We don’t often get to see a Western musician playing Hindustani ragas. But for German musician Bee Seavers, the santoor is his way of expressing his thoughts and dreams.
“My ancestors were from Kashmir, perhaps the santoor is deep in my genes,” he says. “Though I tried different forms of Western music, I always felt that there was something lacking. Western music is uniform and follows a pattern whereas Indian music is natural, relaxing and spiritual. When I heard Indian music for the first time, it was as if I had finally found what I was seeking for. There are instruments similar to the santoor in many countries but I like the santoor the best,” he adds.
Bee started off his musical journey with jazz, and in India he actually first learnt Carnatic music before finding his groove in Hindustani. “I don’t follow the ragas strictly; I improvise on them,” he says.
The musician is a disciple of santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. “I still remain in touch with my guru, though it has been a long time since I could meet him in person. I don’t think I have yet reached that level of perfection to give a concert with him,” he adds.
He also makes it a point to learn new music every day. “I believe in learning by listening. Whenever I hear a musician playing something interesting, I always make it a point to pick his brains. Not everyone is helpful. The point is not to hesitate to ask,” he explains.
Inspired by the philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore’s Shantiniketan, Bee has started world music band Shantiniketan, and envisions bringing the best of music and musicians from around the world under one roof. “Each instrumentalist in the band will be given due importance and exposure during concerts,” he says.
Shantiniketan, which comprises Mukundraj Deo (tabla), Rupak Kulkani (flute), Kailash Patra (violin), B. Harikumar (mridangam), Farooque Khan (sarangi) and Raja Ganesh (ganjira), apart from Bee, premiered its brand of music here in the city last week and won rave reviews.
Bee’s concerts take him around the world. Incidentally, it was on one such trip that he he met his wife, a Sri Lankan. “We lived in Sri Lanka for six years until 2004 when the Tsunami struck the coast. We went back to Germany and had to start life all over again.” Now, the musician plans to take Shantiniketan to stages across the world.
Bee is also the author of the novel Shades of Fame , a story set in India, circa 1949. The novel is being turned into an English movie, for which he has written the script. Music, though, appears to be his first love.
“Music to me is a spiritual experience,” says Bee as he gets up to tune the strings of his santoor for his next concert.
“My music is Indian. It is only here that we can create music even with a single chord,” he says.
