'A Raga is like a lifetime of tapashya' -- Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, one of the most influential artistes of Indian Classical Music of the 20th century, is returning to this year's Bengal Classical Music Festival for the third year running. One of the biggest ambassadors of the festival worldwide, the master of the santoor spoke to The Daily Star last year during the festival. Excerpts:
How can we reach God through the rendition or recital of classical music?
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma: Music isn't essentially a means for entertainment only; it is rather a means for taking a look inside. There are different ways of connecting with the self; music is one of such way. Ages ago, when there was no raga, it was the nad of Brahma that needed not be composed; one had to just experience it.
What is your source of inspiration in immersing in melodic bliss?
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma: When I play on the stage, there is peace. I forget the audience and connect with that aura. My philosophy about music is that I don't go on stage as an entertainer. And if the audience also connects on that level, they will experience the same. And I have seen around the world, the audience does, and it is then I believe my job is done. And this is my whole philosophy about music and even when I play music at home, I do it for peace.
Do you change your recital style according to the taste of the audience?
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma: Wherever I perform, I don't change my style. Only changes I follow are certain restrictions in the host countries. We have to finish in certain time. Not here, but in Philadelphia, London and Paris, they have so many rules, regulation and restrictions. I don't change the format of the music but make it simpler to reach out to the audience.
You created a distinctive Raga – Antardhwani -- that you performed at the 2012 Bengal Classical Music Festival. Which things come first prior to creating a raga -- mathematical or formulated rules, deep contemplation and meditation or your own musical philosophy?
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma: A Raga is like a lifetime of tapashya. If I am not able to master the existing raga, there is no question for me to create a new raga. But how did it happen? Around the world, many people were using my santoor pieces for meditation and relaxation. They wanted me to make one album which they can particularly use for meditation. I was playing only alap of a raga in a concert, when I started thinking about it -- and one day during my practice session at home, I was changing the jodi from one raga to other raga where I got these notes which I repeatedly played that gave me a certain kind of peace. I approached a record company “Music Play” at Delhi. I recorded only alap, jod and jhala but no composition. After finishing, the record company asked me what the raga was. I told them I didn't know. But when I played this, it took me inward. So, I decided to call it Antardhwani.
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