Indo-German fusion creates magic

Music lovers got to witness a rare combination of cultures when a jugalbandi between internationally acclaimed satvik veena maestro Salil Bhatt and German guitar player Matthias Muller was recently held in the national Capital.  The strings of satvik veena and guitar created ripples of music waves which spellbound the listeners. The musical programme was organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh in collaboration with Lok Kala Manch.

Hailing from a Jaipur-based family of musicians, Salil Bhatt represents the tenth generation of the famous Bhatt lineage where music has been flowing for more than five hundred years. Salil is the son of legendary slide player and India’s Grammy Award winner Padmashree Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. Matthias Muller is well known Guitar player of Germany and he is an admirer of Indian classical music. 

Salil and Matthias chose raga Basant Mukhari for the evening and began with the traditional Alaap, Jod and Jhala to unfold the mysteries of raga Basant Mukhri with maturity and perfect expansion. After this melodious presentation, the duo presented another raga Jog with jazz. Salil and Matthias were in tremendous form and enthralled the audience with their sheer virtuosity, deft handing of the raga, lightening speed tans and tihais. Raga Jog was followed by a crisp jugalbandi in rag Kirwani . The vocal and instrumental techniques, the traditional purity and modern guitar techniques were on display. 

The concert was concluded with raga Bhairavi. The duo displayed very interesting sawaal-jawaab sessions with the support of young and talented tablist Pranshu Chaturlal, which thrilled the audience. Dr Shobha Koser, Registrar and Sajal Koser, Secretary of the Kendra also honoured the artists.