How different it is to
express emotion via an
instrument like Sarangi? How was it performing for the 24
Hours millennium concert in Paris?
Please share your experience.
Sarangi used to be known as
SAURANGI, an instrument with
hundreds of Colours, and considered
as the most expressive and emotional
Musical Instrument, Closest to
human Voice and the only Musical
Instrument kept right next to the
heart and played by the Cuticles
(The top part of Finger Nails). It was an amazing experience as I was
the only Sarangi artist and there were
many vocalists and my father was the
only solo Sarangi Artist so I played
around 9 concerts with all artists
including my great Father. It was quite
challenging for me but I was able to do
that with the blessings of my Guru.
How did your father’s playing
influence you in the world of
Sarangi performances?
I grew up listening to my father as the
most influential Sarangi Legend. I had
the privilege of accompanying him
on of his worldwide concert tours and
he was the only Sarangi Player who
had the maximum number of Sarangi
Students. He was not only a great
performer but also an amazing teacher.
What was one important tip
given by your father which
helped you as a performer?
He used to say Khushboo Bano Hawa
sab jagah le jeaygi( Become the
FRAGRANCE and its air will take u
all over the world) and it's important
to be a good human being before
you become a great Musician.
How different and challenging it
is to be a composer compared to
a performing artist? What were
the scenarios you faced when
you became a composer?
When a musician starts to make his
own music, he becomes a composer
of the special genre. To be able to
compose different genres of Music,
one needs have the vast knowledge
of Music by Listening and learning
with other Senior musicians.
I became a performer at a very young
age because of the knowledge given
to me by my guru and the experience
of performance he shared with me
but slowly I started composing again
with the help of my father, my Guru
and my big brother Sarvar Sabri who
is an excellent Tabla Player and a
Composer living in Birmingham UK.
Your greatest influences in music-
artists or musical personalities?
My father Ustad Sabri Khan sahb,
elder brother Ustad Sarvar Sabri
sahb, great Ustad Zakir Hussain
sahb, Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ameer
Khansahb, Pt. Bheemsen Joshi.
While communicating and
collaborating with western
musicians, what do you think are
the biggest challenges faced by
Indian classical musicians?
In conversation with
Kamal
Sabri
Indian Sarangi player
The most important thing is the
openness of a musician to respect
and accept other musical traditions
and their vast repertoire of music.
Mostly, Indian musicians are trained
to improvise and most of the Western
Classical musicians are not trained
to improvise so the biggest challenge
with collaborations is to improvise
in a way that it sounds like a great
meeting of souls coming together.
Can we bridge the much present
gap between Indian Classical
and Western Classical music?
Well, I think we have bridged quite a lot
and for more, we are still working hard.
Do you think a performing artist
should confine to the crowd’s
favourite raagas or get a bit
inquisitive and try out rare ragas?
I think both would be nice to
play for the crowds favourite
ragas as well as rare ragas.
Your valuable piece of advice
for young aspiring musicians
who wish to take up Sarangi
playing as a full-time career.
Find a good guru, respect his
teachings and work hard!
My Father and Guru used to
say Dikhya (to see) Seekhiya(To
learn) Parakhiya(to practice)
Kartabiya(Then the Miracle Happens)
Tell us about the stamp
recently launched giving
a tribute to your dad
I think its great way to show the
respect the contribution of my
Legendary father and to Indian
Classical Music by the Govt of India.
As he was also a musician who was
part of India's Independence.
The
Score Magazine
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