Sawai Gandharva
First time at Sawai Gandharva yesterday. I decided to finally sample the biggest music programme of the year in Pune as part of increasing my consciousness of Hindustani classical music. I don't have any formal knowledge and have been slowly dipping myself in the aural offerings.When Nikhil and I got to the venue, we had missed Shrinivas Joshi (Bhimsen Joshi's son) but entered to Kala Ramnath's violin performance. This was followed by a disciple of Shobha Gurtu's, Rajshri Pathak. The big name for the night was Pandit Jasraj, accompanied by Appa Jalgaonkar on the harmonium and the seemingly ubiquitous Vijay Ghate on the tabla.
One thing I've always observed is that on most occasions, the big names do have that something extra that distinguishes them from the second rung of performers. Pt. Jasraj was no different and you didn't have to know too many technicalities to get involved. This was also true of Appa Jalgaonkar's harmonium playing - I can't tell if any musician is making mistakes or what is the purity of his performance, but I can tell you if this was different and special. There were some breathtaking moments even for a layperson.
Pt. Jasraj ended with an appeal to listeners to promote Indian classical and raised the bogey of the music channels and the pop scene - this always makes me uncomfortable. There are some issues involved here - is interest in such art forms flagging below a critical level, if these channels weren't there, would their patrons necessarily switch to classical music, what can musicians and patrons do more than simply lament the passage of time, etc. Such issues are true of many genres, and though people think preservation is important and can't be left to the ravages of commercial interests, the blanket blaming of commerce isn't the best option, methinks.
I was happily surprised at the proficient organisation at the venue - the additional screens and the TVs at appropriate distance intervals made it quite comfortable even for us in the "bhaaratiya baiThak"s.
Update: Harish's experiences
5 comments:
what classical music really needs is some marketing, since it isn't something that immediately appeals to the majority (after all, commerce thrives from numbers). In addition to the art, the performers also have the responsibility of bridging this divide and making it "cool" for people. After all,
commerce thrives from numbers.
Quite a few performers simply let their talent speak; if you're already tuned into classical music, their talent and worth is rather obvious. But for the uninitiated, there's often nothing to latch onto. On the other hand, you have people like Zakir Hussain who have managed to draw a lot more people into the space. The quality of the audience is something that ceases to be in their control at this point. In some sense, it's a compromise for the greater good -- a larger audience for the art form.
This means that popular/mainstream media have the mix just right: the content and audience compliment each other;)
On a Sawai note: did you catch Dr. Arawind Thatte on harmonium? Breathtaking moments guaranteed.
I agree with George. Marketing is needed. There is nothing in the market for classical newbies, absolutely nothing. On the other hand, I have seen some Mozart / Beethoven CDs costing a few dollars released by some unknown Canadian company.
I am looking for a good classical 101.
I whole heartedly agree with all of you regarding the issue of popularity of Pop music channels. Just by banning them we can't popularize classical music. George hits the nail on its head - Classical music needs proper marketing. You go to any music shop and enquire about CDs of A-Grade artistes and you're told that it costs anywhere between 250-500 bucks, SHUCKS! Why should anyone purchase these CDs when pop albums are selling for 80 - 90 bucks?
When you attend a western music concert, you are given a complete itenerary of the performance, including information about the peices being played. Did you get any such info' 8 Sawai Gandharwa Fest? I too have attended every one of the SG fests when v were 8 Pune from 1980-1999, but never was there a proper info' about the artiste, the ragas he/she's going 2 play/sing etc.
Finally, classical music, isn't something which everyone can actually enjoy. How many in the west actually listen to western classical? Appreciation of the fine arts needs that type of social upbringing also. How can a lower middle class family enjoy a concert or a recording if they are involved all the year round in making 2 ends meet? Its become fashionable these days 2 lay the blame squarely on music channels!
I beg to differ, Sir.
What you say about performances of maestros being better that second rung is felt only in a live concert. If one were to listen live, then the difference cannot be spotted.
So perhaps taking on from George, what makes these p's special in the first place is the marketing--so you feel you are witnessing something special.
I guess, along with marketing, you need to inform people about the very basics of raag and taal.. I was initiated by a SPIC-Macay concert where the top violinist N Rajam just taught basic concepts of Raag (so basic that a guy like me without any training could understand). With that basic knowledge, the music generally grows on you when you can make out when a mukhda comes for example. I still sometimes cannot appreciate the 'Alaap' part, but as I hear more and more, I appreciate more and more.
I guess this kind of knowledge needs to be more easily available.. a good idea would be websites with that knowledge which plays parts of a composition, explain what the part means and then puts it all together.
I have yet to see such a website. Someone who has basic classical music training could do this.
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