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Music - Celebration of life, writes Amjad Ali Khan Noted Sarod Maestro)

 

 

What is music? There may be any number of scientific explanations about pitch and vibrations but it is difficult to explain how ‘sound’ becomes ‘music’. It has more to do with human nature. Music is a unique and precious gift of God to mankind. Music is a celebration of life. The wonderful truth is any music, from anywhere in the world, is based on the same seven, beautiful musical notes; Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni or Do Re Me Fa So La Ti.

These seven notes are the alphabet of a universal language. Of the seven notes, the first and the fifth are fixed while the remaining notes have sharps and flats, making a total of 12 notes. Music has been in practice for at least 5000 years. Yet we have not been able to discover a 13th note!

Musicians and listeners of music have been communicating with each other across all barriers through this language from time immemorial. As we use flowers in worship, welcoming, honouring, departure, and celebration no matter what our race, origin, religion or language, we similarly arrange musical notes into ‘bouquets’ or compositions which display all our human feelings and emotions.

Musical vibrations can convey moods and emotions and have the ability to mould and shape our consciousness. Different types of music can have different effects on the mind-both positive and negative. Our mind is like any living organism. It must be nurtured and needs stimulation to develop and grow. Music is one of the most important catalysts for the intellect. Each musical
note is connected to this most important part of our minds.

Music has many faces. Conversation, recitation, chanting and singing are all part of music. Music can be either vocal or instrumental. Vocal music appeals to most of us because of its poetical or lyrical content. Instrumental music on the other hand, such as what is played on the Sarod, is pure sound. It needs to be experienced and felt. Since there are no lyrics, there is no language barrier between the performer and the listener. That is why instrumental music transcends all barriers.

A wonderful and strange mystery of Indian classical music is the fact that one can spend a lifetime trying to attain knowledge and perfection and still feel that one has only touched a mere drop of an ocean. Along the journey of searching and discovering, the learning never stops. Its understanding changes with every year a musician lives. This is true sadhana (devotion). Some of the greatest sadhaks (devotees) of Indian classical music were Swami Haridas, Swami Tyagaraja, Swami Muttuswamy Dikshitar, Swami Shyama Shastri, Purandara Dasa, Swati Tirunal, Baiju Bawra and Miyan Tansen. They are responsible for the solid foundation of the art in both the northern and southern parts of our country.

Traditions

Classical music has basically two traditions - Western classical and Indian classical music. The Indian classical music is a result of a refinement of folk music. It has developed into its highly sophisticated form in more than 5000 years. As the name suggests, classical music represents the concentrated essence of Indian music in its richest forms. India has two classical
traditions - the North Indian and South Indian.

There is an old saying - Swara hi Eshwar hai, meaning swara is divine incarnation. In every culture, music has its roots in spirituality. Music has always been an integral part of worship of God. That is why hymns, carols, bhajans, shabads and kirtans are all forms of prayer. Through music we can convey our innermost feelings. When I am performing, in search of perfection and excellence with eyes closed, I feel connected to a cosmic power from where I receive the messages which my audiences experience. When I am able to get across to my audience, when I can get them involved, I find that my listeners always give me the inspiration to create that special atmosphere, the ambience where music, the musician and the audience become one.

Music is essential for mind and body. Pure music from instruments like Sarod and violin listened to with concentration restores the subtle mental imbalances that crop in today’s lifestyle. People today need more than ever to cope with tensions, distress, depression and struggle to find peace and relaxation. Sound pollution is also a daily hazard. Music helps retune one’s system. That is why eminent doctors and psychologists are prescribing certain types of music as a form of therapy and treatment for stress disorders. Noisy music on the other hand can be damaging to human mind and body. Music, like Sarod, needs to be heard at moderate volume and with concentration to avail of its positive effects.

A great deal of importance is given to tradition in the Indian classical music. In fact, tradition and spirituality are the backbone of classical music whether in the form of the teaching system or in the structure of ragas and talas. Great musicians or gurus have been likened to priests who perform upasana. That is why we touch their feet. It is not an act of subservience but an elevating and liberating action. It is a unique custom that truly belongs only to our culture. It is understandable to adopt or adapt to a modern way of life and merely seek to achieve technical virtuosity but this does not mean that we forget the most essential values of our tradition and culture.

Systems

In western classical music a composer scores a composition which is read and sung or played by the vocalists or musicians. In the Indian classical system, there is no written or scored music. It would be extremely difficult to record and subsequently interpret the subtle nuances on paper. We therefore follow an oral tradition. Music and musicality is passed on from guru to shishya directly through the Guru-Shishya Parampara, i.e. from the teacher to the pupil. In this manner, music has been handed down from generation to generation. For musicians, classical music thus becomes a way of life. Music satisfies the soul. It can be appreciated without knowing it.

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