The Christchurch Art Gallery was recently buzzing with Sounds of India, a musical presentation by Basant Madhur Ensemble ft. Monk Party of Christchurch. The April 15, 2023, event took music aficionados on a musical journey, giving them a taste of the rich flavours of Indian sounds.
Basant Madhur Ensemble is an Auckland-based group helmed by Basant Madhur, renowned tabla player and a respected name in New Zealand’s Indian classical music circles. The other members of the group are Prof Shuk Dev Madhur on vocal and harmonium, Akhilesh Madhur on tabla and cajón, and Sargam Madhur on sitar. Christchurch-based Monk Party consists of father and son duo of Pragunya Myers-Daly on oud and Nelson Myers-Daly on flute.
The event was the brainchild of entrepreneur Rajesh Tyagi, hosted with an aim to create awareness about the different soundscapes of India and the richness of Indian music to the broader community of Christchurch.
It was a soulful journey that brought together the rich tapestry of India’s diverse and melodious musical genres. Speaking about the experience, Ruchika Malhotra, who attended the event, said, “Being a part of this incredible concert was an unforgettable experience. I was transported to the rich Indian landscapes through soulful melodies. It was such an immersive experience.”
Madhur, performing in Christchurch for the first time, expressed his gratitude by saying, “It is always an honour to perform in front of an appreciative audience. The Christchurch music lovers joined us in clapping throughout the show, and receiving a standing ovation at the end was a great moment for us. We are excited to perform again for Christchurch’s amazing audience. I also thank Tyagi ji for taking this initiative and putting together this wonderful show.”
Nelson, a well-known flautist and a regular face in Christchurch’s music scene, said, “It was a real treat for Christchurch to have such fantastic Indian classical musicians visit. It was inspiring and uplifting to join them on stage playing the flute. The audience was very receptive to the music which gave the evening a lovely energy.”
Pragunya, who mesmerised the audience with his performance on oud said, “Adding a fusion aspect to parts of the concert made it very diverse in sound. I play the oud, a fretless Middle Eastern instrument which added a vibrant and unique blend of cultural sound to the evening.”
The show began with Indian classical raag, followed by various interludes of fusion music. A beautiful South Indian classical rendition followed a Bengali folk instrumental piece by Monk Party.
The audience was then treated to a Sufi number by Prof Shuk Dev. A devotional piece followed, and a scintillating tabla ‘jugalbandi’ brought the event to a close.
The diverse programme successfully showcased the various flavours of Indian music, leaving the crowd enthralled. Tyagi, who hopes to make this an annual event on Christchurch’s musical calendar, said, “I sensed there was a need for Christchurch’s audience to broaden their appreciation of Indian music beyond Bollywood and Bhangra. It’s my pleasure to provide a platform that will showcase upcoming musical talent and contribute to the discovery of new talent.”
The success of Sounds of India has helped to create more awareness about Indian music and its different genres, inspiring people from broader communities to explore the rich cultural heritage of India.
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