World Music Day: Musicians doff their hats to art

“We are talking of World Music Day but look at the condition of music and musicians in today’s times. What we see being promoted is only one form of music and it drowns out some of the finest talent we have around,” says classical vocalist Shubha Mudgal.

“This doesn’t bode well for the rich, diverse regional, folk and classical traditions which have come down to us down the ages.”

Mudgal admits she cannot imagine life without music. “It has enriched me in so many ways that I can scarcely think of what life will be without music.”

Her composer-tabla exponent husband Aneesh Pradhan echoes her views. “I had read Pandit Ravishankar’s autobiography My Music, My Life many years ago and I think the title of that book captures what we feel about our art beautifully.”

Santoor maestro Satish Vyas says, “You can take away my food and water but its unthinkable that I will live without music.”

Son of the legendary Pandit CR Vyas, he points out how his thoughts are engrossed in music even as he goes through the motions of his routine. “That is the extent to which it is internalised.”

Classical vocalist Neela Bhagwat, known for combining purity of ragas with the folk idiom of medieval saint poets calls khayal music a medium of self-expression. “It remains a way of relating to a tradition from 18th century to contemporary times,” says the Gwalior gharana artiste. Her academic take on tradition comes to fore as she explains her fascination. “Looking at the social, political and cultural forces at play which helped create music, pushing some facets forward while others receded can be interesting to discover.”

Like her, Dr Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande of Jaipur Atrauli gharana also calls music a journey of discovery. “It’s like I’ve set out on the wheels of melody and rhythm.

As I go along I want to share the beauty I find with the listener.”

Bhagwat, however, cautions that pride has no place in this journey. “Some musicians seem to be caught in the our-music-is-the-best mode and refuse to acknowledge the grandeur of western classical enough,” says the vocalist who has a huge fan following across Europe. She adds, “We become richer with the experience and interaction.”

Celebrating melody
Celebrated annually on June 21, World Music Day is also referred to as Fete de la Musique and began in France in 1982.

World Music Day features amateur and professional musicians performing on streets or in public places. Larger bands usually throw a free gig and invite cross-genre musicians to share the stage.