One of the reasons Indian classical music is often described as rich is because it has two distinctive systems of art music.
The Carnatic and Hindustani musical styles have evolved over several centuries and for all its diversity, they have a lot in common.
The Iyer Foundation will host a concert in memory of the tabla wizard Kishen Maharaj on March 26 at Ravindra Natya Mandir at which leading instrumentalists will present a fusion of these art forms.
Both the systems have common elements like raga or taal which embody the melodic structure and the rhythmic structure respectively. "Where they differ is in the treatment.
There is a lot of common ground, which could be explored,' says Ganeshkumar, of the Fine Arts Society of Chembur.
The body has hosted many programmes in which Hindustani and Carnatic musicians have interacted.
"This is a programme dedicated to a great tabla exponent. Therefore, we have decided to have two percussions. The tabla as well as the mridangam," says Balakrishna Iyer, a leading tabla player and a pupil of Kishen Maharaj. The mridangam will be played by Vivek Rajagopalan.
Violinist Ravi Anathraman, well-known in the Carnatic world and Hindustani sitar player Ravindra Chary will team up and present the most played raga Yaman. "The raga Kalyani in Carnatic music and the raga Yaman in Hindustani music have the same melodic character.
They have a similar appeal and a yearning quality," says Ravi Anathraman, who has been a part of the Samantar concerts sung by Aruna Sayeeram and Neela Bhagwat.
Ravindra Chary is not newbie to fusion. He has participated in many concerts with musicians across the world. With a unique ability to match his music with other musicians, the sitarist will do the same at this concert. "We will engage ourselves in cross percussions in the sense that I will play with the mridangam and Ravi Anathraman will play with the tabla which promises to be interesting," says Chary.
The programme will also feature veteran Gwalior gharana vocalist Sharad Sathe who will present khyals and tappa in his own inimitable style. "These two systems are like two streams of the same river.
They originated from the same source and meandered in their own different ways. At some points they come together and again go ahead in their own chosen direction," says mridangam maestro Shankar Narayan.
The programme will be held at Ravindra Natya Mandir, Dadar on Mar 26 at 8 pm. Entry is free. Call 28977564 for details
Source : Mumbai Mirror :
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/135/20110319201103190255403409c8b78da/Musical-streams-meet.html
