PANNA

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...

Every time i listen to our classical music...i withdraw two steps to learn something new. One is blessed to listen and appreciate good classical music. An artiste presents his prayer and you are privileged to share a joy with his affection of sound. A mutual sharing of spirit. The performance starts with a silence(aroop,absolute absence,null,abyss of silence)...i feel the highest form of beauty...'the nothing'...i feel very happy....later the tanpura welcomes...(pa/ma..sa,sa,sa mix)....tells us there is a shruti....singular divine sound... Next comes the Sat/chit....concentrating on ones own self and spirit...getting conscious...getting aware...getting into life.....(preparing oneself to pray) then starts the 'alap'....the painting of the rag only by the 'swars' and 'shruti', the melody is the physical output and your inner spirit is responsible for beauty.....'alap' is an environment of great forms of sounds....goal is to picture the rag rightl...

Whole is made of parts Parts make the whole Whole affects parts Parts affects whole Whole is whole, part is part Nikhilji's music demonstrates how a new understanding of whole(Raag) is created. His work on parts(Swar Vistar) make a new effect of the whole(Raag) and they say Raagas are not created by man (Apourasheya). He affects the creation of 'nonman' Thats why it feels eternal. Well its damn abstract! Gestalts haven't dealt with "Whole is whole, part is part" concepts. This is very Indian! :-)

Looks like the next few posts will be most likely on Nikhilji's magic! I was listening to his "Shree". He has an absolutely beautiful insight of the rag. The rag is the framework which he can shake so that it affects us and we listen to his new magic with Rag. I see he has spent a lot of time listening and seeing the opportunity of beauty in the rag. He is the quickest artiste to establish this effect of the raga and its beauty to the listeners. After this goal, he is in mastery of what improvisations can do recreate the effect of the aspects of beauty of the rag. Rag is central in his approach. "Bandish" is there to hold the rag. Alankars are his very personal creations only to reenforce the beauty of the rag. Why Rag affects us most? A very nice thing to think about. Rag is the framework which needs to be explored to complete it. A very open opportunity to question and recreate beauty. Left to creator but yet complete. Form is bound in rag and the sense of sou...

I have a wonderful collection of Nikhilji,s sitar which I have been continuously hearing from several years. Every piece is a learning experience and i felt like sharing a secret of his approach which I think makes his artistry very special. All his attempt i think is to affect the Raj he has chosen to play. In an analogical sense, its like Rag is like a big circle, he plays small circles(alankars,gat,jod or other structures) which affect the bigger circle. This cause effect is in his conscious and beautiful spirit well tied. Rag or the bigger circle is consciously felt, understood and freely explored,aquatinted,nourished and protected. Small circles are challenges taken each time which keeps him interested and spirited. Its a bit abstract but I feel is the essence of his approach. It gives a great scope for smaller compositions through out and will benefit the artistes individual curiosity and feel and make him deeply interested and affected.