Tabla maestro who has mastered world music

From the Royal Albert Hall in London to the Sydney Opera House, Gujarati tabla maestro Maharshi Raval has mastered world music, and has performed with artists from more than 50 countries. Raval started learning the tabla in Ahmedabad when he was seven.

He was fortunate to become a disciple of the founder of Saptak Music School, Pandit Nandan Mehta, who was part of the Benarasi Gharana. One of his memorable moments was when he got a standing ovation for his performance on the Beatles’ ‘Within You, Without You’ at the State Theatre in Sydney.

About his musical journey, Raval says: “Before performing at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the great percussionist Trilok Gurtu and folk singer Praful Dave, I travelled to many countries as a part of folk music tours.

During these, I learnt about music and instruments from other countries. After college, I went to Australia to do a Master of Accounting course. As Australia was where people fromall over the world come, I started introducing our tabla traditions to them and learning their musical traditions. ”

With many world tours, Maharshi was fortunate to play at the Sydney Opera House within just six months of going to Australia. “I have performed at the Sydney Opera House many times, but 2020 was the most memorable as I played twice a day for seven days straight during the ‘Infusion, No Movement, No Sound’ festival. People fromacross the world including places such as Japan and Africa performed at the festival.

I have gone on many tours in the last 15 years, having been to almost all European countries and Japan, Mexico and Singapore, among others,” Maharshi said.

Maharshi, who also played a Gujarati garba at the Australian Parliament House, says his performances with artists from other countries is world music and not fusion.

“In fusion, artists from both countries performtheir country’s music. When I call it world music, it means one has to understand the other country’s music and mould his own traditional music into that country’s tradition. ”







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