A musical fusion
By J.P. Garg

MUSIC knows no language, for it appeals to human heart, soul and spirit. It transcends all barriers of ethnicity, race and territories, providing universal sway and provides eternal bliss and ecstasy. Our oriental philosophy traces the origin of the universe to the symphonic sound of the divine word — Om.

Music, whether Indian or western, is based on the same octave or musical scale. The vocal chords of persons belonging to divergent communities and cultures may generate different vibrations because of their hereditary characteristics or linguistic culture. Similarly musical instruments designed according to local environment may produce varying tones. Both these situations give rise to differences in quality and timbre of sound. But both these vocal and instrumental sounds fall within the same fundamental frequencies. Under the guidance and direction of ingenious minds, musical notes emanating from culturally diverse vocal chords and instruments can always be synthesised to create a cosmic melody.

Such a fusion of two seemingly asymmetrical musical genres was brought about recently in Chandigarh and Punjab by the joint efforts of two cultural and educational organisations of Punjab and England in a programme called Youth Music Exchange — 1999. Under the Youth Cultural Exchange Project, a Patiala-based voluntary organisation, Heritage, and the Education Services of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin County Councils, England, have been organising such programmes in the creative fields of dance, fine arts and drama for the past three years.

The British repertoire this year included ten vivacious young men and women, namely Hunnah Muddiman, Laura, Eleanor, Anna, Hunnah Harvey, Joanna, Jennifer, Ronan, Marc and Ben. They were led by Diana Walton and Sue Reynolds. Their Indian counterparts were Gauri, Amrit Prabha, Mamta, Akshiptika, Poonam, Kanwalroop, Gurinder, Siddarth, Sahil and Pallavi. Rajpal Singh, Director of Heritage, not only piloted the Indian group but also planned and executed the three-week-long programme.

Kanwar Iqbal, Smita Bahuguna and Pawan Kumar Verma, all music experts from Chandigarh, and the British top-notch duo of Simon and Patrick, jointly fired and blended the creative talents of the exuberant young artistes during a one-week workshop held at Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar. The outcome was a scintillating production, synthesizing the harmonious and soft-gliding English orchestration with the vibrant Indian vocal and instrumental music, without compromising with the fundamentals of either.

The mellifluous notes flowing from western instruments bassoon, clarinet, disc jockeys, saxophone, western flute, cello, guitar, djembi (African drum) and its repeaters, maracas, drum, dirbuka and synthesiser mingled harmoniously with the resounding pulsations of tabla, sitar, harmonium, Indian flute, santoor and guitar.

These "East meets West" concerts included Hymn to Lord Rama, Sun rise, Sun set, Dynamics, Golden Cobra, Classical Symphony and Creation, producing soul-stiring ambience. Sat Sri Akal, composed and animatedly sung by Ronan, stole the hearts of the audience. Mirza, Heer and Mahia by Gurinder, Poonam and Mamta and Ghazal by Kanwalroop won tremendous applause. However, the highlight of the whole production was Sixth River, a superb crowning of all that is best in Indian and British music.

During a whirlwind tour, the ensemble mesmerised audiences at Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, Government College for Women, Ludhiana, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Government Mahendra College, Yadvendra Public School and Maharani Club, Patiala, and Press Club, Chandigarh.

These captivating performances were interspersed with visits to Devi Talab, Jalandhar (seat of the historical Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan), Golden Temple, Jallianwallah Bagh and Pingalwara at Amritsar, Rock Garden and Department of Youth Welfare, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and a host of other places. The destitute inmates of Pingalwara moved the sensitive and compassionate Britishers so much that they visited the place again. They sought to relieve human pain and suffering by singing, and hugging the downtrodden children.

The cultural ambassadors also interacted with Punjabi heart-throb Hans Raj Hans at Jalandhar. At a function at Punjab Kala Bhavan, Chandigarh, these artistes had the opportunity to meet former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral and literary stalwarts like Mulk Raj Anand and Bhisham Sahni.

The group also witnessed at Jalandhar a celestial Bharatnatyam recital by well - known danseuse Suchitra Mitra. At the Panjab University Youth Festival at MCM DAV College, Chandigarh, a dance session, which included Kathak and folk dances of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, simply dazed the foreigners.

Besides having first-hand experience of the Indian way of life by staying in the homes of their hosts, the Britons also enjoyed Punjabi cuisine like makki di roti, sarson da saag, paranthas, chhole puri, curries, kheer, pakoras etc. The young belles bedecked themselves in Punjabi dresses, and jewellery.

This exchange programme even made many Indian participants realise the values of our rich cultural heritage through the appreciation of its vital aspects by their British partners. Sue Reynolds, who fascinated every onlooker with her charming countenance and exotic hair - style, was shocked when she noticed the pictures of English children on greeting cards. She also failed to reconcile to the idea that nursery and primary students in India were taught in English medium instead of their mother-tongue.

The enchanters from Shropshire have left indelible impressions on the hearts of their Punjabi hosts, who are eagerly looking forward to a reciprocal cultural visit during the middle of next year.