolshoi are not lost on us. One could have Theatre, Moscow—as well as leading independent the best home theatre system or the producers of documentary films on art such as most crystal clear, Bluetooth-enabled, the U.K.’s Seventh Art Productions. Since as early noise-cancelling earphones plugged as 2011, long before the 4G revolution and web- Eclectic intoE a giant flat-screen even, and yet, it will fall based programming had made a splash in India, the short when compared to the thrill of stepping into NCPA has been the go-to venue for high-quality a theatre, lit only by the massive screen, sitting with broadcasting of plays from around the world. Opera, fellow enthusiasts and taking it all in. Enjoyable as ballet (in partnership with Pathé Live and Bolshoi) it was, until 2020, we may not have seen this as and exhibition screenings offering unique insights extraordinary. The pandemic has just turned a year into the lives of masters like Michelangelo, Monet old and our city is still dancing to the whims of the and Van Gogh followed soon after in 2012, 2013 Connections Coronavirus, trying to negotiate the confusing zone and 2014 respectively. Frankenstein was the first between open and shut. The month of February National Theatre Live (NT Live) screening in June The NCPA’s many collaborations—old, new and renewed—are bringing a saw the NCPA open its doors to screenings and live 2011. The Benedict Cumberbatch-starrer, wherein unique experience for lovers of cinema and the arts. From screenings of performances. The calendar was packed again, after he plays both the creature and Victor Frankenstein, a year of silence. Theatre screenings and plays and alternating roles with Johnny Lee Miller, was an short films, documentaries, opera, ballet and theatre, the titles on offer short films and documentaries were back on the instant audience favourite. Helmed by Oscar- here include world-class, critically acclaimed works as well as little- NCPA’s screens to engage and entertain Mumbai winning director, Danny Boyle, it was so popular, known gems that are not to be missed. audiences with a fresh line-up. that the NCPA had to request the National Theatre for more screenings, recalls Deepa Shinde, Deputy A pioneer’s approach Manager-Programme at the NCPA, who oversees By Kusumita Das Among this venue’s most unique and coveted the NT Live screenings. Since then, the National features have been its long-lasting collaborations Theatre has screened 75 shows at the NCPA. A scene from the Bolshoi’s production of Le corsaire A scene from the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Aida

A scene from the A scene from the Metropolitan Bolshoi’s production Opera’s production of Agrippina of Jewels

Among the NCPA’s most unique and coveted features have been its long- lasting collaborations with be so. This was the 20th sold-out show,” Shinde very different from what we get at other venues. some of the world’s most pres- says. From the footfall, it was clear that the audience So it is more fun getting films and filmmakers to the tigious live performance ven- is not hesitant to embrace the live experience. “We NCPA,” Kothari says. had an age group between 30 and 75 years and Like short films, documentaries have also found ues—the Metropolitan Opera, the dominant opinion after watching the screening a home here. Careful curation is done by the New York, the National The- was that it was worth stepping out for this fantastic Reality Check film series, in collaboration with atre, London and the Bolshoi production,” she adds. Cinema Collective, to promote the lesser-known documentary filmmakers of India whose work Theatre, Moscow Undiscovered treasuress presents unusual stories that aim to sharpen our At the NCPA, screenings go beyond lavish theatre understanding of the world. This year, the curation productions. Cinema lovers have enough to pick from of titles include Rubaru Roshni, an anthology too, from a roster of short films and documentaries. documentary produced by Aamir Khan Productions, The NCPA’s Short Film Corner, in collaboration with Displacement & Resilience: women Iive for a new “While the NCPA regularly stages live opera Western classical music, including Coomi Wadia, White Wall Screenings (WWS), has been committed day that tells the story of women refugees, Sapna and, occasionally, ballet, the screenings allow conductor of the Paranjoti Academy Chorus, make to bringing some rare, experimental titles to its Bhavnani’s Sindhustan and also international films us to present a regular season of these genres to it a point to not miss opera and ballet screenings at audiences since 2017. Aside from showcasing films, like Chasing Niagara, I Am Not Your Negro and With our audiences, featuring some of today’s leading the NCPA. the idea is also to connect the auteurs to their artistes. The Met and Bolshoi are arguably the Unvala recalls several productions that have audiences through post-screening discussions. In leading houses for opera and ballet, respectively. received tremendous response from the audience February, they opened with the screening of Hindi- A scene from the Metropolitan The screenings not only allow them to reach a global over the years. “The screening of Wagner’s Ring Marathi animation film,Good Morning Mumbai! Opera’s production of Tosca audience but also allow audiences who may not Cycle some years ago was completely sold out. It is “The response was encouraging, to say the least,” have otherwise had the opportunity to experience also always nice to see artistes in these broadcasts says Pratik Kothari, co-founder, WWS. “We were their productions—perhaps also people who have who have performed live at the NCPA with the SOI hopeful, but not sure of the kind of footfall we would never experienced the art form before,” says Xerxes in the past—such as Carlo Rizzi conducting Norma get. We were pleasantly surprised. Filmmakers Unvala, General Manager-SOI & Western Classical or recently, Angel Blue starring in The Gershwins’ ) enjoyed interacting with the audience who in turn

Music at the NCPA. Porgy and Bess.” jewels participated whole-heartedly—that was a huge win ( The screenings are a big draw among connoisseurs Last year, in March 2020, opera enthusiasts were for us.” It is always a challenge to draw people to too. Filmmaker par excellence Shyam Benegal and eagerly looking forward to the show of the latter. the big screen to watch short films, more so in a fetisova . e

his wife Nira have been regularly attending the Met However, just a few days before the screening, the ); pandemic situation; at the NCPA, however, a pull- and NT Live screenings since the NCPA first brought pandemic hit India and all events were suspended. factor is the post-screening conversation. “The corsaire them to Mumbai. Theatre and film personalities Dr. Exactly a year later, The Gershwins’ Porgy and pandemic has magnified the reach of short films le Vijaya Mehta and Farrokh Mehta, Naseeruddin Shah Bess was finally screened in February, continuing ( as more people have started watching them, and and Ratna Pathak Shah, Sam Kerawalla, Faredoon from where things were left off, while the NT Live finding merit in them. And at WWS, the discussions shakina Dodo Bhujwala and Joy Sengupta are regulars at screenings opened with The Lehman Trilogy. “It has are the major attraction, one that cannot quite be

NT Live screenings too. Veterans from the world of been something of a blockbuster and continues to anna replicated on Zoom. Also, the NCPA audience is

10 • April 2021 NCPA Great Power: The Stan Lee Story. “These films are A scene from The Red Shoes for discerning audiences for whom watching such films in a theatre, on a large screen, is part of an immersive theatre experience that greatly enhances their appeal. Also, whenever possible, we invite filmmakers to be physically present at the screenings and interact with the audience. It makes for a rare, personalised experience that normally only happens in specialised film festival venues,” says Preeti Chandriani, co-founder, Cinema Collective.

Looking forward As the city continued to shuttle in and out of lockdown, a busy February was followed by a mellow March. But the programming is stacked up to bounce back as soon as the gates reopen. “The pandemic has caused the Met to completely close down, and it is expected to remain closed till later this year. However, to allow for venues around the world to offer content whenever they are able to re-open, the Met has made available a bank of recordings from previous seasons, featuring several well-loved titles including Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci, Le Nozze di Figaro, Madama Butterfly, Turandot and many more,” says Unvala. He adds that several new productions, especially ones with new cast members, are not available to stream at home.

“Whenever possible, we invite film- makers to be physically present at the screenings of their films and interact with the audience, which makes for a rare, personalised experience that normally only hap- ) A scene from pens in specialised film festival The National Theatre’s Frankenstein venues” frankenstein ( The NT Live screenings too will not include any new productions, owing to the pandemic. But a slew of ashmore some of the best encores are lined up, which include blockbusters like the musical, Follies, the epic,

catherine War Horse, the Tom Hiddleston-starrer Coriolanus ); and No Man’s Land, featuring Patrick Stewart and

trilogy Ian McKellen. The exhibition screenings that got

postponed last year are ready to be presented too, lehman starting with Easter in Art, a film which explores the the

( story of Easter as depicted in art, from the time of the early Christians to the present day. berger The pandemic may have lulled us into the comforts of home-viewing, but there is something

stephanie about the communal viewing experience that ); will make audiences return to screening venues, shoes believes Bruce Guthrie, Head of Theatre and Film at and then, yes; but, a majority of our lives is shared red the NCPA. “A comedy is better when you share the with other people. And we crave for that shared the ( joy with people, and a tragedy, too, is better when spirit. Over the last year, a different value has been the feelings are shared. As people, we thrive in placed on that. And getting back to that point, persson

A scene from the National Theatre’s production of The Lehman Trilogy communities, as opposed to just being individuals. whereby, we can do that freely, is something that

johan We all need that quiet night to ourselves every now everybody is dreaming about.”

