Harp, flute sax it up with drums and tabla in Bangalore

Six musicians came together at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall to create an unusual melange, on Tuesday. Leading the group was none other than the legend Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia himself. The master flautist was at the centre of the offering that also included the harp, saxophone, drums and tabla.

Harpist Gwyneth Wentink has been training with Pt Chaurasia for five years. The two instruments have spiritual connection; the music was meditative, indeed. Wentink reciprocated to the master’s phrases with ease.

The chemistry between the harp and the flute was only fuelled by the tabla, played by Shubhankar Bannerjee. Rupak Kulkarni, Chaurasia’s senior-most disciple, got a biggish part in the drama, too.

For the uninitiated, the concert was also educational. Holland resident Wentink, who has been training since she was five, took time off the playing to introduce her instrument.

“I had difficulty finding harps in India. There are very few here. It has 47 red and blue strings. They are controlled by pedals. The feet are as busy as the hands,” she said. Wentink presented solo pieces by Czech composer Dusek and those created by French and Russian composer.

Kurta-clad, saxophone in hand, George Brooks walked on to the stage playing a peppy tune to drummer Gino Banks’ beats. Brooks followed it up with the lullaby he composed for a friend’s child, Waltz for Nina.

Sitting cross-legged, presenting a Western instrument, Brooks’ style was reminiscent of our own Kadri Gopalnath’s. Bannerjee on the tabla indulged Brooks’ genre-defying notes.

The grand finale was a spell-binding experiment, playful at time, dark and brooding at others. This presentation titled ‘The Splendor of Masters’ and put together by Banyan Tree Events made fans out of all who opened their minds to the creative exercise.