Where the instruments converse

On the surface level of things, the idea of bringing the Saraswati veena and the Western classical piano together on one stage can seem like just another experiment in an attempt to create music that is generally boxed into that much-abused genre, ‘Indo-western fusion’. Five years ago, when Jayanthi Kumaresh, one of India’s foremost veena exponents was in the UK on a touring concert, this idea of pairing her stringed instrument with the piano played by Anil Srinivasan – another established musician who is known for playing Carnatic classical music on the piano–was suggested by the organisers.“I was in the UK and Anil too happened to be there at the same time. So when the organisers suggested this collaboration idea, I agreed to do it, but I had my apprehensions. I wondered about what we would play,” Jayanthi recalls. Well, what do you know, a quick meet and jam at the green room would surprise both the musicians. “The instruments just started talking,” she says. “The Saraswati veena and the piano is not a combination that I would have thought of before, but as instruments that represent two classical music traditions, the resonances sort of click,” says Anil. Since that concert in 2014, the collaboration between Jayanthi and Anil has taken a life of its own, with the duo teaming up often for their ‘Stringmasters’ concert series. This weekend, the pair will be coming together for a concert titled The Stringmasters- Tracing the Evolution of Form in Bengaluru.
Talking of musical collaborations, there are few that endure, evolve and succeed. This one would count among the rare ones that have worked. Talk to the musicians themselves, and you sense the mutual respect and camaraderie that has ensured its success. “Being versatile and a virtuoso is one thing, but in music, the ability to listen is a greater quality to have for a musician and Anil has that. He listens to you and responds and reacts accordingly,” says Jayanthi of what makes performing with Anil easy. For the pianist, the opportunity to perform with Jayanthi itself is the prize. “The fact that I am sharing the stage with someone who is extremely generous makes it special. As a musician, it’s a great space to be in where you are challenged and nurtured by your collaborator, you know she has got your back,” he says. Of the rather technical aspect of how they get the veena and piano to play Carnatic classical notes without creating a dissonance and the musicians attribute it to their knowledge of the other music. So while Anil is well versant in Carnatic music and the veena, Jayanthi understands Western classical music quite well. “I start with the preludes, and then let her lead, but what makes our concert series unique is that instead of merely filling the gaps, I try to lend harmonic layering to Carnatic music. So when she is playing the aalaap, I am playing along with her, which considering the fact that Carnatic music is improvisational unlike western music, is difficult,” Anil explains before calling the entire give and take as “an examination where Jayanthi akka sets the paper and I am giving the exam. It is to my credit that I have managed to pass till now, with A or A (minus) grades!”
Catch The Stringmasters concert, being presented by Aalaap, this evening 6.30 pm at Jagriti Theatre: Whitefield