12 • April 2021 NCPA EDUCATION

As for celebrating the completion of seven years Unlike American or Russian schools and academies, of study at the academy, Bisengaliev is clear that he we don’t only train soloists but have many lessons wants to do something to commemorate the graduates on the workings of an orchestra. The SOI Academy and their many achievements. “We are determined Orchestra is something we should be proud of and I to have some kind of ceremony for the two batches would like to start working with it as soon as possible,” of graduates—last year’s and this year’s. We are also he says. trying to make the annual concert happen, and if it is As students graduate, Bisengaliev is hoping that not possible with a live audience, then we are going they choose music as a career path. “We are not to try our best to record and stream it. We are doing stopping, because this is only the first step. We’ve everything to make this special for our students, who got another four years of teaching to impart to the are really talented,” he says. Bisengaliev is also keen to graduates. Some of them have decided to continue start training the SOI Academy Orchestra, comprising their education in Europe. All the others, as far as I students of the academy. “This orchestra holds a know, are continuing their education with us, which is very special place for us. It is something that sets a really good sign,” he says. this academy apart from others. We put quite a huge We spoke to the seven graduates and asked emphasis on orchestra culture because I believe that them about their time as students at the SOI Music the majority of musicians go on to work in orchestras. Academy. Here is what they had to say:

Aliza Jetha (15), viola

At six years old, I started taking violin lessons. I played for almost a year before I auditioned for the NCPA music school only to find out that all their violin spots had been filled and their only vacancy was for a viola player. On the premise of being unique, I jumped at the opportunity and have never regretted my decision. Through the years, because of the Russian teaching style, I have been challenged and have grown as a musician. The teachers in the programme are all I placed first in my age category and I have to give TheThe wonderful and played a huge part in my journey with thanks to Marat Bisengaliev for the use of his viola. the viola, especially my current viola teacher, Osman Playing an instrument that has a rich sound motivates Yarullin. Until about two years ago, it would take some me to work hard and attempt to utilise the instrument effort on my part to practise, however, I now find to its full potential. myself spontaneously taking out my viola and playing Balancing academics and music has never posed a GraduatesGraduates the odd pop song outside of my designated practice challenge to me. When I was younger, my mother ensured Seven graduating students of the SOI Music Academy look time and that, to me, signifies growth not just in I took my instrument out for a few minutes every day. As back on their journey and how it has shaped them, inside the terms of playing but also loving and appreciating the I got older, I started making time in my schedule to play instrument. My love for the viola and Western classical every day. Playing the viola has given me a focal point classroom, on the stage and out in the world. music has been nurtured by the many opportunities that I am passionate about. Studying at the SOI Music provided by the SOI Music Academy. I am extremely Academy has been a productive investment of my time. grateful to have experienced playing on stage in our I had to commit to this programme and therefore had hile talking about this year’s batch of “I’m grateful to our teachers who actually increased annual April concert. I find that the opportunity to understand graduating students of the SOI Music their hours to compensate for the lack of in-person nothing else I do comes close to that eventually hard work does WAcademy, there is a hint of nostalgia in Marat sessions during the pandemic,” says Bisengaliev. the feeling of satisfaction and “I find that nothing else pay off. I plan to continue my Bisengaliev’s voice. The SOI Music Director, who also However, everyone, including the students, is eager to pure elation I feel after playing training in music for the next few oversees the academy, says he still remembers the return to the classroom. Bisengaliev too is firm in his in front of an audience. I do comes close to the years at the academy. I feel I am students as young kids. They were only seven or eight belief that no amount of online teaching can replace During the pandemic, I too young to commit to having when they first started studying at the NCPA. “I just the effectiveness of in-person lessons. “Online lessons entered my first competition. feeling of satisfaction a career in music, however, it can’t tell you how quickly the time has gone by. Our are okay for theory, but ideally, they should only exist It was nice that it was online and pure elation I feel is definitely something I would graduates are all teenagers now,” he says. as a supplement, as a tool to check on the student. We because I could record the consider. The one certainty I have The past year has been difficult but the work of the should have in-person lessons at least two to three pieces multiple times until I was after playing in front of is that the viola will always be a academy, though having moved online, has continued. times a week.” satisfied with my recording. an audience” part of my life.

14 • April 2021 NCPA NCPA April 2021 • 15 I was in tears. My teacher Aigerim “The manner perform in through this academy. Akshay Vora (15), violin Beisembekova hugged me and told Unfortunately, in the past year due me it was fine. It was a ripe moment to of teaching and to the pandemic, I have only played My memory takes me back to when I was just two or be scolded, I assumed. Instead, I was the relationship online concerts. Most online concerts three years old, and first started listening to classical comforted. are pre-recorded so there is no rush music whenever we went for a drive. A very fond The manner of teaching and the we have with of adrenaline, no audience watching memory which still has me in possession of the disc relationship we have with our teachers our teachers is and none of the fun we usually have that I listened to then. I started playing the violin at is perhaps the most fulfilling part of backstage. Online classes have not the SOI Music Academy at the age of seven. I even the academy. It is so personal and perhaps the most interrupted my learning but it is not played in my first concert—a small drum for one caring. All my teachers have been fulfilling part of the same experience. The only bright piece—within months of joining the academy. Since patient through my phases of laziness the academy” side is that I don’t have to spend two then, my appreciation for Western classical music or distraction, and understanding hours commuting anymore. has grown considerably. Over time, I have sharpened about schoolwork and exams. At the Studying music at the SOI Music my skills as a musician and a large part of this growth same time, they have also been very particular about Academy is a big commitment and definitely not easy can be attributed to the dedicated team of teachers practice and hard work. My teacher once told me that as it requires hours of dedication. However, playing a at the academy. I have the highest sense of gratitude all of her students are like her kids. We have that kind classical instrument has taught me the importance of for my incredible teacher, Olga Lyapina, under whose in a lot of concerts as a part of the orchestra, and even of special bond. discipline and also given me the ability to express myself tutelage I have learnt that practice is what’s most as a soloist. After the first few performances, I realised Over the years, I have also learnt that performing can better. Music is part of who I am. Even though I am in a important to excel in any field. I think her being strict that it was important not to be as stressed on stage be unpredictable, which is why varied experience in it crucial school year (the tenth grade), with admissions at times is what has helped me to understand how but just enjoy what I was playing, and this has helped is especially valuable. The more you perform the more for schools and colleges coming up, I cannot imagine much discipline you require to play such a difficult me at school as well. Balancing practice and a hectic you get used to it and I am grateful for all the different my life without music, whether I pursue a career in it instrument. Her zeal for perfection is what has always schedule at school has always been challenging, but I places—all over Mumbai and even Abu Dhabi—I got to or not. pushed me to work harder. would never say that I regret it. One of the most enjoyable experiences at the In my pursuit of life, music shall be and always academy is the orchestra remain an integral part. It helps rehearsal, which has helped me to stay in tune with my life and me understand the part played “Music helps me to it has taught me to endure and by each instrument and how persevere in the most challenging Saheba Singh (16), piano individually written music comes stay in tune with situations. I would like to wrap together to create spellbinding my life and it has up my experience with a special I was first introduced to the world of Western classical music—something that has mention for Marat Bisengaliev. Each music as a young girl, when my parents started piano always intrigued me. Although taught me to endure of us at the academy has been lessons for me. At first, I could not fathom being able to the practice is long and tough at and persevere in the fortunate to have been touched by play such a vast instrument, but looking back at it today, times, the final performance is his genius, mentoring and guidance. I am glad that piano has become such a prominent part always extremely rewarding. I am most challenging I am fortunate to have his presence of my life. delighted to say that I have played situations” in my journey of classical music. My sister auditioned for the SOI Music Academy before I did, and after hearing endless stories about it, I knew I had to audition for it. At the academy, I have not only grown as a pianist, but also as a person. It has instilled a plethora of qualities in me that I did not have is one of the best things about being part of this seven years ago. The numerous concert opportunities community, and I am grateful to have been here for so Samina Bandukwala (15), flute that we received over the years have boosted my long. confidence, helping me conquer my fear some more The last year has been nothing short of tumultuous, Growing up, most parents like to cram their kids’ each time I stepped on stage. The hard work that as our lives were transformed into tiny laptop screens, schedules with all kinds of classes, and piano class was goes into putting up a good programme taught me our musical training included. However, I was amazed one of them for me. However, I had a cousin who played resilience, because that makes the end result so much at my teacher’s determination to continue during this the flute and I was fascinated by it and wanted to learn sweeter. But most importantly, the NCPA instilled in me difficult phase, and that motivated me throughout the to play it. So when my mother heard about the NCPA’s a love and passion for playing the piano, making it one year. There were times when I would be dispirited, or new winds programme, I was eager to join. of my favourite ways to unwind. academic pressure would take up my time. But Miss Since I joined seven years ago, it has been a long Through this seven-year Aida’s help in time delegation, and road from ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ to sonatas and rollercoaster ride, my teacher, Aida her support in all aspects of my life, concertos, and it has taken a lot of practice to get here. Bisengalieva, has been a constant “The hard work definitely made this year a lot easier But aside from technical progress, it has been a unique support system, and I would not that goes into for me, and I cannot be more grateful. learning experience, the perfect balance between be where I am today without her. Today, the piano plays a massive role personal and professional. I distinctly remember one concert putting up a good in my life, whether I am humming the Firstly, being in this programme has taught me a where I had lost my music right before programme taught tune of a Beethoven sonata, a piece lot about confidence. When I had just started at the my part to go on stage. Naturally, I of pop music, composing something academy, I was seven, and extremely shy and nervous. was in tears and overcome by anxiety. me resilience, or even experimenting with different While performing, my hands would shake and I would with nerves and to just keep going, no matter what. I However, I remember every single because that makes styles. I hope to continue playing in fumble at every other note. It took quite some time remember this one concert when I was playing solo teacher backstage reminding me of the future, possibly in a band, so that and endless encouragement from my teachers for me and I messed up my piece. Regardless, I finished and my capabilities, and making me feel the end result so I can share my love and passion for to grow sure of myself. I have now learnt how to deal left the stage smiling, but as soon as I got backstage loved. This unity and togetherness much sweeter” music with others.

