It’s raining ragas at monsoon music fest

The Barkha Ritu Concert has come as a treat to fans of classical Music. The Guide tells you about this unique concert that celebrates the rains

The Barkha Ritu Concert has come as a treat to fans of classical Music. The Guide tells you about this unique concert that celebrates the rains

Legend has it that musician Tansen could make thunderclouds pour rain by singing the monsoon raga Megh Malhar. Though you may or may not witness that happening at this concert, you can catch musicians like Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, a well-known vocalist from Kashi, and Santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma sing songs dedicated to the monsoons.

What have you planned for tonight's concert?
Sharma: As the concert is based on the monsoon, I will start with monsoon ragas and follow it with melodious pieces that suit the season. Instead of deciding in advance, I choose on the morning of the concert itself.
Mishra: I do not usually plan my musical schedule until I reach the venue. But for this programme, I have numbers like Vyaraj Yaman Kalyan, Sham More Nahi Aye (Thumri), Tore Naina Katar Sajni (Dadra) and Sur Dasi Manhar (Kajri) in mind.

Tell us about your experience performing in the city.
Sharma: My association with the city goes back 30 to 40 years. The audience in the city is knowledgeable and I find it a highly rewarding experience to perform here.
Mishra: The listeners are disciplined and listen with complete silence, which is very important for musicians. Music runs in the blood of the people here.

What role does a thematic concert play in drawing audiences to classical concerts?
Sharma: The concept of a raga for different seasons is unique to Indian classical music. People love such shows in all the cities and the most popular seasonal ragas are those of the monsoon, which are literally made for this season. It's also worthwhile to consider how close this theory is to nature and shows the co-relation between man and nature. The message is that one must not forget nature or disconnect from it.

What is the significance of the monsoon in classical music?
Mishra: Monsoons are a vital part of classical music and have given birth to many ragas like Malhar which is a Barkha Ritu raag. Kajri and Jhoola are also sung during the monsoon. Earlier, it used to rain once a singer started singing Megh Malhar but that no longer happens.u00a0

At: Yeshwantrao Chavan Auditorium, Kothrud .u00a0
On: July 17, from 6.30 pm onwards
Cost: Tickets available for Rs 750, Rs 500, Rs 400, Rs 300 and Rs 200

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