I
cannot remember a particular day that I was initiated into
the world of music. It was a part of me from as early as I
can remember. Indeed, I can not think of a moment when music
has been separated from my life. My father, the legendary
Sarod maestro, Ustad Haafiz Ali Khan Saheb
of Gwalior lived for Music. Today, a wise man does not allow
his son to become a classical musician, because of the uncertainty
and insecurity of a livelihood. That is why in the past, only
sufi saints and faqirs could dedicate their lives to music
or to God. For my father, though, there was no question of
a life outside music. Life itself was a Music. And Music was
Life. And so I came to inherit from him the legacy of five
generations of musicians as naturally as a bird taking to
the air.
What is music? There may be any number of
scientific explanations about pitch and vibrations but it
is difficult to explain how 'sound' becomes 'music'. It has
more to do with human nature. Music is a unique and precious
gift of God to mankind. Music is a celebration of life. The
wonderful truth is any music, from anywhere in the world is
based on the same seven, beautiful musical notes;
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni
or
Do Re Me Fa So La Ti
These seven notes are the 'alphabet' of a universal 'language'.
Of the seven notes, the first and the fifth are fixed while
the remaining notes have sharps and flats, making a total
of 12 notes. Music has been in practice for at least 5000
years, yet we have not been able to discover a 13th note!
Musicians and listeners of music have been communicating with
each other across all barriers through this 'language' from
time immemorial. As we use flowers in worship, welcoming,
honouring, departure, and celebration no matter what our race,
origin, religion or language, we similarly arrange musical
notes into 'bouquets' or compositions which display all our
human feelings and emotions.
Musical vibrations can convey moods and emotions and have
the ability to mould and shape our consciousness. Different
types of music can have different effects on the mind-both
positive and negative. Our mind is like any living organism.
It must be nurtured and needs stimulation to develop and grow.
Music is one of the most important 'food' for the intellect.
Each musical note is connected to this most important part
of our minds.
Music has many faces. Conversation, recitation, chanting and
singing are all part of music. Music can be either vocal or
instrumental. Vocal music appeals to most of us because of
its poetical or lyrical content. Instrumental music on the
other hand, such as what I play on the Sarod, is pure sound.
It needs to experience and felt. Since there are no lyrics,
there is no language barrier between the performer and the
listener, and that is why instrumental music transcends all
barriers.
A wonderful and strange mystery of Indian classical music
is the fact that one can spend a lifetime trying to attain
knowledge and perfection and still feel that one has only
touched a mere drop of an ocean. Along the Journey of searching
and discovering, the learning never stops. Its understanding
changes with every year a musician lives. This is true Sadhana.
Some of the greatest sadhaks in Indian classical music were
Swami Haridas, Swami Tyagaraja, Swami Muttuswamy Dikshitar,
Swami Shyama Shastri, Purandara Dasa, Swati Tirunal, Baiju
Bawra and Miyan Tansen (from where my family gets its musical
lineage). They are responsible for the solid foundation of
the art in both north and south India.
Classical music has basically two traditions. Western classical
and Indian classical music. Indian classical music is a result
of a refinement of folk music and developed into its highly
sophisticated form over more than 5000 years. As the name
suggests, Classical music represents the concentrated essence
of Indian Music in its richest forms. India has two classical
traditions. The North Indian and South Indian.
There is an old saying Swara hi Eshwar hai. In every culture,
Music has its roots in spirituality. Music has always been
an internal part of worship of God. That is why hymns, carols,
bhajans, shabads, kirtans etc. are all forms of prayer. Through
music we can convey our innermost feelings. From childhood
it has been my aim to be able to sing through my instruments,
whether it is Dhrupad, Khayal, Thumri or folk. When I'm performing,
in search of perfection and excellence with eyes closed, I
feel connected to a cosmic power from where I receive the
messages which my audiences experience. When I am able to
get across to my audience; when I can get them involved, I
find that my listeners always give me the inspiration to create
that special atmosphere, the ambience where music, the musician
and the audience become One.
Music is essential for mind and body. Pure music like Sarod,
violin etc. listened to with concentration restores the subtle
mental imbalances that crop in todays modern lifestyle. People
today need more than ever to cope with tensions, distress,
depression and struggle to find peace and relaxation. Sound
pollution is also a daily hazard. Music helps to retune ones
system. That is why eminent doctors and psychologists are
prescribing certain type of music as a form of therapy and
treatment for stress disorders. Noisy music on the other hand
can be damaging to human mind and body. Music, like Sarod,
needs to be heard at moderate volume and with concentration
to avail of its positive effects.
A great deal of importance is given to tradition in Indian
classical music. In fact, tradition and spirituality are the
backbone of classical music. Whether in the form of the teaching
system or the structure of ragas and talas. Great musicians
or Gurus have been likened to pujaris or priests who perform
upasana. That is why we touch their feet. It is not an act
of subservience but an elevating and liberating action. It
is a unique custom that truly belongs only to our culture.
It is understandable to adopt or adapt to a modern way of
life and merely seek to achieve technical virtuosity but this
does not mean that we forget the most essential values of
our tradition and culture.
In western classical music, a composer scores a composition
which is read and sung or played by the vocalists or musicians.
In the Indian classical system, there is no written or scored
music. It would be extremely difficult to record and subsequently
interpret the subtle nuances on paper. We therefore follow
an 'oral' tradition. Music and musicality is passed on from
Guru to Shishya directly through the Guru-Shishya Parampara.
In this manner, music has been handed down from generation
to generation. For musicians, classical music thus becomes
a way of life.
Music is the greatest wealth that I inherited from my forefathers.
One that I am constantly sharing with my disciples.
My other inheritance was the house of my birth in Gwalior,
Madhya Pradesh which was the birth place of four generations
of my family. Today, with the aid of the Central and State
Governments, it houses 'Sarod Ghar', a museum of musical heritage;
a tribute to my Guru and to all our great musicians of the
past. Tt houses, apart from the instruments of my ancestors,
the instruments and artifacts of great musicians from all
over the country. Should you find yourself in the vicinity
of Agra, you are most welcome to visit this humble house of
music in the neighboring town of Gwalior.
In this celebration of India’s 60 years of Independence,
we have achieved economically or technologically. There is
a lot to celebrate and thus we all participated enthusiastically
in the recent Independence Day celebrations. However, it is
also true that along with such developments Indians are beginning
to loose there inherent tenderness. This tenderness in the
earlier years was encouraged through an emphasis on culture,
music, dance, art and education. In the absence of this emphasis,
I believe that our traditions, identities and values are gradually
eroding. Today the human being has become the symbol of arrogance,
hatred and destruction. Some time I wonder - what is the contribution
of education in this beautiful world? Education could not
convey the simple message of the world that all of us have
a common god. Education also could not create kindness, compassion,
humility in a human being. Let us hope our younger generation
experience an overall education that encourages in them peace,
tranquility, success and togetherness in their life.
-Amjad Ali Khan
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