Maestro enthralls with soul-stirring recital
SARATOGA, CA: A wondrous locale, made even more so by the haunting strains of Pandit Habib Khan’s sitar – a musical and magical soiree played out at the Villa Montalvo Arts Center the past weekend. This venue has staged the best of the best, including the maestro, Pandit Ravi Shankar, in his farewell concert, with Anoushka Shankar, in 2001, and was the perfect setting for Khan Saheb to weave his melodious magic.
The sophisticated ambience of the venue, the tastefully decorated stage and the harmony of the music virtuoso with his sitar, the tabla and the appreciative audience created an evening that filled up the senses. An accomplished artist, teacher and founder of Saraswati Temple and Gurukul, Khan Saheb mesmerized, enthralled and entertained a packed audience with his skillful and dexterous manipulations of the sitar strings.
Not only did he present a quality and enjoyable concert, he engaged and interacted with the audience with his wit and humor, establishing an easy rapport. He made many of the concepts of Indian classical music accessible to the aficionados and uninitiated alike by explaining the scales, the beat structure (the “taal” and the “bols”), and the various vocal techniques, and demonstrating the same in his melodies.
He impressed with his renditions of several different formats of classical and semi classical sitar playing, expounding on the rhythm and beats. Ably supported on the tabla by the talented Vishal Nagar, the duo demonstrated the intricacies of the concept and technique of teen taal, a 16 beat composition.
Khan Saheb continued with a romantic Thumri in Raag Pahadi where the sitar emoted the sensual elements of a lover pining for her mate. He then transitioned to a devotional embodiment of Thumri with “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram”.
Spirited Jugalbandi
The music savvy audience was treated to the finale which was a spirited jugalbandi showcasing sheer mastery of the two artists with their instruments. Each was allowed his momentous crescendo punctuated with masterful integration of the two instruments speaking the same language in different ways. Vishal Nagar, in his debut performance with Khan Saheb was superb as the accompanying tabla player. His youthful and robust playing was in perfect harmony and the two demonstrated great on-stage chemistry.
This joyful celebration of the arts and artists by an appreciative audience ended with an elegant champagne and wine reception in the adjoining solarium. In a conversation, Khan Saheb reiterated his love for Indian classical music and a desire to inculcate the same in his young students, who, he hopes to train to mastery. All his disciples embody the vision of the Gurukul and work tireless hours to improve their skills and hope to reach to the level of their Guru.
Khan Saheb has had numerous concerts as a traditional, as well as a fusion artist incorporating the jazz form; and has played alongside his students, or allowed them to be showcased. He commented that the name of his music conservatory just came to him and he received it and implemented it as an offering to Goddess Saraswati, who plays the veena or the sitar.
Pandit Habib Khan was honored with the Certificate of Appreciation by GOPIO (Global Organization for People of Indian Origin), presented by Ajay Jain Bhutoria during this concert. Another interesting testimony to the inspiring nature of Khan Saheb’s music was revealed by a first time participant to his concert, Marjan Fariba, a community member, educator and realtor, who was so moved by the purity of the music, that she made a large contribution to its cause, even though it was not a fundraising event.
In the fast paced world of today, where traditional art forms may be sidelined by the ever-popular, feet stomping, heart thumping entrants, Pandit Habib Khan has contributed much to their revival and enduring power in the younger generation in the Bay Area. Vinita Kumar, a long time disciple, and herself a talented performer, commented that “her family did not just learn music, they learned culture”.
A world without music is like a body without a soul, and we definitely need to reconnect with this basic need. Khan Saheb brought the soul and much, much more to this amazing evening. Special thanks to the behind the stage coordinators of the event and reception go to Madhu Ranganathan and Rebecca Jepsen.
Archana Asthana
India Post News Service
