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Category: Classical Music
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Title: A collection of 'Gat' in the North Indian musical tradition  | views:338 |   Suharshi Perera
Sri Lankan edition of New Instrumental
Compositions for North Indian Music
Sri Lankan edition of New Instrumental
Compositions for North Indian Music
The man heeded the divine call. The flute consented. The concord of the man and the flute inspired the dark souls of their fellow beings, dispelling misery and agony.
The world renowned flautist and esraj player Anil Mihiripenna yet rooted in the Lankan soil, played another tune on the pen, away from mesmerizing instruments, when he recorded the Gat (instrumental compositions) finely tuned in his blood and soul.
"New Instrumental Compositions for North Indian Music is a dream- come- true as I had always desired to bring out a collection of Gat in the North Indian musical tradition," the artiste who won many accolades for his musical competency says while placing two books on the table.
"The same book was published in India by Indica Publishers. This is a historic milestone as New Instrumental Compositions for North Indian Music is the first ever book by a Sri Lankan musician published in India," says the maestro pointing at the book with a cover featuring the traditional Indian art. The print of the book was supported by the Indo-Lanka Foundation.
"India is the bedrock of the ragadhari ( North Indian) music tradition and thus boasts of hundreds of thousands of phenomenal writing material on the subject. Why this book won their attention was it encompasses different compositions for six instruments; sitar, violin, esraj, flute, sarod and oriental guitar.
There are compositions appropriate for stringed instruments (bowed and plucked) but the compositions for wind instruments are different. Thus the compositions for various types of instruments with different techniques of playing are elaborated in the book," he explains.
"There are many books on ragadhari vocal compositions but there's a considerable dearth of instrumental compositions. The book provides a guideline to those studying instrumental compositions and suitable for teachers as well. It cannot replace a teacher, but designed to offer some support".
"In Oriental music, guru(teacher) is an essential component. The relationship between preceptor and disciple is the nurturing channel of tradition. For many generations this bond preserved and carried forward the precious tradition. Therefore a book cannot replace a teacher, and it's from a guru that pupils must seek instructions and guidance," the maestro observes.
"I studied under the most revered gurus in this divine art. I mastered my inborn music talents under esraj maestro Ashish Chandra Benerji, flute from Pandit Gowr Goswami and vocals from Pandit Jamini Kantha Chakrwarti at the Vishva Bharati University (Shantiniketan) where the earthly incarnation of the divine art exists.
There it reflected the fundamentals of learning and teaching. When I attended my first esraj lesson, I carried the esraj and a book to write down notes. My guru Ashish Chandra Benerji glanced at me and said "ekne esho"(come here).
Being new, I did not understand Bengoli but the finger gesture spoke it all. ( When I left Shantiniketan I delivered my farewell speech in Bengoli ). I dragged my feet towards him grappling with a sense of uncertainty.
He looked at my book and questioned why I was carrying a book. When I said it was to take down notes, my guru said: "when you study here write everything in your head. Don't bring books hereafter". Following my great gurus advice, I never took down notes.
During the four years in Shantiniketan, all what I learnt is in my head and anytime I am able to recall anything," the inspired artiste says.
"Exercises and compositions should not be forced indiscriminately on students, but the teacher must use his discretion in prescribing suitable material for individual students.
Teacher must also offer advice and guidance on selecting compositions to match their abilities. I tried to propagate the Shantiniketan model of teaching in Sri Lanka but I failed," the maestro says.
"Art cannot be spoon-fed. It should be planted in one's blood and soul. I began exploring this when I was a child. I trained my ears to the melodious voice of my mother when she sang lullabies to my younger sisters. Those fascinated us. That's why our whole family turned out to be artistes of different spectrums," with a blissful smile on the face he recalls.
"I deeply fell in love with the flute when I was in school. I carried the flute to school and entertained my friends during free time, but it was too late when we realised that it distracted other classes and I was punished several times," he laughs having moved back to childhood.
"The noble duty of an artiste is to create a blissful moment. His or her talent is to capture the minds of the people in a moment of trans (Samadhi). This is kind of bhavna (meditation) done through music to soothe and relieve their minds. But it's not music therapy. Both vocal and instrumental compositions can soothe the minds".
"But I don't agree playing vocal compositions on instruments. Songs are to be sung. The words (lyrics) of the song intertwined with the thalam (rhythm) to create meaning. So when you play a song on a instrument how can the meaning be reflected without words?," the maestro questions.
The great musician who was a guru at school and university level has performed in many soils around the world and mesmerized hundreds of thousands of music lovers with his musical prowess.
He also authored books to widen the knowledge of students of the classical music. He founded Sharada Kala Nikethanaya, institution that propagates Oriental classical music in Sri Lanka. He was presented with many national and international level awards in recognition of his service to the field of music.
He was also presented the Honorary Citizenship of Nebraska State in USA and the honorary member of the research board of advisors of the American Biography Institute.
"I don't want to be away from my Motherland. I have done my due. Now the uparwala (the one up there) will decide the rest". |
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| Review submitted: 2008/1/15
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