A friend of music
|
Musicians and music lovers paid homage to the memory of Prakash Wadehra.
|
IN MEMORIAM Flautist Kailash Sharma at the memorial concert. PHOTOS: ANU PUSHKARNA
It was the kind of occasion that converts all the pain into a thanksgiving. The display of good feeling across ranks and disciplines relegated to negligible proportions the difference between the layperson and the connoisseur. And made one forget for a while that there are discords in the world of the arts caused by rivalry and pettiness. All was soothing melody and sweet memories when Prakash Wadehra, flautist, music critic, and above all, friend of music and musicians, was remembered this week on his first death anniversary. The vacuum remains, but the overflowing crowd at Triveni auditorium came not to mourn, but to celebrate the spirit of the man who spread joy through the medium of his music and his words.
Just for him
Vinod Kapur of VSK Industries, the live wire of the VSK Baithaks, a popular classical music forum in the Capital, spoke simply and movingly of his friendship with the man. Saying he began subscribing to The Hindu in Delhi just to read Wadehra's weekly music reviews, he pointed out the trend in the veteran's writings. The first portion, he said, was general, about music, experiences, about artistes and approaches, while the second portion of the review would contain the technical details and analysis. "At this point," said Kapur, "I would fold the paper and put it away," said Kapur, exemplifying Wadehra's appeal to the non-connoisseurs who loved music nevertheless. Later Kailash Sharma, a disciple of Prakash Saxena, Wadehra's direct disciple, gave a beautiful flute recital, playing raga Jaijaiwanti followed by a brisk tarana in Bhupali. Before commencing his recital, he movingly paid tribute to the loving guidance he had received from Wadehra and said, "If not for him, I would never have met my guru."
vocalist Shanti Sharma at the memorial concert. PHOTOS: ANU PUSHKARNA
The flute recital was followed by a vocal concert by Shanti Sharma, whose moving rendition in Abhogi was a treat. Both the soloists were accompanied by Prasun Chatterjee on the tabla.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
