Learning music is a shared exchange, not a one-way process: Abraham Mazumder

As you step into Abraham Mazumder’s home, the first thing that greets you is not silence, but sound – the distant strains of violins, the low resonance of a cello, and the occasional ripple of piano notes drifting down from a rooftop room where he teaches a new generation. Upstairs, where our conversation unfolded, a grand piano anchored the room, beside a music stand holding notations of a Tagore song, a reminder of how seamlessly his journey moves between Western classical rigour and Bengali musical imagination. As Calcutta Times marks its 25th anniversary, this conversation with the former member of Moheener Ghoraguli turns to a quieter, enduring strand of the city’s musical life – one shaped by discipline and constant evolution.

How has Western classical music evolved in Kolkata, and how is it viewed today?
Understanding Western classical takes time. Instruments like the violin and cello demand commitment & discipline. Our goal is to make students enjoy the music. Many drift away but often return and pass it on to next generations, despite not being as popular as film music.

You were a music teacher at prominent Kolkata schools for many years…
Yes, I taught at Calcutta Boys’ School (CBS) for seven years and La Martiniere for 25 years. Many students learnt music – not all became professionals, but it became integral to their lives. Former students still say music taught them discipline: listening carefully, following instructions, and taking things seriously – skills that helped in their careers. Though discipline has evolved and teachers are questioned more today, our effort remains to instil it, because without it, Western classical music cannot be learnt.

What core values, besides discipline, are key to learning Western classical music?

A teacher cannot always predict what a student inherently possesses, and learning becomes a shared exchange of ideas. I believe, I am still learning from my students – not always about music, but about things I hadn’t encountered before. Over time, we understand who has a sense of what. Students can improve remarkably with regular practice, sometimes showing significant progress within a few months.

Who were your greatest musical influences and teachers?

In the mid-1970s, pianist Dr Adi Gazdar was exceptional; we performed Schubert and Schumann and gave All India Radio concerts. Father Theodore Mathieson guided my early training, under whom I secured first position in Asia for ATCL and LTCL exams around 1980. Though he disliked exams, they became necessary at CBS. Visiting German professors at school too shaped our approach to composers like Bach. With no social media, our exposure to music was organic. Unlike Indian classical musicians, we learnt and taught in our own way, finding joy in the learning process.

On Moheener Ghoraguli completing 50 years…
Music has always been a path of discovery for Mazumder. “Starting my teaching career at CBS gave me a sense of independence I hadn’t known before,” he recalls. “It was around that time that I met Gautam Chattopadhyay. After hearing me play, he suggested we collaborate, which led to the formation of Moheener Ghoraguli, opening a world far beyond Western classical music for me.” He smiles, “Each of his brothers had different musical philosophies. One of them, Biswanath da, taught me to connect with audiences and make music accessible, while another, Bula da, deepened my understanding of Indian classical traditions.” Later, Ranjon Ghoshal encouraged me to reinterpret Tagore’s songs through Western classical frameworks, and with my wife Madhushree – also trained in Western classical traditions – we performed several concerts, each shaping my musical journey in new ways.

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