Everything including music is in the wind

Pandit Ronu Majumdar

The Vedas of India describe music as an inherent component of Nature and that Naad Brahm (which could be interpreted as the ‘Manifestation of the Absolute in the form of Sound’) is primordial and the quintessence of human existence.

Hinduism connoted that almost all beings including plants and animals responded to music and sought harmony in life; and through such harmony peace and tranquillity.

While music is accorded divinity and attributed to Saraswathi, the Goddess of Knowledge and Learning, the fact that it is universal has been proved by hundreds of musicians, composers, singers and instrumentalists all over the world.

Of all the forms of music and wind instruments, the Flute is stated to be one of the most challenging and ancient modes of music. Although its actual date of origin is obscured in history, it is essentially Indian.

Lord Krishna, an Avatar of Lord Vishnu, is believed to have popularised the instrument thousands of years ago.

Austria, Britain, Germany, the US and even Cuba have produced some of the greatest flutists over the past five centuries, with a few masters creating new dimensions to the instrument. The flutes they used conformed to different types, broadly categorised as the ‘Western Concert Flute.’

But all of them agreed that the melody created by the Indian Bamboo Flute is among the best and most soothing.

Over the years, Indian flute artistes have mastered several types of the instruments.

Among them is Pandit Ranendranath (Ronu) Majumdar, who will be performing at the Dorothy Winstone Centre of Auckland Girls Grammar School on March 6.

A versatile performer, his experiments with the instrument have led to several innovations in this branch of music. Critics say that his in-depth knowledge of various types of music practiced in different parts of the world has enabled improvisations, creating a unique blend of harmony and culture.

Since his formal introduction by his Grand Master Pandit Ravi Shankar at the Moscow Festival in 1988, Pandit Majumdar has become an international performer, appearing at several important events throughout the year.

I am fortunate that Panditji not only agreed to perform in Auckland but also accepted a suggestion that I should accompany him on the Tabla.

I am sure you would find the concert interesting and one of a kind.

Editor’s Note:

Basant Madhur runs the Sargam School of Indian Music in Auckland. He began learning the Tabla as a teenager under the guidance of his elder brother Deepak and later from the Punjab Gharana maestro Pandit Pawan Kumar Verma. He won a Gold Medal at the National Youth Festival held in India in 1998 and has performed for All India Radio and Door Darshan. Since migrating to New Zealand in 2002, Basant has performed at the Prana Festival of Music (Coromandel), the Auckland Festival of Music, the Titirangi Festival of Music and the Festival of Wines & Food (Waiheke Island).