VIRASAT 2013
SPIC
MACAY is an NGO that works for the conservation and promotion of our cultural
heritage, especially amongst the younger generation. It primarily focuses on
the classical arts and its values.
SPIC
MACAY’s Pune Chapter is organizing the ‘Virasat Series’, a series of
performances and workshops that aim to inspire students by bringing to them the
richness and depth of our cultural inheritance. The nature of the performances
and workshops is such as to encourage close interactions between students and
artists.
Virasat
will comprise mainly of classical music and dance events along with folk
performances, craft workshops, theatre, film classics, yoga, meditation,
heritage walks, talks by renowned personalities and holistic food workshops. It
will go on till the month of December.
Schedule
for SPICMACAY Pune VIrasat 2013
Date
|
Time
|
Artist
|
Venue
|
21st Aug
|
6:00 – 8:00 pm
|
ShriPurbayanChatterjee
|
COEP
|
22nd Aug
|
6:00 – 8:00 pm
|
ShriPurbayanChatterjee
|
IISER
|
5th September
|
6:00 – 7:30 pm
|
Opera Classics
|
FTII
|
6th September
|
6:00 – 7:30 pm
|
Opera Classics
|
IISER
|
7th September
|
10:00 – 11:30 am
|
Opera Classics
|
NCRA
|
The
opening concert will have sitarist, ShriPurbayanChatterjee performing along
with ShriRamdasPalsule on the Tabla.
Eventmay interviewed
Shri.Purbayan Chatterjee on this occasion. Here are a few excerpts:
You have learnt music from your father,
ShriParthpratimChatterjee from a very young age. How doesamusic background
influence learning at that age?
Even before I started taking
formal lessons, I had been listening to music in the household. The ‘sanskara’ or values were imbibed on a
subconscious level. At that age I cannot say I loved music. But I developed a
connection with it, before I started learning.
By the time you were 12, you had decided that you would
be a sitarist. How did that happen at such a young age?
My music has been influenced
by Pt. Nikhil Bannerjee and Ustaad Amir Khan Sahab. At that time, my father was
performing in Indonesia and I remember my feeling. I had realized that I will
not be happy doing anything but this. That is all I knew, but it had a defining
strength to it.
You are also a vocalist. As an expression of your art,
what do you connect with on a greater level?
Singing is one of the most
satisfactory experiences for an artist. Of course, the voice is God’s gift, but
at the heart of its heart, every art has vocals. I have sung for a few albums
already. I have recently worked on an album with the likes of Shaan and
Kaushiki Chakravarty in which I have lent my voice.
You have managed to bring your ideas into mainstream
music. What are your thoughts about it?
I think today’s music is
about packaging the same crux in a way that appeals to youngsters. I am part of
India’s first classical music band called ‘Shastriya syndicate’.Its not about
meddling with the gist of it, but about molding it into a more appropriate
format. Raagas that can span for more than an hour, can also be presented in a
format restricted to a few minutes. Back in the era of LP records, artists used
to record for smaller durations. In a way, it is going back to that format.
You have travelled widely and collaborated with a number
of artists. What is your take on fusing the modern and the traditional?
I have collaborated with
international artists as well as some of the top artists from our country. Artists like Ustad ZakirHussain and Pt. Ravi
Shankar had identified the importance of collaborations and the growth it
brings to music. It is an enriching experience. Only with our eyes and ears
open, can we grow. One must not shy away from it, but it is important to keep
our roots where they are. I make it a point to perform at many more classical
concerts than fusion.
Modern lifestyle demands
modern expression. Classical music captures the essence of the human spirit and
emotions are essentially the same, but there are facets to modern life that are
better expressed by modern music and thus it is an important part of music.
What do you think about the guru shishyapaddhati in
today’s times?
The guru-shishya
relationship is the essence of our art. Gurukul systems exist today, but
traditional values are to be molded and adopted as necessary. Today’s guru is
progressive and realistic; one that respects the demands of a modern lifestyle.
How has your experience been with Spic Macay and with
performing for youngsters?
I have been performing for
SPIC MACAY for the last fifteen years. It is based on a generous and noble
cause and has come a long way. Today, it is as much about youngsters performing
as it is about performing for youngsters. Organizers and promoters in general
must move from one generation to the next.
-Meghana Gaopande
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Renowned sitarist, Pt. Purbayan Chatterjee, performed at the inaugural concert of ‘Virasat’ ,an initiative by the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC-MACAY) at the College of Engineering, Pune. He was accompanied by tabla maestro Pt. Ramdas Palsule.
Panditji’s soulful alaps and the brilliant effect of the lower octaves reminded the audience of the great Pt. Nikhil Bannerjee. The exuberant jod-jhala was followed by a gat in roopak taal and drut bandish in taal teentaal. His laikari and tantakari reached out to the audience.
After the wonderful rendering of raga Surdasi Malhar, he played a short dadra in raga Pilu in which he also displayed his talent as a vocalist. Pt. Ramdas Palsule enthralled the audience with his tabla. The concert ended with an encore, and an audience looking forward to more.
-Meghana Gaopande
-Photo courtesy:Sana Sohoni
-Meghana Gaopande
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Renowned sitarist, Pt. Purbayan Chatterjee, performed at the inaugural concert of ‘Virasat’ ,an initiative by the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC-MACAY) at the College of Engineering, Pune. He was accompanied by tabla maestro Pt. Ramdas Palsule.
Panditji’s soulful alaps and the brilliant effect of the lower octaves reminded the audience of the great Pt. Nikhil Bannerjee. The exuberant jod-jhala was followed by a gat in roopak taal and drut bandish in taal teentaal. His laikari and tantakari reached out to the audience.
After the wonderful rendering of raga Surdasi Malhar, he played a short dadra in raga Pilu in which he also displayed his talent as a vocalist. Pt. Ramdas Palsule enthralled the audience with his tabla. The concert ended with an encore, and an audience looking forward to more.
-Meghana Gaopande
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