You have also been a great role model for your sons and
helped take Sarod to the western world. Where do you see this
instrument stand in future?
I am grateful to God that he has given us Amaan and
Ayaan. The years I spent teaching them have been quite
an experience. In a family where music is a way of life, and
fundamental to it, training in its intricacies starts from the
moment a child is born. When I held Amaan for the first time,
I sang into his ear. On Ayaan’s arrival two years later, I did
the same. In essence, their training started from that moment,
soon after their birth. From the day
they came into the world, they
were both drawn to music.
Perhaps, a wise parent would
not allow two sons to play
the same instrument, but
because music is the only
wealth I inherited from
my forefathers, I wanted
to share it equally with
both of them. As a teacher,
it was the first time I was
able to hold a student on
my lap! As time progressed,
their training and the
musical knowledge that I
have tried to pass onto
them, continued
in our music
room. In
the
course of Amaan and Ayaan’s training, which is an ongoing
process for a classical musician, I never encouraged them to
copy my style. As they matured as musicians, I was relieved
to see that both the brothers were developing an approach
that was distinctive and rather different from what they
were taught. This I feel is only natural, for the music that
an individual creates is a reflection of his or her mind and
soul. Over the years they have received immense love and
blessings from people in India and all over the world. From
the beginning, Amaan has been a protective older brother to
Ayaan. And Ayaan has always given him the respect and love
due to an older brother. For lot of young people, they have
become role models. I feel I too have learnt a lot while teaching
them. Today, besides playing classical music, they have made
albums of experimental music too. I have really enjoyed their
collaboration with guitarist Derek Trucks, percussionist
Evelyn Glennie, and cellist Matthew Barley. Subhalakshmi
and I always hope to see them progress, be successful and
happy. By the grace of God, they have matured into multi-
faceted personalities. I am sure that by the blessings, love and
encouragement of music lovers, they will achieve their goals
and everything what they deserve and desire. With time, they
have become my closest companions in the music industry.
Most of our concert tours, especially the ones overseas, are
together, and as a result we have been able to spend immense
quality time, both as father-son and teacher-disciple. All
concerts have been memorable, from numerous ones at the
Carnegie Hall in New York, the Royal Festival Hall in London,
the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, the John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., the
Orpheum Theater in Vancouver, among many others.
Tell us about your current and future projects?
There is a US Tour lined up that includes my performances
at Carnegie Hall in New York and Chicago Symphony Hall in
Chicago. I also perform at the Beloved Festival in Oregon and
at the Oudh Festival in Israel. I also look forward to my next
release called Peace Worshippers on Naxos and my residency
at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
What would be your message to aspiring and young musicians?
Musicians and listeners of music have been communicating
with each other across all barriers through this 'language'
The
Score Magazine
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