In love with Indian music
S.SIVAKUMAR
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Passion Steve and Merrie are here to learn more about Indian tradition, music and culture.
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Photo: R. Shivaji Rao
THE `SEEKERS': Steve and Merrie Brantsegs.
Fell in love, with India — its music and its culture. The Brantsegs — Steve and Merrie — are here in Chennai and have become part of the Music Festival.
One found them soaking in concerts tears in their eyes. ``There is no need to understand the words. The music is simply moving," they say. Their home is Minnesota and music has no doubt existed in Minnesota from the time the place has been inhabited by people. Their traditional music — Dakota — has voice and drums and dance, all coming together.
What actually brought them to India? Happy Fate. It was a sudden decision to visit India. What was then the purpose of their visit and what has been achieved? They have come here as "seekers" to know more about the foundation on which our music has been based and built and acquire authentic knowledge of Carnatic music.
Main aim
Steve's main aim was to understand Indian tradition, which he firmly believes in. Steve is a self-taught guitarist, but he quickly recalls that his grandfather was a musician.
Like all others he too was doing all sorts of things at the age of 15, but then took a conscious decision to become a "purist," yes, a musician. And this provided the "rigid focus" which combined well with an open mind and heart as well.
Merrie, his wife, interrupts to say that Steve has performed on David Letterman's show many times with his band. David Letterman is the famous host of the late night show on CBS and this is one of the most watched shows in the U.S.
She also adds that Prince once wanted to do a "jam" session with Steve. Prince (he calls himself "The Artist," now) is one of the biggest names in the music business in the States and is known worldwide among pop/rock fans. Steve also pays tribute to John Lennon by organising an event in Minneapolis where musicians play their heart out for hours and this has been a sincere happening for the past 27 years.
No division in music
For Steve there is no division in music and by this he means its universality; he wants to be clear and honest about tradition; firmly believes that it is possible to integrate the modern with the traditional.
Steve, at present is learning veena from Nirmala Rajasekhar. For a person who has been "acquainted" with the instrument only for a year, Steve really knows a lot, says the teacher. Steve has this advantage — already a guitarist he has picked up with alacrity.Merrie can draw and paint. She had read about the Bay of Bengal, tigers of India and loved to see all of them. She would love to live in India. "I Love India," she chanted several times.
The Brantsegs will be carrying with them an electronic veena "sunodha vinodhini." Their candid comments: The audience behaviour is annoying for the couple, people walking around now then, disturbing the concentration of the performer. Why is there no proper testing of acoustics before a concert? Steve wants somebody to answer. Our lack of proper "acoustic sense" concerns them. Steve even volunteers to help on this issue.
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