Kerala - Thrissur   

Where two strains of oriental music merged

In harmony: Suzuki Mai, T.M. Hoffman and Fr. Paul Poovathingal performing at a programme in Thrissur on Tuesday.

Thrissur: A programme organised by the Chetana Sangeeta Natya Academy here on Tuesday evening saw musicians from Japan sharing the stage with Carnatic performers.

It featured T.M. Hoffman, professor of Ethnomusicology at the Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo; Suzuki Mai, Koto player; Aruga Sakiko; and Fr. Paul Poovathingal, Carnatic musician. “The idea is to bring music of two great Asian cultures together,” said Mr. Hoffman.

Sounds of the koto (string instrument) mingled with those of the shakuhachi (Japanese flute) at the concert. The presentations included a short melody in Honkyoko style, associated with the Buddhist monks, and a Tegoto.

“Some have a wrong notion that Japanese music is limited to a pentatonic scale similar to Mohanam or Bhoop. Japanese music has many scales. It is yet to be appreciated in its entirety in India,” Mr. Hoffman said.

Hoffman, who has lived in Japan for 26 years and is married to a Japanese musician, plays many instruments, including the shakuhachi, koto, piano and the tabla. He has learnt Hindustani music from Ganesh Prasad Mishra of Lucknow.

Suzuki Mai, who plays koto and shamisen, is a recipient of the Ataka prize.

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