Kathmandu :

With the advent of a wide selection of music genres to select from, and the preference of music lovers of this generation to other kinds of music, the the number of enthusiasts of classical music is limited to a few.

As on every first day of every Nepali month (August 17/Bhadra 1), some enthusiasts of classical music had gathered at Gurukul to listen to the jugalbandi of Gyanuradha Gorkhali on sitar and Acchyutram Bhandari on tabla.

It was a mixed audience — master classical musicians, those with a good understanding of classical music, and those who know nothing about classical music, but are curious about it.

The performance started with almost no introduction about the performers, and what they were going to perform. Even the performers themselves did not think it necessary to brief what ragas they were going to perform and features related to it. Though performance was pleasing, it is doubtful even by the end of the show if most of the young audience had the slightest idea of what they were listening to.

As Gorkhali and Bhandari began their music, those who understood what it was all about looked like they were enjoying the performance, while those knew nothing about it seemed to be taking in the rhythm and melody produced by sitar and tabla.

It would have been more enjoyable had the organisers or the performers themselves,

in between the performances, shed some light on the pieces being played.