16 • April 2021 NCPA NCPA April 2021 • 17 inspiration and as someone I look “I now feel inspired schedule for my music alongside Yohan Pastala-Gupte (18), trumpet up to, I want him to be proud of me. my schoolwork and extracurricular The high point of my training to work on more sports activities. I realise that as I wanted to play the trumpet since I was five, when I has always been the opportunity my work load at school increases, first heard it played live at a service in my church. As I to perform before an audience. complex pieces and this will become more difficult to was too young for the trumpet then, I started an early While this was always preceded by have explored a balance, but for me time spent music education class until there was an audition for intense practice, the joy in seeing with the trumpet is both work and wind instruments at the NCPA. I was ten when I started my music connect with and move wide range of music relaxation. It helps give me time learning the trumpet at the SOI Music Academy. people is what has encouraged and styles that include to myself and my music—which is During the first few months of class, I could barely inspired me to keep working harder valuable to me. And we can always hold the trumpet for an extended period. Now I am in helping me bring more music into jazz, retro and make time for the things that bring able to practise for hours together. Speaking of the world. contemporary music us happiness. practice, my first teacher, Stuart Potter, taught me The lockdown has been hard While I do not know what the some important lessons in it. During our time together, because the computer screen can that lend themselves future has in store for me, I would he would always ask me, “What is the most important never substitute the happiness that to the trumpet” like music to always be a part of note?” And the correct answer was always, “The next been on stage so we could hone our skills and learn comes from being together with my life. If it leads me someday to note.” He used an interesting technique to help me through concert experiences and orchestral practice. people and playing. become an artiste playing in an orchestra or at a focus—Stuart would use a bunch of coins and make me My experience of online classes during the pandemic I have generally tried to maintain a regular practice club, so be it. practise a section of music over and over until I got has been very smooth thanks to my teachers and the it right. For every time I played without mistakes, he NCPA administration. While the quality of my lessons would move a coin to the other side until I played it right in trumpet, piano and solfeggio have not changed, I consecutively for the total number am eagerly waiting for in-person of coins. If at any time during this lessons, especially the orchestra process, I made a mistake, he “I am grateful that rehearsals and concerts. Sumer Murthy (14), violin would move back all the coins and Today, I am in the 12th grade and I would have to start again. a big part of my to be able to find a meaningful My mother says that she used to play a lot of classical distinguished judges. My current teacher, Adil musical training at balance between exams, college music for me when I was a baby, as she had heard It is because of her Ukibayev, has introduced me applications and practice has that this helps in development. However, my earliest rigour and my effort to various pieces that every the academy has been been difficult. But I believe I have memories merge lively classical music with the to practise that I professional trumpet player on stage so we could managed well. I am currently in opening and closing credits of my favourite Tom and was lucky enough to should know. He helped me the process of applying to music Jerry cartoons. Maybe this is why I jumped at the place second in both master my technique and hone our skills and academies in Europe and am opportunity to try out learning how to play the violin these competitions, precision and pushed me to the learn through concert compiling my audition tapes. The as an after-school activity, first through a programme one at the Jumeirah level I am at now. I am grateful tapes are due soon and I will be offered at school, and then at the SOI Music Academy. Sounds competition that a big part of my musical experiences and recording them in the same church Performing on stage through the academy has in Dubai, and the training at the academy has orchestral practice” where I first heard the trumpet. boosted my confidence and has helped me in speaking second at the in front of large audiences, which is an important life Newport Virtuosi skill. Performing with the orchestra has made me realise International Online the importance of working as a team. It transforms Music Competition in the U.S. the individuality of playing the violin alone into a fun Playing the violin makes me feel peaceful and group activity. My teacher, Gulzara Shakir, makes me happy. It is sometimes a challenge to balance Dhruva Raghavan (14), trumpet practise rigorously, but she also has my best interests schoolwork and violin practice, but once I get in the at heart, and makes our classes together entertaining flow, all my stress goes away, and I feel relaxed to I was introduced to Western classical music through and engaging, even when she is teaching me online as play the violin after a long day of school. During the watching my sister Shloka play the cello at the she has been for the past year pandemic, it is fun to play the SOI Music Academy. Listening to her perform during the Covid-19 crisis. Her violin when I am bored and and practise encouraged me to audition for wind dedication to teaching me and My teacher encouraged have nothing to do. Online instruments when I was seven years old. her keen attention to detail has lessons are better than nothing, While I took to the trumpet like a fish would to greatly improved my technique me to participate in two but I prefer in-person classes. water, over the last seven years, the instrument has through the years and without international music Now that Miss Shakir is back become an intrinsic part of who I am. I feel inspired her, I would not have made it in Mumbai, I hope we can to work on more complex pieces and have explored this far in the academy. She competitions, and these have meet and resume our classes. a wide range of music styles that include jazz, retro encouraged me to participate been golden experiences I am proud to graduate from and contemporary music that lend themselves to in two international music the programme and I plan to the trumpet. competitions in the last few that have given me a chance continue my training in music. For everything I have learnt, my deepest years, and these have been to grow as a performer, to A career in music is something gratitude is reserved for my teachers, Stuart Potter, golden experiences that have that I am very interested in, Oleksii Shyrokov and Adil Ukibayev. While Stuart given me a chance to grow see how I compare with but it is too early in my life to encouraged me to develop my love for music and as a performer, to see how I musicians from other parts of commit to anything. I would experiment with the trumpet, Adil has honed my compare with musicians from just like to say that music is a skill and brought a deeper sense of rhythm between other parts of the world and the world and to get feedback huge part of my life and I am me and my instrument. Marat Bisengaliev is an to get feedback from the from the distinguished judges eager to continue pursuing it.

18 • April 2021 NCPA NCPA April 2021 • 19 MELODY Mohi Baha’ud-din Dagar Dilshad Khan

istory is often reduced to a (tabla). “The strings are essentially the chronology of conquests, same in the rudraveena and the sarangi, but a record of victors and the they sound vastly different. No instrument vanquished. But history is can match the sound of the human voice as lived and as it unfolds, it leaves the sarangi does. The rudraveena, on the behind palpable evidence of other hand, which is intrinsically connected the passage of time in the form of what with dhrupad, replicates the voice in this isH interestingly called intangible cultural medieval vocal tradition of Hindustani heritage. Language is a fine example. classical music,” says Dr. Suvarnalata Musical traditions are another. In a region Rao, Programming Head-Indian Music & already abounding in a rich variety of Research Scientist at the NCPA, who has musical instruments, these conquests been curating Saz-e-Bahar, and presenting brought in waves of influence and through musical instruments outside the sangat their assimilation into the then indigenous (accompaniment) set-up that audiences are culture, it was the musical landscape of accustomed to, for ten years. the Indian subcontinent that emerged Apart from this diversity within the same victorious. And in this case, there were family of instruments and beyond, she no losers. points out the considerable specialisation In this constantly evolving landscape, that has been displayed in instrumental ancient instruments flourished under royal usage in the subcontinent. “The addition of patronage and with innovation in their the syahi [a disk of black tuning paste] to the construction, playing techniques or the stretched skin of the pakhawaj or the tabla The Instrumental simultaneous development of new vocal for harmonic overtones, or the tremendous styles. The latter, in some cases, also called control of the fingers over the opening and for newer instruments that were born closing of the holes that mastery of the out of their ancient precursors. Political simple Indian flute, the bansuri, demands, developments and the ensuing stability speak of the deep understanding shown Case or precariousness of empires significantly towards these instruments in this part of the When played as accompaniments, they gracefully play second fiddle to the impacted patronage of art forms, leading world,” Dr. Rao elaborates. vocalist, bolstering the performance. As the cynosure of solo recitals, their musicians to call a province their home and The subcontinent’s love of honing sound commands a rapt audience and encores. Ahead of Saz-e-Bahar, a dedicate themselves to furthering their instrumental music is intertwined with its festival celebrating the rich diversity of instruments in Indian music, a brief instruments and shaping up gharanas, or inclination for oral history replete with acquaintance with four instruments that are part of this edition, and their fleeing for survival to other kingdoms of legends that make