Sur,
Taal, Laih.
All
music stems from the sounds of Nature. The closer one can sing, play and feel
with these sounds, the closer one is to harmony, to perfection. Sur.
Everything
in Nature works in its own rhythm; the moon, the stars, the sun, the heart, the
breath, the seasons, the tides, and birth and life. Taal.
Nature
is interspersed with winds and storms and currents and flows and heat and cold
and turmoil and tranquillity. They lend mood to its affairs. Laih.
Four
hour spent in the company or two teachers of music, fourteen students being
tested on what they had learned in high school music and a venerable son of the
hills who supervises the exam. An ordinary mortal is no less than blessed to
have been there today.
Satish
talks gently to the children; words of melody, of music…
“‘Sa’
is our home; wherever we may roam around in our singing, as evening falls we
must return to ‘Sa’.”
“If
you want to sing the notes fast and correct, you must practise first at slower
pace.”
They
pass on the treasure, Satish and Yogesh. They have been at great pain and unflagging
commitment to learn and imbibe, and the music is now part of their being, flowing
in their very ‘zehn’.
“Music
teaches clarity of speech and thought,” Satish says of the young students.
The
value of the learning lies in the teaching of it, the passing on of it, the
performing of it. It is not for miserly hoarding or stingy distribution.
Vibrations
existing in Nature are divided into 22 Shrutis, and 7 Swars are notes that can express
these vibrations at different pitches. This is just a little glimpse of the
surface of a vast and deep ocean, gleaned by a lucky bystander from four hours
in the company. There is much more to it.
The
musician strives to perfect the note, and blessed are they who can accomplish
it a few times in their lives. Only Divinity Sings in true Swars; Nanak, Radha,
Meera, Chaitanya…
And
only songs of Love can have the depth of True Vibrations. They are songs that
are Pure. Love is Worship. Worship is love.
It
is no longer a mundane duty of exam invigilation. One is transported to a world
where talent is nurtured; abilities are harnessed; bound into frames of Sur and
Taal and respect and harmony; opening the doors to a freedom to soar as few are
blessed to soar.
“When
you sing of the shade of the peepal, you must feel its coolness, beta.”
It
is no accident that the way to God was found following the path of music, and
the Word-From-On-High came in the form of song. ‘Dhur ki baani ayi, Tin sagli
chint mitayi…’
One
by one, the young people come and exhibit their talent. They all start with a
common refrain that sings of treading carefully in this world where nothing can
be held on to or leaned upon except the Name of God. One girl sings of The
Rangreza… of Maula… and it is no longer an exam hall; it is a place of worship.
Ridhima
casts a spell and the time frame of the exam is forgotten; everyone wants more.
Satish himself takes up the harmonium and regales with Raag Bageshwari. One can
feel a sighing breath of Divinity in the song of the young Lord at Brindavan
playing colours with His Beloved. One is in The Presence.
The
voices of the students are flowers in bloom, gently, sometimes hesitantly,
swaying to the breeze on a softly sunny hillside. The accompanying harmonium is
the song of bees and birds and insects and the wind in the trees. The tabla
speaks of a human who has fallen in step with the magic.
Sometimes
Yogesh sings a few notes and one can feel love for the music arising from deep
within; he sings from his heart.
One
has been away from prayer and oneness for some time. This is how the Shepherd
coaxes and nudges stray ones back into the fold; the Cowherd plays his flute to
the cattle.
There
was a peppy song being played over and over again by every DJ in this season’s
weddings, ‘Aa lai farh lai gaddi di chaabbi, Jatt ho gaya sharaabbi…’ (Here,
take the keys to the car; the Jatt is now intoxicated…). It all becomes clear
now. One sees through it. Yes, it is time to Drink Up and hand over the car
keys to Him Who drives as the Nectar intoxicates and the spirit dances.
I
wish you all music.
“Zeina Glo brings you
the radiant glow of inner peace, good health and attendant beauty.
Zeina Glo helps you strip off layers
of inhibitions, hesitation, and cynicism, allowing your thoughts and emotions
to flow freely.
Zeina Glo helps to douse the flames
of insecurity and guilt, to open the windows of mind and body to the cool fresh
breeze of love.
Zeina Glo encourages you to
spread inner peace, good health, radiance, exuberance, warmth,
joy and the glow from your inner being.
Zeina Glo brings the beauty of your
own thoughts back to you!!”
For, questions,
criticism or advice, please post comments here, or write to zeinaglo@rediffmail.com or zeinaglow@gmail.com
