Chords that touch the heart
7 Jan 2016 8:16 PM GMT
The language of music transcends words and has the magic to forge friendships. One such occasion recently saw the parallel paths meeting, when Sarod virtuosos Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan played in the national Capital. Here are the excerpts from an exclusive interview with Amaan Ali Khan.
How does it feel to become a part of such a great event?
Someone from a different country is here and as an Indian, I’m very proud to present Indian Classical music. As a family, my father, Ayaan and I are privileged to play our music which is like a form of meditation to us and it gives us immense happiness seeing people enjoying our music.
What’s your take on the fact that taking Indian classical music and collaborating with artistes on the world platform is hugely contributing towards preserving India’s rich musical lineage and culture?
The way I look at it, music for me is God’s language and it goes beyond any boundaries or barriers. Interacting and collaborating with different musicians and artistes around the world, according to me, is the only way of connecting with people today and exploring the diverse cultures of different countries. In music, there’s no treaty signed or norms to be followed but then there’s just the exchange of seven notes, which are like God’s speech and transcend above all.
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Do you think that somewhere we are getting devoid of that perennial genre of music? Have the musical preferences of the people, here and in abroad, changed along with time?
As I said that interacting and performing with musicians across the world is a way of connecting and they too take it in the same way as we do. They (musicians and audiences) like collaborating with Indian artistes, which is not new for them.Â
Also, I think classical music is coming back in vogue again because a lot of youngsters are connecting and associating with it. And then in events like these, I mean why would my father, Ayaan and I would be invited unless people (not only Indians but also foreigners) today would want to listen to our music and appreciate us. We are proud of what has come of our music and we can sense that people enjoy listening to our music, which is a great feeling.
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Your father has a very unique and special technique of playing the Sarod, do you, apart from following in his footsteps, abide by his techniques too?
Well while you’re following someone very intently and learning from that person, automatically something comes out of it which is quite similar to what you have learned. But still you need to maintain your own essence and my father is very open to accept that, but on the other hand, yeah, I would want to perform just like him.
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Since you reach out to the younger generation, do you think that the present generation is losing out on the traditional touch of the Indian Classical Music and is exacerbating its condition by diversifying it too much?
No no, not at all. Well fusion is something that I personally don’t agree to, to be very honest because I don’t believe in any genre losing its originality. And as far as Indian Classical Music is concerned, I know a lot of youngsters who are really connecting with this form and maintaining its essence, so classical music is on an up rise and is really receiving a great response from the present generation.
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