the study of these the land, creating possibilities for musical instruments fascinating and challenging at leading contemporary exponents. dialogue in uncharted areas. Social norms the same time, and make dating when most and standards of public morality set by of them first came into use an educated guess By Snigdha Hasan the regime of the day decided the fate of at best. Similar-sounding names of musicians some instruments, leading to an unspoken spanning centuries—the misconception hierarchy that has taken generations of surrounding Amir Khusrau, the poet, as the practitioners a century or more to unshackle inventor of the sitar that took back the advent Ronu Majumdar Akram Khan themselves from. of the string instrument by a few centuries is The four instruments—whether ancient now well known—and the difficulty in tracing like the bansuri or fairly new like the tabla— their lineage adds further ambiguity to the that are part of the upcoming edition of project. What is not ambiguous, though, Saz-e-Bahar, a festival celebrating is the austere, melancholic, mellifluous or instruments in Indian music, all bear an vibrant sound they produce—a sound that imprint of time. The two-day festival has been painstakingly perfected and that will showcase exponents of instruments has enriched Indian classical music in such from diverse categories—string-plucked ways that a festival has been dedicated to (rudraveena), string-bowed (sarangi), wind- these instruments for a decade and it could blown (bansuri) and drums-percussion well go on for many more. THE RUDRAVEENA which was more of a give and take. Earning a living instrument continues through the festival, where the A large stick zither and an important member of the Even as records of the origins out of the rudraveena was considered a taboo. After sarangi has made an appearance in more than one edition. veena family, the rudraveena is a precursor to several Independence, when royal patronage dwindled and A short-necked fiddle used throughout South Asia, the string instruments of the Hindustani classical music of the rudraveena vary, the instrumentalists, including my father, had to come out sarangi has been traditionally designed by the players tradition including the surbahar, sursingar and sitar. It instrument came to enjoy pride in the open and give concerts, they were exposed to themselves and tweaked to suit their needs. Given its is also known as the been (rudraveena and been have listeners who were uninitiated in this form of music,” widespread presence from the south to the north of India, been used interchangeably in this article, depending on of place beginning with emperor he says. the sarangi family comprises the largest number of Indian the context) in northern India where it was developed Akbar’s reign An education in the playing of the rudraveena is not string instruments. It has a slightly waisted body with a and largely played, and is not to be confused with the restricted to bloodlines anymore, though. There is broad fretless neck and comprises three melody strings wind instrument usually heard in folk performances. Its several were been players. The darbari (court) music also greater awareness today through the availability made of gut and a higher number of metallic sympathetic long tubular body, with two large resonators fashioned of Tansen and his descendants in the Mughal period, of concerts online and students of music have shown strings. The instrument has a relatively wide pitch range out of gourds attached to either end of the tube, make says Miner, came to be known as dhrupad. She goes on keenness in learning the rudraveena in recent years. and can be tuned from C sharp to F sharp. it instantly recognisable. On the flat-surface bridge of a to state that the four pillars of dhrupad formed by four “Among all rudraveena players in India who also teach, The sarangi is counted among the tougher instruments to typical rudraveeena are stretched four main and three musicians—Tansen of Gwalior, Braj Chand of Dangar, there are about 30 to 40 students, which is a huge master. Held against the left shoulder in a vertical position, drone or chikari strings. Raja Sammokhan Singh of Khandahar and Srichand of improvement from my father’s time when there were it is fingered using the left hand and bowed with the right. Compositions in the 10th and 12th centuries mention Nauhar—were all beenkars or been players, who were just a couple,” says Dagar. To be able to reproduce the finest harkat, or inflection of the been. However, several historical accounts, including accompanists but also celebrated soloists in a variety Rudraveena makers, like their players, are few. Dagar the human voice, demands dexterity. Most sarangi players Abul Fazl’s Ain-i-Akbari point to its introduction in the of musical settings. And herein lay the seeds of the is currently overseeing the restoration of his father’s press the part of the nail just under the cuticles—while some 16th century during the time of Akbar. Even as records eventual decline of the been. famous rudraveena which he redesigned with the help even press the skin above the cuticles— against the strings of the origins of the rudraveena vary, the instrument did The Tansen line, writes Miner, was noted for its of Kolkata-based instrument makers Kanailal & Brother, to produce specific pitches. Bundu Khan, an outstanding come to enjoy pride of place beginning with the Mughal policy of keeping its traditional knowledge within the to make it better suited for solo playing. Dagar has sarangi player in the first half of the 20th century, laid emperor’s reign. In musicologist Allyn Miner’s seminal family line. In fact, 19th-century historian Muhammad brought on board a talented sculptor from Ratnagiri to work, Sitar and Sarod in the 18th and 19th Centuries Karam Imam Khan of Lucknow states, “Those people carry out the task as well as carve new instruments for (1997, Motilal Banarasidass), one comes across numerous do not teach the rules of the been even to any family the students. “Sarangi comes from saurangi, references to the been as she traces the evolution of the members except their sons.” This exclusivity, together How would he describe the sound of the rudraveena which means an instrument of a two instruments. In the absence of access to noteworthy with the rising popularity of the vocal form khayal, that to somebody who would perhaps hear it for the first scholarly works on the rudraveena alone, Miner’s book created the necessity for string instruments which time at Saz-e-Bahar? “It is very primal, close to nature. hundred hues. It is equally equipped provides an important backdrop to the sitar which allowed playing compositions that were faster paced, To me, it is one of the first sounds that would have for khayal, dhrupad, thumri and yields critical insights into the prominence, evolution chipped away at the prominence of the rudraveena, emanated when the planet was created.” and the ultimate fading away of the been. while the sitar started gaining in popularity. Dhrupad dadra as well as a jugalbandi with Mohi Baha’ud-din Dagar, one of the very few and, by extension, the been, remained confined to the THE SARANGI Western instruments” contemporary exponents of the rudraveena, will appreciation of aristocratic circles. Ironically, for the The classical sarangi, in the words of Yehudi Menuhin, present a solo recital at the festival. Born in an sitar to be accepted as a serious musical instrument, “most poignantly, and in the hands of Ram Narayan, most illustrious family of dhrupad musicians, he was trained it had to borrow several classicising elements from revealingly expresses the very soul of Indian feeling and emphasis on mastering the ability to play any note using by maestros like his father, Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and the been and dhrupad, including the alap (improvised thought.” Captain Philip Meadows Taylor, novelist and any finger so the whole hand does not shake moving up uncle, Zia Fariddudin Dagar. “When I started learning prelude to a raga without words), meend, maand, thonk an administrator in British India, calls the sarangi’s tones and down and the fingers could follow each other in rapid the instrument, my father told me, ‘I am teaching you and jhala (techniques involving inflection of the main “nearer in quality to the human voice than those of any succession yet gracefully, writes Bor. to play the rudraveena to teach you about music,’” says strings). It is no surprise that the earliest sitarists such other instrument with which I am acquainted.” Glowing The sarangi finds a mention in important music treatises Dagar, who is continuing with his family tradition of as Masit Khan, Rahimsen and Amritsen were beenkars accounts such as these notwithstanding, the story of that go back to the 11th century though it makes a more imparting training in vocal and instrumental forms of themselves or their descendants. the sarangi, in its doleful proximity to the human voice formal appearance in the Ain-i-Akbari. Its expressive sound dhrupad. Dagar points out another reason why the instrument is tantalisingly close to due recognition and yet so far. quality made it an ideal instrument for accompanying In fact, this correlation between dhrupad and the been never quite entered the popular domain. “Rudraveena On the spectrum of prestige and acceptance in classical devotional songs. Narratives written in Prakrit point to the finds robust evidence in Akbar’s court where, according players have traditionally been very few. Beenkars were Hindustani music, in fact, the rudraveena and sarangi could sarangi’s important role in religious music. It continued to to historical accounts, of the 36 listed musicians, usually ustads who would teach music to kings, well be the two opposite ends. play this role when Sufism and the Bhakti movement rose. It is perhaps why when Dutch scholar Joep Bor set out The language—one of the masses, as opposed to Persian to study the sarangi, he found sketchy references to the or Sanskrit—also indicates that the sarangi was primarily instrument in musicological literature and began searching for data in a variety of sources, including archives, narratives and travelogues as well as paintings and book illustrations in addition to conducting in- depth interviews with sarangi players and historians—after having learnt to play the sarangi from masters including Ram Narayan. It is in this context that Bor’s The Voice of the Sarangi, a special edition of the NCPA commons Quarterly Journal (September, December 1986 & March 1987) commissioned by Dr. wikimedia

