MUSIC IS NEITHER A RACE NOR A COARSE COMMODITY FOR COMMERCE

MUSIC IS NEITHER A RACE NOR A COARSE COMMODITY FOR COMMERCE

Hindustani classical music is not a Formula One motor race. There is something called 'thheherao' (standing on a note to bring out its inner essence). Speed is merely a later embellishment in a performance and comes as a corollary to the basic theorem of long lingering note production that reveals the character of a raag and establishes its spiritual essence. The 'taiyaari' (preparedness) of an artiste need not only be in terms of fast taankaari but in the attainment of perfection in note production while standing on each note for an optimum period of time, in the quality of the aalaap which is almost everywhere being reduced to a mere mention in a performance. This is regrettable for aalaap is what is the soul of music.

One hopes to see some character in young musicians and a reversal of this decadent trend of appeasement of the fickle public to music as it used to be in its heyday not very long ago, only several decades back.

Racing is not music neither is it musical. Let stillness and silence of the standing sound pervade the atmosphere once more and replace its raucous sibling. Only then will music come alive once more despite the aberrations of the age in impatience and frivolity. Upon musicians lies the responsibility of training the ears of the audience and, so, raising the level of mass musical perception. I only hope that some such musicians are listening to these words, either in this piece of writing or in the depths of their heart.

Written by Sugata Bose

Photo :Pandit Ajoy Sinha Roy and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan

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