Music is something that unites us all. But even then, the search for identity and the desire to stay relevant often brings artistes to the edge. One tries to keep one's art from getting diluted with other forms, but is it really something that would save it? Purists would disagree. At a time when a greater part of the world has grown bigoted towards alien cultures, it is but an imperative to bring under one roof simple joys like global music. The iconic L Subramaniam and Viji Subramaniam began the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival back in 1992 in memory of their father and acclaimed musician V Lakshminarayana. Twenty seven years later, LGMF has toured 50 countries, collaborated with some of the best artistes and orchestras across the world and stays at the peak of the game that is global music. It has also brought stalwarts like Ustad Bismillah Khan, Pandit Jasraj, M Balamuralikrishna and MS Subbulakshmi in concert. Contributing to its milestones through the years has been Kavita Krishnamurthy Subramaniam, who, along with her husband L Subramaniam, has given India some of its best classics.
Says Kavita, “Every country has had its renaissance. When we had patronage for the arts back in the day, music, dance and literature flourished. It is amazing how so much music has been created with only seven notes. In India, right now, they are ready for all kinds of music. Traditional classical and folk music hold our heritage and they must live forever. When we integrate these with the Western culture, we are opening things up even for Indian artistes. Our music should also go global, along with the country. These kinds of collaborations will open the minds for our audiences also, even those for whom it is difficult to hear completely classical music.”
Broadening horizons
This year, after concerts in Bangalore and Colombo, LGMF reaches Delhi with Liepajas Symphony Orchestra and the Neemrana Choir conducted by Gintaras Rinkevicius, along with Kavita and Subramaniam.
Kavita says that as a musician, the festival has only broadened her horizons over the years. “I have never learnt jazz, but for me to be able to share a stage with jazz musicians is a different kind of an experience. The musical instruments are an extension of their own body. I reached there after three decades of singing in Bollywood, so, if it has been profound for me, it can be profound for anyone. People don't know what to expect from the festival. At the end they have often encountered something new and fresh, because they had no idea how so many genres could be clubbed together,” she says.
The orchestra will be performing L Van Beethoven's Symphony no.5 and E Darzins Melancholic Waltz, followed by special compositions by Subramaniam - Bharat Symphony and Turbulence Concerto.
“My father was responsible for putting Indian violin on the global map, with his techniques. It was pretty much an accompanying instrument until then. Our ambition was to do the festival in Chennai regularly. But we slowly expanded internationally and now It is one of the best feelings I get every time I play it in his memory,” says Subramaniam.
While Turbulence Concerto was written for Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in 1987, Subramaniam wrote Bharat Symphony for his wife's voice. He was commissioned by the City of Chicago in celebration of the 70th year of India's independence. “When I was asked to write it, I thought I will do a historical journey of India through music,” he says. The piece is broadly divided into four segments – the Vedic, Mughal, Colonial and post Independence periods. “It starts with a very old Ganapati chant, and then we introduce the tabla and ragas like Chandrapriya. It ends with a sense of universality – Satyameva Jayate.
“It was always thought that Western classical was the only classical. Everything else was comfortably put under the carpet of World music. I started the term global music some time in the early 70s. Indian music is one of the most sophisticated genres. What is pure music anyway? Every twenty years music has changed, through centuries. Our music also has to be appreciated globally, for which there has to be innovation. At a time, the music of north and south India were separate.
When Ali Akbar Khan sahib and I started playing jugalbandi, it became the trend. I also did jugalbandis with Bismillah Khan sahib, Amjad Ali Khan sahib, and Pandit Jasraj among others. We are ultimately trying to bring all music of the world to one platform,” he says.
“We need to understand why a lot of great artistes are successful in other parts of the world. and explore these ways of expansion. In order to become a legend, your sustainability and presence across decades is needed,” sums up Subramaniam.
(Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival will be held at New Delhi’s Siri Fort Auditorium this Friday at 7p.m.)