/ Kumud Mehta, the then Director of the NCPA, must be viewed. This section of the article borrows heavily from Bor’s work. fotokannan

The NCPA’s tradition of regard for the shutterstock a folk instrument. However, its journey to a classical Speaking about the versatility of the instrument, Khan “When the wind blew through and significant work, most notably with composer R.D. instrument, from the rural to the urban setting, was not dwells on the etymology of sarangi. “It comes from Burman, in Bollywood also makes Majumdar a sought-after without obstacles. saurangi, which means an instrument of a hundred hues,” bamboo woods, a sweet sound guru of the bansuri. However, taking to teaching did not Bor writes that it was only in the second half of the 17th he says. The sarangi has been traditionally associated with would be generated; this is come easily to him. “I always worried that the shishyatva century that the sarangi became recognised as a string thumri, evocative songs on themes of love and pangs of [studenthood] in me would be over the day I felt I could instrument used in Hindustani classical music. “It seems separation. However, “it is equally equipped for khayal, probably how the bansuri or Indian teach the instrument I have been a lifelong learner of. But that sarangi players, who had settled in the cities, soon dhrupad and dadra as well as a jugalbandi with jazz, the flute came to be” my guru Vijay Raghav Rao ji comforted me with his words, discovered that it was virtually impossible to compete flamenco guitar, Korean and Japanese folk tunes, country ‘Gurutva and shishyatva can happily coexist.’” with rabab and tanbur players, let alone the aristocratic music and Western classical music,” adds Khan, who has “A pastoral instrument, the bansuri was introduced into Though the popularity of the flute draws many to the beenkars. They must have realised that in order to make collaborated with several Indian and international artistes classical music by Pannalal Ghosh Sahab,” says Majumdar instrument, when it comes to the quality of students, a reasonable living, the only solution was to associate with and played for numerous movies in the Hindi film industry. about the iconic instrumentalist and composer, also known Majumdar’s lament is no different from that of Dilshad courtesans.” Through this association, they “were able The imposed norms of morality have faded away, as the pioneer of Indian classical flute. Majumdar’s first Khan’s. “The bansuri appears to be an easy instrument to to participate in musical sittings and enter the courts. In Bollywood’s embracing of its wistful sound has been guru was his father, who trained under Ghosh. “While any pick up. There is also no fear of injury to the fingers that this way, they began to be known in the world of classical a leveller and the instrument today is appreciated by kind of fingering would produce ‘sa’ in the folk style, what is a part of the process of learning the sitar, sarangi or music. Sarangi players, however, did not have the status connoisseurs on an international scale—does this finally Ghosh Sahab did was fix the ‘sa’ in the classical version. sarod. It is possible to grasp the fundamentals quickly but of vocalists nor instrumentalists; they did not belong mark the end of all troubles for the sarangi? “Instruments, This allowed flautists to cover two and a half octaves, mastering the nuances takes time, effort and patience. It to the category of solo performers and were relegated after all, are manmade and it is possible to achieve which is a minimum requirement [for playing the classical is easy to spot a bansuri player in a religious function but to a subordinate position. By accepting the status of command of the sarangi, but it requires dedication. There repertoire],” he elaborates. Ghosh is also known for his you can count instrumentalists with taleem on the fingers accompanists, their role as background musicians, playing is no instant gratification here, something only a handful introduction of the seventh hole to the bansuri, which of one hand.” second fiddle, seemed once and forever defined.” of students are able to grasp today,” says Khan. “As Sultan immensely helped musicians play certain notes of ragas However, it wasn’t only the relegation to accompaniment Khan Sahab would say, ‘Understand your instrument and such as Puriya, Darbari and Bihag. He also suggested THE TABLA in performances when it could have been played solo learn to love it in this birth. You will become a musician only changes to the holding of the flute so that the little Of all the instruments discussed in this article, the tabla is that the sarangi had to battle with. With the advent of the in the next.’” finger could reach this hole and create the desired effect the youngest. Since its first documentation in India in the British came Victorian morals that eroded the prestige complete with murkis. late 18th century, the tabla became “the most commonly courtesans and sarangi players enjoyed by gradually THE BANSURI Majumdar was mentored by eminent musicians like Vijay played drum set in North Indian classical music. It is the impressing upon upper-class Indians that watching the The most fundamental of instruments, the flute is among Raghav Rao, Laxmanprasad Jaipurwale and Ravi Shankar. instrument most frequently used to accompany vocal, nautch was a vice. The prejudice against courtesans, the earliest-known sources of music for humankind. A It was a conversation with Shankar during the Festival of instrumental and dance musics…” writes scholar James and therefore sarangi players, continued in post- 40,000-year-old vulture bone flute found in a Stone Age India in Moscow in the 1980s that proved instrumental in Kippen in The Tabla of Lucknow: A Cultural Analysis of Independence India and with the dwindling number of cave in southern Germany in 2008 pushed back humanity’s determining the course of Majumdar’s journey with the a Musical Tradition (1988, Cambridge University Press). women singers and the reluctance of concert organisers musical roots. In India, the bamboo flute is known to have flute. Shankar was despondent that though there was a It is also an instrument that transcends genres and enjoys to present sarangi players, the 20th century saw a rapid a long history. “When the wind blew through bamboo lot of talk about the Maihar gharana, there weren’t many equal currency in folk performances and the music of the decline of the instrument. woods, a sweet sound would be generated. This is probably musicians who played in its style. The style he referred to is Bhakti and Sufi traditions. This struggle for survival led many sarangi players, who how the bansuri or Indian flute came to be,” says Dr. Rao. rooted in dhrupad; Allauddin Khan, the great patriarch of This versatility has much to do with the construction were also excellent composers and singers in their own “It is omnipresent in Indian mythology, where Krishna is the gharana had been trained under noted beenkars of his of the instrument which comprises two small drums. The right—an instrument so close to the human voice cannot known as bansuriwala,” she adds. From text dedicated time. The introduction of the beenkari ang to the bansuri is higher-pitched and smaller of the two drums is played with be played to perfection without a thorough understanding to it in Vedic scriptures and Natyashastra to its depiction among Majumdar’s foremost contributions to the classical the right hand and is called the daya or dahina. It is made of of the vocal form—to delve into their other abilities. In fact, in ancient Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temple paintings and form of the instrument. hollowed out wood and includes thong lacings and wooden Bor writes that the instrumentalists’ profound knowledge relief, and its ubiquity in religious iconography, what is Introducing several forms of gayaki (the vocal dowels to help maintain the tension of the membrane, of raga and composition was a source of professional evident is that the bansuri has remained largely unchanged component) in the bansuri repertoire is another noteworthy stretched on the drumhead, for tuning purposes. The baya, rivalry between them and singers and could pose a threat over centuries. work of Majumdar that stems from his vocal training under which produces bass, is a deep kettledrum played with the to the vocalists they accompanied. It is no wonder then “It is a simple instrument. It’s different from the Western the tutelage of Jaipurwale, an eminent representative of the left hand. It is usually made of copper and includes thong that foremost singers of the last century, including Bade flute, for it is open on both ends and has no keys or any Kunwar Shyam tradition, known for its laykari-laden gayaki lacings. “The pakhawaj, used in dhrupad, is a precursor Ghulam Ali Khan, and Abdul Karim Khan and Abdul Wahid other mechanism inside its hollow body. The complexity of which is a vocal form that implements a range of tempos. to the tabla. While the former is played with free-hand Khan (founders of the Kirana gharana) began their career playing it rises from this simplicity,” says Dr. Rao, explaining An international career, several awards, collaborations movement, the tabla involves resting the heel of the palm as sarangi players. that the technical prowess lies in the embouchure and with renowned names in Hindustani classical music on the membrane,” says Dr. Rao. A family of court musicians from Rajasthan which the control of the fingers over the holes of the transverse ensured that at least one member from each generation flute—qualities that Ronu Majumdar’s playing brims with. kept up the family tradition of playing the sarangi against The acclaimed flautist’s recital is part of this year’s edition all odds was that of Gulab Khan. His son Sultan Khan not of Saz-e-Bahar. only went on to become an outstanding master of the sarangi and an accomplished vocalist, but his work towards developing a personal style of raga exposition also finally accorded the sarangi the place it had always deserved—a solo instrument in its own right. His nephew and sarangi exponent Dilshad Khan, who will perform at the festival, remembers the day he told his father, Nasir Khan, an accomplished sitar player, that he wanted to play the sarangi. With several players—and makers—having left for Pakistan after Partition, sourcing an instrument was not easy. Sultan Khan arranged for a small sarangi for his six-year-old nephew and thus began his rigorous training that lasted for 12 to 16 hours a day. shutterstock shutterstock A crucial feature of the pakhawaj that has been retained and further developed in the tabla is the syahi, or the black The tabla transcends genres and tuning paste applied to the skin to reduce the inharmonicity enjoys equal currency in classical of the animal hide, which is not known to be homogenous. “The paste is made of iron filings among other ingredients and folk performances and the and makes the modulation of the sound from loud to soft to music of the Bhakti and Sufi delicate possible. This unique feature of Indian percussion instruments fascinated the great physicist C.V. Raman who traditions dedicated an important part of his work to studying their acoustics. He found that the addition of the syahi increased on his gharana’s contribution to the instrument, he dwells the energy of the vibration, which led to a sustained tone,” on the kayda, a type of composition for the tabla. “The she elaborates. kayda is treated like a raga and has its own aroh, avroh, Tabla exponent Akram Khan, who learnt the instrument vistar, vadi and samvadi swar [ascending and descending from stalwarts like Niazu Khan and his great grandfather orders of notes, improvisation and prominent notes]. The Mohd. Shafi Khan and father Hashmat Ali Khan, attributes kayda is played in medium tempo in most gharanas. The this versatility to the work that has been done on the stalwarts of Ajrada gharana worked on fast-tempo kaydas instrument as well as its playing styles. “The tabla has a and devised bols to effectively convey that.” Translating special place in Indian music. Initially, it was meant for solo the fast tempo to the tabla calls for effort, practice and playing and was even taught as a solo instrument. It has the a lot of energy. To the Ajrada gharana itself, the Khan ability to keep the audience spellbound for hours together. family’s contribution is significant. Hashmat Ali Khan— At the same time, the delicacy of kathak and the tabla is who was also a guru at the NCPA under its Guru-Shishya a beautiful match. The onomatopoeic quality of the bols Programme while Akram Khan is currently a guru here— [the spoken representation of tabla music] gives the tabla devoted considerable efforts towards expanding the a language of its own. Zakir Hussain Sahab has an entire scope of the bayan in tabla music. repertoire of the navrasas played on the tabla,” he says, For a listener, identifying these nuances may not be adding, “The vast amount of work that has been done by an easy task. But that is not why masters chisel away at musicians generation after generation is now a seasoned these finer details anyway. The aim is to seamlessly blend body of knowledge spread across six gharanas,” he says, these elements into a mesmeric performance that pleases referring to the Delhi, Lucknow, Farrukhabad, Punjab, the ear, stirs the soul and in that moment, transports the Benares and Ajrada schools. audience to a realm where there is nothing but the sound Khan, who will perform at the upcoming festival, hails of music. And for those of us who have witnessed at least from a family of tabla players representing the Ajrada one such rendering, we know that they have met with gharana, the youngest of the six schools. Before elaborating tremendous success.

INSTRUMENTAL TO LEARNING The spirit of Saz-e-Bahar extends to the CSR programme undertaken by the Indian Music department at the NCPA. This academic year, owing to the lockdown, in-person music lessons imparted to students of Matoshri Vidya Mandir in Deonar, Mumbai, had to be replaced with online classes. This proved to be particularly challenging as the students come from economically challenged sections of society. However, to continue their engagement with music, the NCPA encouraged them to make presentations on subjects related to music. Principal Ujwala Sandbhor and Music Teacher Uma Dixit guided the students to craft musical instruments out of available material at home and the students responded with fascinating versions of the tabla, harmonium, guitar, tanpura, shehnai, etc. “It was delightful to see the creativity and understanding of the working of instruments that the students displayed. The tabla, for instance, was fashioned out of the tender coconut, which is a result of keen observation. At a time when we are losing sight of nature and moving towards artificiality, it is activities such as these that provide a tactile experience and spike curiosity in young minds,” says Dr. Rao. “Real education is about application—observing something, dissecting it, understanding its components and assembling it again by applying it in another context. Instruments are repositories of cultural history and can be great artefacts for learning. It is not necessary that the students would grow up to be singers or musicians. But they will certainly have an ear for music.” When the programme was introduced three years ago, Matoshri Vidya Mandir did not have a dedicated music teacher. Since the NCPA’s facilitation of music education at the school, 755 students have benefitted from the training. “Music is integral to life. It is not merely for entertainment. It keeps one calm, enhances one’s ability to focus and aids self-expression; something we have observed among our students, whose circumstances at home may not be ideal for developing these qualities,” says Sandbhor. “This music programme is important to us. It inspires our students and brings them joy. We thank the NCPA for this opportunity.” INITIATIVE The Gift of Music With a series of select Indian and Western classical music concerts, the NCPA-Citi Online Edition celebrates a cherished association through stellar performances.

The National Centre for the Performing Arts and Citi go back a long way in their shared cherishment of culture. This association, that has only grown stronger over the years, recently added a welcome dimension to its broad spectrum of initiatives. As the state of Maharashtra navigates the tricky terrain of what is being called the beginning of a second wave of Covid-19, the digital medium promises to offer a means of sustained engagement with the arts. NCPA@ home, the organisation’s digital broadcast series that has regularly presented concerts, performances and talks to art-loving audiences across with constant support from Citi which we gratefully India and the world, presented the NCPA-Citi Online acknowledge. We have had a wonderful relationship Edition from 28th March to 2nd April. with Citi over the years. We trust it will continue A series of select concerts from the much-loved because Citi’s tradition for supporting the areas music properties as part of this association, it where it functions, especially the socio-economic as showcased performances from Citi-NCPA Aadi Anant well as the artistic activities, is internationally known,” Festival, NCPA-Citi Promising Artistes Series, and said Mr Khushroo N. Suntook, Chairman, NCPA, at the concerts by the Symphony Orchestra of India, of inauguration of the edition by Mr. Ashu Khullar, Chief which Citi is a proud patron. Curated specially for the Executive Officer, Citi India and Regional Head for music enthusiast, this vibrant blend of Indian classical South Asia. and Western classical music featured Indian music Mr Khullar said, “Over a decade ago, NCPA and virtuosos like Zakir Hussain and Hariprasad Chaurasia Citi came together and planted the seeds to two as well as internationally renowned violinist and wonderful initiatives – the Western Music Programme, founding Music Director of the SOI Marat Bisengaliev, and the Guru-Shishya Programme. Over this period, Associate Music Director Zane Dalal and Italian piano our partnership has formed deep roots, nurturing virtuoso Roberto Prosseda. Citi supports the musical both programmes that are flourishing and bearing development of students in Indian music at the NCPA, fruit. The NCPA has been quick in adapting its work to which also provides young artistes a platform to embrace the digital medium in order to connect and showcase their talent. Ensuring that the pandemic engage with its audience. With the NCPA-Citi Online does not hinder this important opportunity, the series Edition series, we salute our artistic legacy as well as included two concerts by four such young artistes heartily welcome the innovative endeavours in the that have been specially recorded at the NCPA for arts, with a hope that together we can nurture and digital dissemination. nourish creative excellence and enrich our heritage “Through the power of great music performed by for the benefit of generations to follow.” maestri in their own field, the NCPA is proud to bring The concerts were streamed on NCPA’s Facebook to a wide national and international audience immortal page and YouTube channel from 28th March to 2nd performances, carefully captured on camera, and in April, 2021 and will be available online for seven days earlier cases, restored through the digital platform for audiences to watch them at their convenience.

