Raag and state of minds

An artiste commits to a state of mind and some people say moods but i defer from the word 'mood'. They are not moods but a deeper level of conscious commitments. When you listen to Nikhil ji, say Malkauns or Rageshri, the commitments of the sate of minds are very different. With Malkauns it can be an serious intellectual (questioning types) commitment, with Ragesri itmay be very "Human" (bonding, love, relationships) kinds of commitment. With Marwa or BilasKhani Todi, it can be enjoying the historical/cultural flavor. With Shree or Bhimpalas you may have very devotional commitment.

Rag demands this commitment to showcase its beauty, just like a bird demands the honest attention and secured feeling of the human to make it come near him.

Training oneself in aspects of loving, devotion, intellectual questioning, enjoying historical flavor, deep human actions are essential to express them through musical forms. An artiste just tries to do this with his medium.

Its amazing how Nikhil ji teaches me without saying a word. :-) Kinda cool guru!

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