Whenever I go to drop my kids to school, I always tune in to Vividh Bharti on my car radio. It usually is the time (7: 30 to 7: 45) for Sangeet Sarita, the 15 minute programme on Hindustani Classical music. In this programme, one of AIR’s anchors usually chats with an exponent of the art about various aspects and intricacies of music.
For the last four days Nimmi Misra has been chatting with an extraordinarily versatile and yet extraordinarily humble and dedicated exponent of a rare instrument called the Rudra Veena, Ustad Asad Ali Khan Saheb. The Rudra Veena is a string instrument, a variant of the veena. Now, to the uninitiated ear, all the stringed instruments sound alike. It is the trained ear, however, that will perceive the nuances of the bass notes of this extraordinary instrument; the sheer masculinity of the Dhrupad style which is such a ‘one-of-a-kind’ experience. As such, Dhrupad style is the original and the most ancient and the more difficult to master variety of Hindustani Classical music; Khayal style, which is more in vogue today, is a later day adoptation to appeal to and suit the ears of the masses. Unfortunately very few quality exponents of the fading art form are left today… With the passing away of the senior Dagar brothers, an era has been relegated to history.
I have been fortunate to have the previlage of attending two live concerts by Ustad Asad Ali Khan Saheb. Wow, it was a divine experience. He had held the audience spellbound with his randition of Ragas Jaijaivanti and Pooriya Kalyan.
I won’t go into the details of those two concerts. I would strongly recommend the readers to tune in to Vividh Bharti tomorrow at 7 30 AM if possible… It is people like Khan Saab that will be able to bring about real cultural and communal homogeneity. It was really touching the way Khan Saab was discussing Shiv ji and Saraswati devi and Dhyan and asanas and devotion.
Uparwalla unko lambi umar de. Amin.
Music has an universal appeal, it soothes , it binds, it uplifts , it enthuses. It can make you forget yourself and your worries . Sometimes though it hieghtens or increases the mood you are in. Sometimes by flowing along with it , it becomes a kind of catharsis. “”The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not mov”d with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.” That’’s what Shakespeare said. No more listen to the radio so much these days. This post tempts me to.
Khan Saheb is an example of ”Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb.” … Unfortunately, the rpesent generation doesn”t have the patience to appreciate classic arts … We are losing a part of our cultural heritage … But who cares?
yes…classical is the root of our clutural heritage as per our music goes.let the young gen should have some intrest for these category..
Super post Doc…. i too agree with you in wishing khan saheb a long life
u have aroused my curiosity…I must tune in to morrow…u do have varied interests! This is better than ur political ”rantings” :)))))))))) PYL