NCPA April 2021 • 27 CELEBRATION

merican composer, trumpeter, vocalist, actor, Radio will have a special edition of the Illicit Grooves and one of the most influential figures in jazz, Show, with a theme that focuses on ‘Collaboration ALouis Armstrong, once said, “If you have to ask and Cooperation’. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the what jazz is, you’ll never know.” Such is the mystical occasion will be celebrated by a performance by charm of this genre of music. Characterised by talented musicians, all paying tribute to well-known spellbinding harmony, breathtaking rhythms, jazz is American singer, songwriter, musician and civil rights all about love, life and dreams. activist, Nina Simone. The week-long Port Moresby Improvised In November 2011, the United Nations Educational, Jazz Festival, held in Papua New Guinea, will include Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), along workshops, school performances, disability and rehab with jazz pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, programmes and concerts. In Bergamo, Italy, over Herbie Hancock, honoured this beautiful form of 20 live and live-streamed events, seminars, photo music by dedicating a day to its charm and vibrancy. exhibitions, live lessons and more are in the works. In 2012, 30th April was celebrated as the very first International Jazz Day, and this year marks the 10th Closer to home Times anniversary of the special day. The NCPA has been celebrating International Jazz Day International Jazz Day was instituted to bring on a grand scale in Mumbai for the last seven years. together aficionados of jazz—communities,And, this year, the eighth edition of the celebration institutions, academicians and historians—to celebrate has been planned with renowned pianist, composer this art form by delving into its history, and also and lyricist, Louiz Banks, who will share the stage with reflecting on its massive role in and contribution to some of the finest musicians and singers in India. The various spheres, from promoting peace and bringing celebration will entail three hours of jazz—from jazz cultures together to playing a part in communication standards to fusion—come alive on this iconic day at and much more. the Tata Theatre. Hormazd N. Dastur, a patron of the NCPA and jazz The show goes on music enthusiast, cannot While the world is trying to wait for it. He says, “After a come to terms with the “new In 2021, Cape Town is the host sadly muted year, in terms normal”, nothing can ever of concerts, the International slow down the enthusiasm city for the All-Star Global Jazz Day at the NCPA would in the heart of a jazz lover, Concert which will feature be something really special especially when it comes to to look forward to for jazz this big day. This year, 30th more than two dozen talented lovers like myself. What I love April is being celebrated in jazz musicians from across about this genre of music is ingenious ways across the the unique opportunity for globe—from live concerts the world, coming together artistes to improvise and to online performances to perform by or around a engage with the audience. with jazz-loving cities and Jazz is something that a countries creating their own historical landmark selective audience usually special International Jazz relates to, and, therefore, the Day events. enthusiasm at such shows is simply amazing.” The All-Star Global Concert, held on this day every Of course, in these unpredictable times, everything year, sees some of the best jazz musicians in the depends on whether a show can be presented in a world perform and honour the art form. There is a manner that is safe to all, and the NCPA takes this unique host city every year, and the concert is held at responsibility very seriously. But it is heartening to a historical landmark. In 2020, due to the pandemic, know that hope and enthusiasm—emotions that define the first ever Virtual Global Concert was hosted by the essence of jazz—brims in the hearts of lovers of Hancock with co-hosts Morgan Freeman and Forest jazz in Mumbai. And if everything goes according to Whitaker, and saw performances by Stevie Wonder, plan, International Jazz Day will be celebrated with John McLaughlin, Igor Butman, Dianne Reeves and grandeur that has been sorely missed over the last many more. This year, Cape Town, South Africa, is year. Dastur adds, “What better venue than the NCPA the host city for the concert which will feature more for the upcoming show, and with some of the best than two dozen talented jazz musicians from across talents from all over the country coming together, I am the world, coming together to perform by or around a sure that this is going to be an evening to remember historical landmark. for a long time to come.” In the U.K., this year’s edition of the Rye International International Jazz Day is here, and we take a look at how lovers of this Jazz & Blues Festival will see Ian Shaw and Liane International Jazz Day will be presented on 30th April Carroll celebrate the day with a Covid-safe concert at at the Tata Theatre. Please check www.ncpamumbai. beautiful genre of music are celebrating this special day across the world. St Mary in the Castle in Hastings while Totally Wired com for any changes in the schedule.

By Benaifer J. Mirza SHUTTERSTOCK 28 • April 2021 NCPA NCPA April 2021 • 29 ESSAY

regard for culture is more abstract the former maharajas and and emotional than material. For all its labours, the nawabs by patronising culture, China spends roughly 18 per cent especially the performing arts. of its budget on culture, education Archaeological Survey of Consequently, a very large and science, and culture alone India receives just about empire, consisting mainly Culture, Covid receives 300 times more funding of top-down government than we do. India’s overall culture T1,000 crore annually— or government-dependent budget looks really insignificant which is barely 0.03 organisations, was built to cater compared to France’s allocation to different sectors of culture. towards culture, which is over three per cent of the annual The radio was a state monopoly and the State billion USD, i.e, M22,000 crore. Of central budget and it did play a sterling role in course, France recoups more than popularising and democratising While the world struggles to achieve normalcy, how much cold, hard cash this outlay through tourism, which culture, as did state television till also provides jobs for several lakhs of people. The the end of the last century. Then, as part of the Tagore countries are willing to spend on supporting the arts and its artistes is more budget for culture in Britain lags behind and is less birth centenary celebrations in 1961, the government revealing than all manner of spin relied on by any form of public relations. than half of France’s, but then, the government launched a massive programme to build auditoria in opens up other avenues of funding. Even Brazil his name across cities and towns. This went on for By Jawhar Sircar allocates three times more towards culture than almost three decades and these affordable spaces India. Most Western countries help the culture that came up surely gave a fillip to the performing sector with 1 to 1.5 per cent of their overall budget, arts. It was only when bigger corporates like the as they showcase culture rather energetically. Shri Rams, the Tatas and the Godrejs stepped in that more options opened up and different ways of doing Budgets and bureaucracy things emerged. Culture started losing its priority in ndia has always been proud of its culture, Culture. Thirty of these are recognised by UNESCO Even so, we need to be cautious in India to ensure government once succeeding generations of Indians some elements of which can be traced back as World Heritage cultural sites. But for all its that additional government funding in culture does born after Independence took over, as they did to five millennia. Such cultural continuity is, labours, the ASI receives just about M1,000 crore not lead to a further expansion of the bureaucracy not require the same emphasis on a ‘cohesive and indeed, quite rare to find. Besides, culture annually—which is barely 0.03 per cent of the annual and to leakages. We need, therefore, to first build common idea’ because the country had successfully has played a unique role in getting together central budget. The whole Ministry of Culture is due a consultative framework with stakeholders and emerged as a more unified nation. Sadly however, and coalescing widely different ethnic and to receive M2,688 crore in 2021-22, which works external experts for government agencies to learn to culture, history and archaeology soon became bitter linguistic groups—including those influenced by out to less than 0.08 per cent of the Government spend more meaningfully and with constant public areas of contestation between opposing ideologies Iforeign cultures—across the vast subcontinent into of India’s annual budget. This percentage was audit. The vast decentralised world of the performing and scoring points appeared more important than one identifiable civilisation. In terms of ‘Tangible hovering around 0.11 a decade ago and it may not arts, of course, needs a different approach that upholding a common patrimony. Heritage’, for instance, we have 3691 protected be proper to blame any particular government for does not rest primarily on suspicion and rule- Another hard fact is that culture in India has monuments looked after by the Archaeological this state of affairs. The point is that Indians as a bound condescension. After India’s independence, always been intrinsically intertwined with religion, Survey of India (ASI), a wing of the Ministry of nation do not appear to be greatly worried and our the government was expected to fill in the role of as popular public celebrations more than as acts SHUTTERSTOCK 24 • August 2020 NCPA NCPA August 2020 • 51 of piety. This domain could cinemas, music clubs, memorials, hardly be entered into by a Europe has a long museums, theatres and festivals, secular state, even though the tradition of the state and a quarter of it went to help masses were totally absorbed cultural institutions reopen with in such popular festivities. subsidising heritage and new hygiene protocols. Substantial Then, when films representing the arts not only because amounts were given to art mass culture emerged as a galleries, cultural centres and even hugely popular medium, much they attract tourists publishing houses. The whole idea of it was considered to be but also because these was to provide gainful employment crass. In the process, culture to creative people and boost public in India disengaged itself from nations consider culture morale when it was really down, the most powerful link with the to be integral to through culture. Other countries common people and was soon like Italy and Belgium also identified with certain classes their lives announced their schemes to assist of enthusiasts. On the other the beleaguered culture sector and hand, iconic institutions like national museums and many countries reduced taxes on tickets. great art exhibitions hardly seem to evoke the same Europe has a long tradition of the state subsidising level of national pride and involvement that they do heritage and the arts not only because they attract in many other countries. Soirées of Hindi film songs, tourists but also because these nations consider on the other hand, enthral the masses but are hardly culture to be integral to their lives. Museums, considered as ‘culture’. Despite these differences theatres and opera halls reopened quite early of perception, a shehnai played by Bismillah Khan and audiences, tired of Covid, thronged them but or a sitar recital by Ravi Shankar can bridge the maintained reasonable social distancing. Britain, gap and cultural management does call for some of course, is always different and government imagination. Art is also not really out of reach and funding is traditionally much lower, which compels can captivate the masses when presented with flair, organisations to rely more on commercial income. like Debiprasad Roy Chowdhury‘s massive sculpture The British government came in for serious criticism of the Dandi March in Delhi’s Willingdon Crescent. from senior cultural personalities for its rather Even corporates do not find culture exciting enough delayed and ad hoc response to the pandemic. to spend their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) The Arts Council England, a major funding body, funds on, and barring just a few, corporate giants however, reacted faster and awarded £160 million in India hardly realise that a Rockefeller Center (approximately M1,600 crore) in emergency grants can immortalise and almost beatify even the most to help venues survive, while the National Lottery controversial magnate. Heritage Fund committed £50 million (M500 crore) to assist museums and other similar institutions. A culture of support Coming to India, where the culture of giving top Moving now to the pandemic, we find that while priority to culture does not appear to be so embedded, we were locking ourselves in with a vengeance, all energies were concentrated on locking ourselves European nations were busy rescuing culture from down more vigorously than most countries. Public the devastation afflicting the livelihood of lakhs gatherings were banned while auditoria, museums engaged in it. French President Emmanuel Macron and galleries were shut. Cultural workers thus had to declared as early as in May 2020 that he would fend for themselves. Doordarshan took advantage extend special unemployment benefits to actors, of the captive audiences trapped at home to performers, musicians and technicians. After all, the telecast religious epics. In September 2020, the cultural industry employs some 13 lakh people in Ministry of Culture declared that it was planning France. Macron also pledged €50 million investment a massive digital operation with a web series on in the ‘particularly hard-hit’ National Music Centre India’s struggle for independence and virtual tours (CNM). While extending another €200 million to the of museums, but nothing more is known. Its budget music sector across France, he requested cultural was soon cut by 15 per cent. In October, the ministry practitioners “to use this period to revolutionise announced that grantees under its umbrella scheme the way culture and art is accessed.” The German of assistance, known as the Kala Sanskriti Vikas government promptly responded to the Covid Yojana, could conduct virtual performances and challenge, and in June last year, it earmarked submit documents in digital format. Some must €1 billion (approximately M8,690 crore) under its New have benefited but there is little point in drawing Start for Culture programme, to revive the culture comparisons. Nations, obviously, have their industry. Funds were widely distributed across own priorities.

