The language of music
RANEE KUMAR
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The veena-sitar jugalbandi was an enchanting treat.
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DOING THE DUET Jayanthi Kumaresh at the veena and Gaurav Mazumdar on the sitar. PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU
It was the concert of the season - perfect in every sense of the word. That the South Indian Cultural Association should begin its new year with such a stupendous recital augurs well for the reputed sabha. Call it a jugalbandi or a fusion, the veena versus sitar, mridangam versus tabla was able to churn up as much fervour among the viewers as a cricket match.
Jayanthi Kumaresh was a wizard at the veena while Gaurav Mazumdar conjured up magic on the meends of the sitar. The percussionists Praveen (mridangam) and Aniruddha Mukherjee (tabla) were forces to reckon with. Together, the foursome made for a bounteous fare of instrumental music at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan recently.
The ragas chosen were common to both strands of music — Carnatic and Hindustani classical like
Panthuvarali-Poorvadhanashree, Misra Shivaranjani and Sindhu Bhairavi.
Though the main course was the Poorvadhanashree and its allied raga in Carnatic parlance (Panthuvarali), the concluding Sindhu Bhairavi was simply arresting. As Gaurav meandered through the dadra (of six beats) followed by teen taal (Adi talam), Jayanthi gave an equally brilliant parallel that seemed to merge with the sitar notes. Absolute, uniform clarity in tara (higher octave) was the hallmark of the concert from the start to finish. At no point of time was there any scope for ambiguity of notes — they gushed like a stream in full flow. The effect was electrifying. It was difficult to judge whether the virtue of the raga made for the stupendous presentation or vice-versa.
Jayanthi's intricate improvisations found a formidable match in her co-musician Gaurav. In a word, the veena and sitar spoke to each other in the language of music, which was heavenly. Her exceptional speed and stylish display did not allow a single syllable to get submerged in its run to a descending order. Result: an artistic, cascading effect of swara kalpanas. The sitarist was par excellence in taking up the challenge thrown by her notes and answering them with deft magic through his fingers The taniavartanam was a racy serve and volley between the two percussionists. Praveen's brimming enthusiasm and beat had the audience sitting up in excitement. The event left audience wanting for more such elating concerts.
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