Music: A Celebration of Life

[Guest guest]

Music: A Celebration of Life

Source: Free Press Journal

By Aamjid Ali Khan, sarod maestro

What is music? There may be any number of scientific explanations

about pitch and vibrations but it is difficult to explain

how "sound" becomes "music". It has more to do with human nature.

Music is unique and precious gift of God to mankind. Music is a

celebration of life. The wonderful truth is any music, from anywhere

in the world, is based on the same seven, beautiful musical notes;

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni or Do Re Me Fa So La Ti.

 

These seven notes are the alphabet of a universal language. Of the

seven notes have sharps and flats, making a total of 12 notes. Music

has been in practice for at least 5000 years. Yet we have not been

able to discover a 13th note!

 

Musicians and listeners of music have been communicating with each

other across all barriers through this language from time

immemorial. As we use flowers in worship, welcoming, honouring,

departure, and celebration no matter what our race, origin, religion

or language, we similarly arrange musical notes into "bouquets" or

compositions which display all our human feelings and emotions.

 

Musical vibrations can convey moods and emotions and have the

ability to mould and shape our consciousness.

 

Different types of music can have different effects on the mind-

both positive and negative. Our mind is like any living organism. It

must be nurtured and needs stimulation to develop and grow. Music is

one of the most important catalysts for the intellect. Each musical

note is connected to this most important part of our minds.

Music has many faces. Conversation, recitation, chanting and singing

are all part of music. Music can we either vocal or instrumental.

Vocal music appeals to most of us because of its poetical or lyrical

content. Instrumental music on the other hand, such as what is

played on the Sarod, is pure sound. It needs to be experienced and

felt. Since there are no lyrics, there is no language barrier

between the performer and the listener. That is why instrumental

music transcends all barriers.

 

A wonderful and strange mystery of Indian classical music is the

fact that one can spend a lifetime trying to attain knowledge and

perfection and still feel that one has only touched a mere drop of

an ocean. Along the journey of searching and discovering, the

learning never stops. Its understanding changes with every year a

musician lives. This is true Sadhana (devotion). Some of the

greatest sadhaks (devotees) of Indian classical music were Swami

Haridas, Swami Tyagaraja, Swami Muttuswamy Dikshitar, Swami Shyama

Shastri, Purandara Dasa, Swati Tirunal, Baiju Bawra and Miyan

Tansen. They are responsible for the solid foundation of the art in

both the northern and southern parts of our country.