32 • April 2021 NCPA Membership Categories (Renewal Rates): Annual Membership Rates** (R):  Individual 7,500 Membership  Couple 10,000  Student* 2,500 (6-21 yrs) Application form  Differently Abled 750  Senior Citizen (Individual) 4,000  Senior Citizen (Couple) 5,000 Dear Member,

Life Membership (25 yrs.) Rates** (R): This is a reminder to renew your membership for the next annual term. Renewals are open  Individual 1,87,500 for memberships that have expired. You also have the option of renewing your membership  Couple 2,50,000 for the next two years. In order to keep all information up to date and recent, we request you to Special Membership please fill in this membership form in order to renew your membership. Kindly submit this form Packages Rates** (R): along with recent passport-sized photograph/s and your membership card/s to the  Defence Personnel On Request membership department. You can now renew your membership online. Log on to (Army/Navy/Air Force)  Corporate Membership On Request www.ncpamumbai.com for details. For enquiry on new membership, please contact  Group & Family On Request the Membership Department. Membership Primary Member Name: Membership Benefits:  Avail generous discounts on tickets for events Joint Member Name: (in case of couple membership) and workshops  Enjoy priority booking facility Membership No.  Access privileged seating to more than 36 free events in a year across various genres.  Receive a personal free copy of the NCPA’s Address: monthly arts magazine and programme guide, ON Stage, couriered to your doorstep Pin Code:  Receive advance e-mail notification of events  Get a personalised membership card and gain Telephone: Mobile: free access to the NCPA Books and Music library  Enjoy exclusive discounts offered by our brand Email: Date of Birth: partners Occupation: Company: * Conditions apply Date: Signature:

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A scene from Divya Dwayam, A glorious past conceptualised by Usha Rk Traditionally, my mother would say, classical dance had wider audiences which included even the filmgoers who saw Padmini, Vyjayanthimala, Kamala, etc. on screen and also on stage. In fact, she once SPECTATOR told me about the doyen Shanta Rao who was like a superstar with sold-out shows at the New Excelsior rom the 1980s to date, an issue that theatre in Bombay, which would be studded with her is a constant worry for a classical life-size cut-outs in different costumes. This was the dance performer and the organiser or glory of a classical dancer in the 1940s. Even in the SPORT Fpresenter has been the question of engaging 60s, 70s and 80s, dancers like Padma Subrahmanyam, The biggest applause in the a big enough audience. Will there be a full Sonal Mansingh, Yamini Krishnamurthy and Chitra performing arts is auditoria brimming house? What is it that the audiences like? Visweswaran, got tremendous appreciation and What will make them want to step out, buy a audiences in big halls like Shanmukhananda, Kamani, with an appreciative audience. But ticket and spend an evening at the theatre? Music Academy, among others. I remember how when audiences have a plethora of This, in addition to the fact that classical popular even the next crop of dancers like Malavika dance battles with sponsors who would Sarukkai, Alarmel Valli and Saswati Sen were, and avenues of entertainment to choose happily pledge their monies on a popular how audiences thronged to see them dance. So when from, how do we get them interested genre or mass entertainment rather than did we see a decline in this phenomenon? Perhaps part with them for a ‘niche-appreciable’ and from the 90s onwards. in live performances of classical dance? ‘classy’ form ‘for the gracious people’ which The primary reasons often discussed were influence By Usha Rk does not get the kind of eyeballs that every of Western genres and the advent of social dramas paisa would need to achieve. on television. The prim and proper Doordarshan programmes of dance or music scheduled at A group of dancers perform unearthly hours, and shot in the most mundane in front of an audience and unattractive manner, did not stand a chance of gaining popularity over the in-your-face kind of shows being dished out on general entertainment channels owned by private players. Knowing what works While this is probably the reality, I found a silver lining in the midst of this multi-coloured extravaganza on TV. As a presenter of dance, I would see a substantial audience in almost 99 per cent of my programmes. Many asked me how I managed to achieve this. In the 90s, my festivals Vintage Raga Series, Raga Tala, Swarna Sankhya, Saint Composers Festival, Golden Greats, etc. were successful with corporate Kuchipudi dance drama Parijatapaharanam, a never- sponsorship supporting them. Advertising and PR, seen-before programme. Of course, the audiences endorsed by the biggest names would be thrilled to watch the of the classical world, and a greats. And that did it for me. novel theme or an innovative Since novelty was But my challenge came around combination of artistes attracted 2006, when I chose to promote the audiences—a concert of a prime concern, the next generation of dancers. the first family of the tabla, I attempted That is when I was a wee bit Allarakha with Zakir Hussain worried whether the audiences and Fazal Qureshi on stage Bhadrachalam would come. And what about together, a jugalbandi between Ramadasu Katha sponsors? By then, the number M. Balamuralikrishna and Kishori of sponsors who used to promote Amonkar, solo performances by with seven extremely or sponsor classical dance legends like M. S. Subbulakshmi, vibrant and talented had dwindled away to almost a collaboration between K. nothing. The funds were worked Kalyanasundaram, Vempati male dancers telling out from my personal resources Chinna Satyam, Kelucharan the story of Ramadasu or from dear friends, but how Mohapatra and Birju Maharaj would we fill the halls? This time, on one stage with their prime through his own I did some amount of research by

SHUTTERSTOCK disciples performing the compositions speaking to general audiences.

34 • April 2021 NCPA NCPA April 2021 • 35 A scene from Divya Vivaham women of India), among many others. New avenues The ongoing pandemic initially left us numb and deserted but humankind has been created with a resolve and reinvention mechanism that makes us adapt instantaneously. Dancers gathered their wherewithal and were seen online like never before. Considering the limitations—there were the odd ones, some shot not with the best phones, some shot within the spaces available—what is important is that all found their audience, whether friends, family, colleagues, or some first-time viewers. As the months flew by, the videos, programmes, talks, chats, webinars and discussions became much more watchable, were better edited and generally improved. This time made many artistes remember and hail the concepts of unity and nationhood. A scene from Rama Katha, performed of the dancer, with a special mobbing the dancers after the programme. We Poems and songs replaced varnams and thillanas. by Sathyanarayana Raju focus on lights, costume, all felt like young film stars being mobbed after a Now that halls are slowly opening up and make-up and even the superhit performance. programmes are being held on a small scale, what announcements. Thematic performances that attracted large has changed? One surmises that dancers have Since novelty audiences, especially the uninitiated, were uniquely become more exacting on themselves, more aware was a prime concern, I interpreted and curated—Thyagaraja Vaibhavam, of how they must look and present themselves. attempted Bhadrachalam Diksha on the kritis of Muthuswamy Dikshitar, Lighting will perhaps never be the way it was before Ramadasu Katha with Nayika Nayaka, Patra Parichaya (a festival that for any programme. Newer audiences have already seven extremely vibrant comprehensively portrayed characters from Indian streamed in to the online auditoria and sampled and talented male mythology), Margam, Jugalbandi, Samarpan dance within their palms. There is certainly hope dancers telling the story (an ode to Gandhi), Samskrutham (celebrating that they will want to experience it live. I read this of Ramadasu through compositions in Sanskrit), quote which sums it up well: “The his own compositions, Shringara Shankara, Dhara people who succeed aren’t the ones set to the original score (a feature on rivers of The ongoing pandemic who avoid failure, they are the ones by Balamuralikrishna India), Ragam Tanam Pallavi who learn to respond to failure with and performed by a – RTP kutcheri format in initially left us numb optimism.” We have learnt that short music ensemble that was dance, Sant Vaani (abhangs, and deserted but is good, that interesting is attractive, fabulously talented. The dohas and padas in dance), and, most importantly, we have learnt concoction could never go Krishna Premi (portraying humankind has been to reinvent ourselves. wrong. It had all the right characters whose love for created with a resolve ingredients in the right Krishna was unparalleled), The author is Director measure in the right mix. It Panchabhutalingam (based and reinvention at the Jawaharlal Nehru is remembered even today on the pancha bhuta kritis mechanism that Cultural Centre in The one thing that came out prominently was that in Bengaluru. The show travelled from Bengaluru of Dikshitar, Rama Katha, Moscow. She recently the content should have a fresh approach. What they to Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune and the trilogy Divya Treiyam, makes us adapt participated in a web also shared was the importance of the presentation even Chennai. Everywhere, we found audiences Veerbala (based on warrior instantaneously seminar on the topic.

