"If music be the food of love, play on"
Will Shakespeare certainly knew what he was talking about. Is there a more universally understood language than music? Be it classical, folk, pop, rock, tribal, fusion, jazz, instrumental - music can convey the entire gamut of emotions. All you need is a few well paced progressions, a couple of chords, some notes and you can basically communicate the crux of anything you want to say to anyone - unless you want to communicate the finer points of a complex nuclear theory - in that case try a pen and paper.
India has always had a tremendously wealthy heritage of music. The traditional "Guru - Sishya" system in the south and the "Gharaanas" in the north were always founts of genius, having bred innumerable luminaries that could leave a listner awestruck with their skill, talent and selfless dedication to their art. Sadly, as we march strongly towards our quest to be THE global superpower, we pay less attention to the classical arts and more to the latest on the Billboard charts. When was the last time you attended a classical concert? How many of us know what a "Pakhaawaj" is , or the difference between a "Santoor" and a "Saarangi"?
George Harrison named his son "Dhaani", a combination of two notes on the musical scale - Dhaa and Nee (or La and Ti on the western scale). I have a feeling that this English youngster, born and bred in the west might know more about Indian music than most Indian youngsters. Admittedly, it is in his genes, but when we see Dhaani jamming with Anoushka - he on the guitar and she on her sitar, we say "wow" and our interest is renewed. Apparently, we still seek the approval of the white man before we can appreciate and praise our own heritage.
I recently saw "The Last Waltz" on TV, and what struck me most about the band was their sheer honesty. They are up on a stage, sweating it out, playing as if their lives depended on it. No fancy synthesisers, pre-programmed tracks or any other electronic safety net. That is the beauty of a live concert. A studio recording might have more subtleties, layers, effects, surround sound etc., but can never capture the raw energy of a bunch of guys on a stage playing live. Anyone who saw the Rolling Stones concert in Bangalore a few years ago will agree - the songs were the same, but where will you get Jagger's manic energy and the light drizzle on "Sympathy for the Devil" from?
There is still so much more to do, so much more to see, so many concerts to attend that I feel slightly unqualified to write too much more. I have yet to attend a Sufi concert against the backdrop of the Taj Mahal. I have yet to hear MS sing at the Madurai Meenakshi temple (and may never get a chance to do so). I have seen Shakti (the original lineup) perform at the OAT in IIT Madras and that was a concert worth remembering. Unfortunately, I can only offer an opinion or ten, being as I am quite simply not qualified enough to comment on the quality of the music I have heard over the years. However, as a listner, I can boldly put my foot in my mouth and act as an armchair critic.
The importance of music, or for that matter any creative form of expression cannot be underplayed. While the world may mark progress in terms of science, maths and technology, without a creative balance it would make for a very Kafkaesqe existence. Innovation in science also needs creativity and the best way to encourage creative thought is to participate in and appreciate creative endeavours. If you cant sing, at least attend a recital. If you cant paint, at least visit your local art gallery. If nothing else, it will act as a soothing balm and reduce some of the stress we face in our everyday lives. We all have some creative spark within us - it is up to us to ensure that it manifests itself and expose it to the world to see. Otherwise, just imagine how sad and depressing life could be - a pallette filled with dull grey and not a dash of colour in sight. Remember your old Black & White TV? Now imagine the entire world in the same colour!
The universe is full of creative genius. Colours on birds and insects are so vivid, they cannot be truly captured even on the most hi definition LCD screen we may make. Paens have been written on the song of a nightingale, and it required genius to design the beauty of a scenic lake against the backdrop of the Swiss Alps. When creativity is all around us, why deny the same that lurks under the sardonic veneer of each and every one of us? Let the colours enter your life. Smile, be good and live well!!
