Classically Yours

Classical music generally has reduced takers now a days. There are institutions and schools that are fighting hards to keep the Classical music alive inspite of the onslaught from Pop music. While no form of music is entirely decoupled from classical music however, music in the pure classical form has lost much of the patronage seen uptill early 20th century.


  An art form that has hundred's of years of experience cannot be wiped out easily, so is the case with classical music that still continues to survive in pockets and with some dedicated patrons. As with any dying art, it's revival and resurrection largely depends upon infusion of the young to carry the tradition forward and keep it alive. Indian classical music, whether Hindustani or Carnatic is no different, both are fighting their respective battles for the same cause. The survival of an art form also, to some extent, depends on how relevant the current generation finds it to be. A stubborn art form that refuses to change with changing times almost surely set's itself up for extinction.


Indian classical music has also survived quite well so far, due to more and more youngsters willing to take the mantle from aging practitioners of the art form and also because it is open to experimentation to make it as much palatable to the younger audiences as possible. My interest in Indian Classical music (Hindustani) was inspired by a song that was an fusion of pure classical music and western beats. I also would have to credit for this interest, a friend who had learnt Hindustani Classical on violin and helped me get introduced to newer ragas and it's nuances.  Nonetheless, I wanted to present a chance for all to listen to this beautiful composition set in Raag Durga (Late Evening Raga). The interesting part of this song is that it introduces us to the enchanting sound of Sarangi (stringed musical instrument) another instrument that is fast losing it's presence. After I heard this song I heard many compositions in the same Raaga and also started exploring many other Raagas. I can only hope you love it just as much as I did when I heard it the first time. Hope classical music continues to reinvent itself and survives and gives us many such tunes to enjoy.

Coke Studio Pakistan - Bulls eye

Songs produced by Coke Studio Pakistan have something about them, they tend to grow on me as and as I listen to them or repeat the tune in my mind. The song I present here is one such typical song. I was led to this song accidentally while exploring the CS Pak website and what happened after that was an amazing unforgettable experience. Though this is the thing about experience, once you have had it the first time, the second time is just not the same.

 When I heard it for the first time, I was initially put off by the nomadic singer's voice, however once he end's his bit the music breaks out into an interesting mixture of ektara (in hand of nomadic singer), lyre, guitar, chorus and western beats, it was sufficient to make me continue to listen to it. An unexpected artistic pause follows, suddenly the soothing tone of a lyre alone takes over and slowly the music builds again to a crescendo with a high pitched rendition by one of the singer. It was perfectly in tune and very classy, so I persisted. Quite a promising build up it is, then comes the second artistic pause and what ensued after that took me by surprise and got me hooked to this song. I think the real surprise of the song is after the second artistic pause. I won't say more about it and invite you to have a similar first time experience, yourself.  I would be glad to hear some of the experiences (good or bad). Silence and Music is woven into an beautiful fabric to fill up senses and to linger much after the song is over.

Apart from the nomadic singer [Saieen Zahoor], the other two main performers are brothers and have a band called Noori [Ali Noor/Ali Hamza].

Caveat: Like many other fields, music is a subjective art. It is but obvious that, this song would not appeal to all. Also, while music has no language I think for a change, this song looks more impressive when the lyrics are understood. Any body who wants to know the meaning of the lyrics could go the this link and understand it. All said, beauty of any song is in the ear and mind of the beholder

Canned Music

Coke Studio India, is in it's second season. The popularity of Coke Studio Pakistan made MTV think about starting the series in India. While Pakistan is itself rich in it's folk music but still can't match the variety that India has to offer. It needed a visionary like Rohail Hyatt to make use of the wide variations in folk music available in India, though I might want to add that it wouldn't have been an easy task.

Coke Studio India season 1 had Leslie Lewis as it's producer. Leslie Lewis gained popularity at a national level through albums with Asha Bhonsle (Rahul and I) and Hariharan (Colonial Cousin) and has been releasing albums by adding western beats to old film songs. His orientation is more pop and western style and I think his exposure to other forms of Indian music is limited. This showed up glaringly in the music produced by CS India in season 1. Lot of people found it way below the levels reached by CS Pakistan and some songs fell flat on their face. Yet to be fair, songs produced with Shankar Mahadevan last season were the face saver for CS India, though I think that the Music arrangement skills of Shankar himself helped there. I give, what was as per me, one the best songs of Season 1.

Coke Studio in Pakistan, has became synonymous with their culture, while it is well appreciated by a wide audience in India (primarily north), it is also hoped that Coke Studio India could stand-up and reach the levels that we believe CS Pakistan has reached. Understanding the short comings of Season 1looks like CS India decided to make changes in the production team. This time they the music is being produced by young Amit Trivedi. Though I haven't followed every episode of CS India or heard much about the music produced by Amit previously, yet I have had the couple of songs I had a chance to view, I must say, indicate a marked improvement over what we had last year. Here I give you two of the songs that I thought did justice to the folk music that it was trying to enhance. Folk music itself is quite complete and mesmerizing in itself, so it is the prerogative of the western or pop beats being introduced to ensure that it enhances the feel of the original music and not subdue or overshadow it. I present to you two songs that I think did just that and leave a wonderful feeling and a hope that it will get better than this

Beauty in Composition

Coke Studio Pakistan,  since it's inception, has been coming out with some stupendous music. It is in it's 5th Season and each season has come up with some amazing numbers that reflect the depth of  and the richness of Pakistani folk music. Though it is not much different than Indian music or folk music, yet one can't help but complement the producer of Coke Studio Pakistan. Rohail Hyatt the producer since the beginning of Season1, has this wonderful knack of picking up folk and pop singers who blend wonderfully and bring alive a song. Much like a beautiful painting on a canvas with master strokes using, nothing but, unique and raw voices with earthy feel, instrumental arrangements and a perfect concoction of Western and Eastern music.

Personally, Music has tremendous influence on me. It can give me goosebumps and move me to tears by sheer beauty of the composition or the lyrical depth. There are many compositions in Coke Studio Pakistan that have had that effect on me and when any one of them hits me I am lost in that song for day's together and need to listen to the song again and again and again before I could emerge.

Right now the song that I would like to introduce to all of you is a wonderful Sufi composition in Punjabi again composed with a blend of the same elements that is so typical of CS Pakistan. I hope you all enjoy it just as much as I am or will over the next few days:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j52tXsEbcQM&feature=BFa&list=PL06A9CA041A5FB7D0