BOB�S BANTER

I have always loved Western Classical music, but many years ago an up and coming Bollywood musician pushed a cassette into my car stereo and said, "Bob, listen to my ghazals!" And my love for ghazals and soon Indian classical music began. So it was with no reluctance I accepted the invitation of another friend, also an editor, to hear his performance last night. I was surprised however knowing he sang for Mumbai's western classical best choir, famous for its Western Classical repertoire and wondered what he was doing here. It was a delightful experience: I have always been fascinated by the tabla and santoor, listened spellbound as like two best friends, they accompany each other, allow one to go off individually, then wait as the former catches up, grows louder, steals the slow, then softens for the latter. Such perfect understanding in supporting each other yet not leaning on one another: The effect is bewitching and last night was no different.    And then it was my friend Sarosh doing the Raag Sur Malhar leaning ever so lightly on his Tambura, singing in the Agra Gharana Gayaki style: Plaintive voice filling the hall and moving people with sound and words.
"What made you get into Indian classical singing?" I asked later and listened as he told me about learning to sing from a pupil of Ustad Vilayat Khan. "And then," said Sarosh, "I went to Switzerland for my studies met friends who were passionate about Western Classical music, one of them an organist, and would accompany him to an empty church where he played the organ, after which Bob I would take over and play Indian classical on the same organ!" "And when I came back to India I joined a choir to continue singing what I'd learnt to love from my friends!" Blending cultures! East and West! Something we don't often do. We close eyes and ears to anything we've not grown up with and lose sight of another divine world just as good as the one we are familiar with.
I thought of my friend as I drove home last night, coming on stage with traditional kurta pajamas, looking every bit he belonged to tabla, santoor and tambura, and then imagined him walking into hall where his choir rehearses dressed in western attire, comfortable and at home in both. Blending cultures! Maybe that's what we need to learn; stop screaming Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and instead blend with each other; that is what real harmony is..!      

[email protected]

BOB�S BANTER

I have always loved Western Classical music, but many years ago an up and coming Bollywood musician pushed a cassette into my car stereo and said, Bob, listen to my ghazals! And my love for ghazals and soon Indian classical music began. So it was with no reluctance I accepted the invitation of another friend, also an editor, to hear his performance last night. I was surprised however knowing he sang for Mumbais western classical best choir, famous for its Western Classical repertoire and wondered what he was doing here. It was a delightful experience: I have always been fascinated by the tabla and santoor, listened spellbound as like two best friends, they accompany each other, allow one to go off individually, then wait as the former catches up, grows louder, steals the slow, then softens for the latter. Such perfect understanding in supporting each other yet not leaning on one another: The effect is bewitching and last night was no different. And then it was my friend Sarosh doing the Raag Sur Malhar leaning ever so lightly on his Tambura, singing in the Agra Gharana Gayaki style: Plaintive voice filling the hall and moving people with sound and words. What made you get into Indian classical singing? I asked later and listened as he told me about learning to sing from a pupil of Ustad Vilayat Khan. And then, said Sarosh, I went to Switzerland for my studies met friends who were passionate about Western Classical music, one of them an organist, and would accompany him to an empty church where he played the organ, after which Bob I would take over and play Indian classical on the same organ! And when I came back to India I joined a choir to continue singing what Id learnt to love from my friends! Blending cultures! East and West! Something we dont often do. We close eyes and ears to anything weve not grown up with and lose sight of another divine world just as good as the one we are familiar with. I thought of my friend as I drove home last night, coming on stage with traditional kurta pajamas, looking every bit he belonged to tabla, santoor and tambura, and then imagined him walking into hall where his choir rehearses dressed in western attire, comfortable and at home in both. Blending cultures! Maybe thats what we need to learn; stop screaming Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and instead blend with each other; that is what real harmony is..! [email protected]