Amaan and Ayaan today do strike a correct balance between the two worlds of traditionalism and contemporary times but it ’ s not something easy to do in today ’ s times . I see a great journey of Indian classical music being carried forward by brilliant musicians of the younger generation . These people are getting a readymade remedy to work on the research and time spent by me and all my contemporaries in all these years . Thanks to the net , I-pods , DVDs and CDs , we are at every home in the world . I am very happy that there are young dedicated musicians , they are also committed performers . I wish them all a very bright and successful future and I am sure that our classical music and legacy will flourish not only in India but all over the world . I am also very satisfied with the response of whole world to our country and its tradition .”
If there is one thing you wish could change in the current scheme of things in the music space , what would it be and why ?
For me , Music is not a profession but a passion . A way of life ! Education unfortunately could not create compassion and kindness in human beings . Today terrorism and destructive activities are at its peak . As a human being , I feel proud to see the achievements of a mankind . However , I feel that an educational degree is important for any artist today as a backup plan . Creative fields don ’ t have formulas or methods . I wish to have music shape the consciousness in a way that contributes to oneness in Children ; it must be more practical and less theoretic ! Music is the greatest wealth that I inherited from my forefathers ; one that I am constantly sharing with my disciples . Therefore , there isn ’ t an instant coffee culture that I can follow ! Only Practice can work and not any kind of digital correction !
Your ancestral heritage has been playing Sarod . Did you ever feel under pressure during your early years ?
Although we automatically assume that Indian music and its instruments to be ancient , the Sarod is one example of an instrument that evolved from other structurally similar Indian and Afghan lutes around the middle of the nineteenth century . The Sarod as we know of today , traces its genealogy and origin back to Rabab of yore . All music evolves because of certain factors which makes it sociological reality rather than simply an aesthetic function . So it was with the Rabab , the folk instrument of ancient Afghanistan , Persia and several other countries , each with a variation giving it an identify of its own . The Pathan Bangash family who were from Central Asia pioneered the task and contributed to the evolution of the present day Sarod . It was the quest of Ghulam Bandegi Khan Bangash for something more that resulted in the modification of the Rabab with certain additions-the new element of melody being the high point of change . And it was this concept of melody , which gave the instrument its name SAROD-being literally a derivation from " Sarod " - meaning melody in Persian . These innovations won Ghulam Bandegi
Bangash great acclaim which was further perfected by his son Ghulam Ali Khan Bangash . They were all our forefathers ! Having said all this , you eventually are what your music is . Your legacy should show on your work not on facts and history alone !! The Sarod has a steel fingerboard and a belly covered with goatskin . Over this are placed 19 metal strings out of which 11 are sympathetic ones . The plectrum is made of coconut shell called ‘ java ’. The strings are pressed with the edge of the nails and not the fingertips . This gives a very fine tone that suits the character of this instrument . The body is made of teakwood .
Having seen the transition in music through the years , how do you think technology plays an important role in the current scenario ?
There is no formula so to speak to prepare next generation of musicians . There are brilliant young musicians in the generation of Amaan and Ayaan . I am not at all worried about the next generation . By the grace of god they can face the world very brilliantly . Today we have cell phones , I-pods etc , but nobody could create a thirteenth note . These twelve musical notes are the base of every kind of music in the world . In fact , music has connected the whole world . We , the musicians of the world are like one big family . Today , especially after 9 / 11 , as a musician and as an artiste , I often think what is the contribution of education in this world ? We are still struggling on account of religion and power . We need kind and compassionate people in the world and I see classical music as a means to nurture such feelings . There is room for music beyond technical brilliance and firework mastery . There is a word of punctuation even in music . Appeal , Aesthetics , Poise are all musical terms for me . I am very happy to see the progress of the students who are realizing and feeling music as a way of life .
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