To say that artists wish for peace and prosperity is to state the obvious. But some concepts never lose their sheen, no matter the number of repetitions. Like playing ragas or finishing a rhythmic pattern on the perfect ‘sam’. It may have been done millions of times before, but it still elicits appreciation! That’s what some of India’s best known artists are going to offer Delhiites this Tuesday and Wednesday once again.
"Ibteda – spreading love and peace through music and dance" will feature concerts where you can either swoon or swing to the music.
Day one showcases family traditions of classical music, while the second day features classical music in a contemporary setting, with cross-genre collaborations.
On the opening evening, sarangi maestro Ustad Gulam Sabir Khan and his son, the popular Murad Ali, will play together. In the second concert that evening, senior tabla exponent Hashmat Ali Khan will perform with his eminent son Akram Khan and grandson Zargham Akram Khan.
If landing pat on the beat and playing tunefully are at the core of formal music, it is also all about tradition. And one of the enduring traditions of classical music is the hierarchy of respect. Thus, although Murad Ali and Akram Khan are renowned performers and recipients of numerous awards, they are careful even with the labelling of their concerts. "When we perform with our father and guru, it would not be right to call it a jugalbandi or duet," says Murad. "So we would rather call it a ‘silsila’ or heritage."
Akram echoes this sentiment when he mentions that Zargham trains under his grandfather, because, apart from the musical skills, Akram wants his son to pick up "the tehzeeb and ada" (etiquette and graces) associated with being a musician.
Zargham, all of 13, has already played with his father and grandfather on prestigious occasions like the 2016 Sankat Mochan festival and the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s archival recording session.
Zaki Khan will accompany the tabla artists on the harmonium. The sarangi concert will be accompanied by Athar Husain on tabla.
The second evening features two sections: "Jashn-e-Raqs", and a "World Ethnic Music Ensemble".
In "Jashn-e-Raqs", Mahua Shankar performs Kathak choreographed to music by Murad Ali. Here, Murad himself will be on the sarangi, while on the tabla will be Abdul Rehman, with vocal by Shuheb Hasan and Zohaib Hasan, and padhant by Nupur Shankar. Also in the orchestra will be Fakhroddin Ghaffari on percussions and Bhola on dholak.
The concert by the World Music Ethnic Ensemble promises a rousing finale to the event. Led by Fateh Ali Khan on the sitar, the ensemble includes Fakhroddin Ghaffari on percussions, Gyan Singh on tabla, Sultan Singh on electric violin and rabab, Ravi Daniel Rangel on the guitar and Siraj Khan on mandolin.
This programme aimed at promoting amity not just in general but among the youth of today towards classical music, is presented by two organisations founded by families deeply committed to the arts. One partner is the Saurang Parampara Music Society of Moradabad gharana, established by Ustad Ghulam Sabir Khan. The other is Guru Pradeep Shankar Academy of Promoting and Performance Arts.
Shakespeare's "food of love" is undeniably the need of these stressful times. Play on!
(On August 23 and 24, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, 7 p.m.)
