When Delhi had a date with musical fusion

By Ravi Khandelwal

New Delhi, May 7 : Music lovers in the national capital had a great time recently when they had a rare opportunity to enjoy a blend of Sufi, Hindustani and Western music being presented from a common platform.

The musical evening left everyone enslaved for a moment, as noted Punjabi Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans touched heart of the audience during the fusion performance with the SKY, a Delhi-based fusion band comprising passionate instrumentalists.

The special programme offered a pleasant challenge to the musicians who fascinated the audience through the impromptu show.

The group accompanied by Hans Raj Hans created a rare Jugalbandi'.

Jugalbandi' was a bold attempt to enable the Hindustani classical and Sufi music reach a larger audience, but Indian traditional music is so rich and so vast that it requires little fusion.

A flutist, a guitarist and a drummer- all members of a Delhi-based SKY fusion band' were ready to jazz up with Tabla maestro Sovon Hazra and Punjabi Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans.

It was a first-of-its-kind experience for the group artists to entertain the audience through Jugalbandi of this kind, most importantly sharing a stage with Hans Raj Hans.

Sovon Hazra, founder of the Sky Musical Group, "Today is different. When I go to any school or college, they like our music. But, today the audience was different and I hope they enjoyed our group music."

Punjabi Sufi Singer Hans Raj Hans, on the occasion said: "In fusion a lot of thought and preparation are needed to make it beautiful. But, if it is performed without these, it's a big confusion'."

At first, Sky group gave a solo performance and a melody was created through various Ragas derived from the rich heritage of Indian classical music, blending with the western harmony.

The amalgamation of the Ragas, such as Rag Bairagi' and Hemavati', and the western music illustrated SKY's musical genius.

Sovon Hazra, of the Sky musical group, said: "Indian music divides the octave into 12 semitones of which the seven basic notes are Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa. So, music has no language."

Sufi Kalams against the backdrop of classical and western music looked a unique experiment by Hans Raj Hans.

Hans Raj Hans, said: "This attempt will help Punjabi to get a promotion, because from marketing point of view, the Western music holds a broader market. This way the fusion is helpful for Punjabi music. By the grace of God, Punjabi music is already popular world over."

But the evening looked incomplete without Hans Raj Hans' solo performance, he obliged his fans and set the mood with a Qawwalli and devotional songs.

ANI