36 • April 2021 NCPA NCPA April 2021 • 37 HARMONY

ntil recently, the term ‘orchestra’ connoted Trumpets, saxophones, trombones, guitar, piano, only Western classical music. The musicians bass and drums were all standard fixtures and artistes The Big who changed that in the early 20th century— often added even more instrumentalists to achieve an jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, uproarious sound that took over America (and eventually UJimmie Lunceford, Benny Goodman and countless other parts of the world) from the 1930s right up to the others—ushered in the dominance of a momentous 1970s. From thereon, other genres may have taken over movement in American music by bringing to the fore peoples’ collective listening tastes, but big band music the sound of the big band. continues to have its place in jazz while also deeply Big band meant that a posse of musicians, almost influencing rock, progressive rock and funk artistes. always in double digits, were present on stage with an impeccable, ever-demanding bandleader to Larger than life present jazz, blues, swing and more, tinged with It was not just the bluster in a performance that was Band an infectious energy that was also informed by the main draw of big bands. For all their dazzling acts changing dance forms. Everything from the Lindy of throwing instruments in the air and choreographed Hop to the foxtrot was in and big bands were serving movements, the music recorded by artistes like up the grooves and energy for young people to take Woody Herman, Cab Calloway, Ellington, Goodman, over the dance floors. Lunceford and many more, was also the liveliest kind.

Theory Duke Ellington performs with his big band in the 1940s

PICTORIAL PRESS / LTD ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

High energy, good vibrations, funky dance forms and a rich and distinctive musical sound across crowded dance halls of 20th-century America marked the beginning of the big band era. Anurag Tagat analyses how the sound of the big band made jazz a universally popular form of music that has 24 • April 2021 NCPAinfluenced a bevy of artistes in subsequent decades. NCPA April 2021 • 51 A watershed moment for big Big band meant that a got bigger. Microphones were bands came when clarinetist very primitive and seldom used and bandleader Goodman— posse of musicians, almost so the increased volume of the who would eventually come to always in double digits, were bands was needed to be heard be known as the King of Swing— over the crowds in the big dance first performed at the Palomar present on stage with an halls,” he says. Ballroom in Los Angeles in impeccable, ever-demanding August 1935. Veteran jazz Changing with the times historian, saxophonist, educator bandleader to present jazz, Catering to swing for the most and composer Bill Kirchner blues, swing and more part, big band music took in describes the rise of big bands musicians like clarinetist-turned- as gradual but stresses the bandleader Herman from his importance of the success of roots in vaudeville performances. Goodman. “Ensembles in jazz A decade later, it was adapting and popular music gradually to the needs during World War got bigger through the 1920s. Though, once the II, with military bands and ensembles being part of Goodman band became immensely popular, it travelling shows for troops. Most big band leaders opened the door for a lot of other big bands to and composers had already been signed to labels achieve that kind of mass popularity.” such as Decca Records. Others, like Ellington and Stephen Marcone, band conductor and currently Billy Strayhorn—the gifted pianist who was part of professor of music at the William Paterson University Ellington’s orchestra—hit the airwaves with ‘Take in New Jersey, says the growth of big bands is the “A” Train’ in the early 1940s. Ellington and inextricably linked to the history of the U.S. “In my Strayhorn, one of the most lauded partnerships in opinion, the growth was a product of America’s love jazz music, worked together for 28 years, bringing of bigness in the 1930s. Movies were large musicals out memorable compositions including ‘Chelsea with dancing girls in feathered costumes, automobiles Bridge’ and much later, albums like Far East Suite in Gene Krupa (left) and Benny Goodman (right) were these huge sedans…and as harmonies were 1967 via Bluebird Records, owned by RCA. Kirchner, in concert in 1953 enriched to require over a dozen musicians, bands who is the author of Big Band Renaissance: The Evolution of the Jazz Orchestra, The 1940s and Beyond, Shaw, Chick Webb, sound. Although they calls the partnership “vitally Bob Crosby, Tommy “The growth of the big band was a product are not as seemingly important”. He says of Ellington Dorsey and more, multitudinous as and Strayhorn, “Each had his who left a lasting of America’s love of bigness in the 1930s... the Duke Ellington own unique writing style, so impression on big movies were large musicals with dancing Orchestra or Count that they complemented each bands and orchestras Basie’s big bands, other beautifully, and brought that followed them. girls in feathered costumes, automobiles artistes such as Snarky something different to the Through these big were these huge sedans and as harmonies Puppy continue, in table, musically speaking.” bands, vocalists like their own way, to take As bandleaders flourished Lena Horne, Frank were enriched to require over a dozen the tradition forward. and made a name for Sinatra, Peggy Lee musicians, bands got bigger” Outside of the themselves (sometimes and instrumentalists newsmakers, experts notoriously, for their high- like Mary Lou Williams have differing views handedness and my-way-or- and Charlie Parker on whether the big the-highway approach with honed their skills band tradition has musicians), even established before snapping up the big ticket to solo stardom. sustained. Marcone points out that there are not any artistes such as Louis Armstrong On the other hand, Ellington, Basie and several big bands on T.V. shows like there would be before. took the big band route. Along others cemented themselves as indefatigable big “Outside of tribute bands, there aren’t any touring the way, the sound kept evolving band leaders, even through the 1960s when jazz was today, and the non-electric type of sound is not the beyond the busy energy of perhaps downsizing, and quintets and quartets were sound of dance music,” he adds. Kirchner however swing and big band jazz. already becoming popular by the 1950s. notes that big bands thrive in a big way in educational There were more progressive institutes. Artistes are still learning with a goal to play hues imbued by artistes like A rich legacy in large ensembles and learning jazz standards born Herman while bebop piqued The influence of the big band era is such that it out of the big band era. He agrees it is expensive to the interest of saxophonist and always inspires artistes across musical styles to think tour for big bands, but they continue to record. He bandleader Charlie Barnet. “It about how they can achieve a larger-than-life sound. says, “There are tens of thousands of big bands all over (bebop) originally entailed a In addition to continually inspiring jazz artistes to this the world, ranging from elementary schools to high small group of musicians, but it day, rock and funk artistes have also taken the big schools to colleges. It is now firmly a part of music was transferred to big bands,” band route occasionally. We have seen everyone from education throughout the world. By all indications, Kirchner notes. Other key Charles Mingus in the 1950s and 60s to composer and once we get past this pandemic and people can play figures through the 1930s and orchestra leader Maria Schneider and pianist Orrin together again, big bands are likely to continue for Over a six-decade-long career, Count Basie was

40s include Gene Krupa, Artie EVERETT COLLECTION INC / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO Evans through the 1980s and 90s take to big-band decades as far as I can see.” PHILLIP HARRINGTON / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO noted for his wide influence on the big band era

NCPA April 2021 • 41 Culture Digest Kaleidoscope Your window to the latest in the performing arts across India and the world.

experience. The Turetsky Choir, under famous symphony. With extracts from the guidance of director and People’s Carlos Kleiber, Herbert von Karajan, John Artist of Russia Mikhail Turetsky, Eliot Gardiner, Mariss Jansons and more, brings together ten male soloists, with the episode informs, entertains, compares, voices ‘in the diapason of four and contrasts and most importantly, gives a half octaves’, and a repertoire that listeners new reasons to appreciate the includes rock, pop, opera, jazz and folk masterpiece. For more information, visit hits in languages as diverse as Russian, www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/ Chinese, French and English. Having video-beethoven-s-fifth-interpreting-genius performed sold-out live performances around the world for several decades, the For art’s sake experience and energy the choir brings The difference between ‘looking’ and to the stage promises to be electric. On ‘seeing’ is perhaps equivalent to the 9th, 10th and 11th April, the Great Hall difference between letting life pass you at the Kremlin Palace, often considered by and living with curiosity and a sense to be the main stage of Russia, of wonder. Keeping this in mind, Slow Youth culture will reverberate with the harmonies Art Day is a global event with a simple To inspire a love of the performing of The Turetsky Choir. For more objective: help people discover the joy arts in the young is an eternal quest for information, visit en.kremlinpalace.org. of looking at art. On a particular day in curators, organisers and artistes and a For more information on the choir, visit April (for 2021, the date is 10th), people look at the much-loved April Festival, www.arthor.ru/en all over the world visit local museums and aimed at young audiences and held galleries to look at five works of art for 10 each year in a different municipality in For the record minutes each and then meet up over lunch Denmark, can only help. Apart from Though we are living through difficult to talk about their experience. Since public performances, workshops and times, we are also, thankfully, living in an its official launch in 2010, 1400 events seminars during the festival, every age where access to the minds of experts single child and young person in the and scholars is at our fingertips. A new hosting municipality is given a theatre series by Gramophone feeds the mind of experience, free of charge, a wonderful the Western classical music aficionado in exercise possible because the festival is more ways than one. Each episode focuses financed entirely by public means. Last year, with much regret, Teatercentrum and Holbæk Municipality postponed the festival due to the pandemic. The year 2021 will therefore mark the 50th edition of the festival, to be held from 18th to 25th April, albeit without international visitors who can look forward to experiencing the vibrancy of Danish arts in 2022. For more information, visit www.info.aprilfestival.dk have been organised, 700 museums have participated, and the day has been Vocal synergy celebrated on all continents, including The harmonic coming together of unique Antarctica. In 2021, venues in Denmark, voices in a choir can be a transcendental France, Mexico, Australia, Iceland, Brazil, among many other countries on a specific composition while comparing have signed up. While India may not past recordings, performance practices be a participating country this year, and various approaches conductors have with Mumbai’s own CSMVS museum chosen while interpreting the composition. having reopened, you could celebrate In the first episode, Editor-in-Chief the day yourself by planning a visit to James Jolly and critic and broadcaster its galleries. For more information, visit Rob Cowan discuss Beethoven’s Fifth, www.slowartday.com

considered by many to be the world’s most - Vipasha Aloukik Pai BO AMSTRUP (APRIL FESTIVAL); JOSEPH KARL STIELER/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS (BEETHOVEN); SHUTTERSTOCK (SLOW ART DAY)

42 • April 2021 NCPA