KATHMANDU: The Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) organised a classical musical performance — Antarang: From the Heart — with music maestros Gurudev Kamat and his soulful vocal, Dhrubesh Regmi’s astounding creation from the frets of sitar, and young and talented

tabala badhak Navraj Gurung at Bal Mandir, Naxal on January 21.

“We have known each other for a long time now, but we never got an opportunity to play together. Thanks to ICC we got the chance,” said Regmi, a member the Sukarma, while Gurung belongs to another well known ensemble Trikaal.

The evening revealed deeper revelations of classical notes starting with Raag Bagishwori, a pure classical music that had four different compositions depending on the speed of instruments being played. “Bag means voice and Ishwori means Goddess. Hence Bagishwori means Goddess of voice — Goddess Saraswoti,” explained Regmi.

Classical music has something very interesting as it always starts with raag. Regmi said, “In classical music we have a ‘time-theory’ and there are rules which every musician ought to follow. Ancestors and mahagurus of classical music have developed seven variations in notes that have to be played in

appropriate time. There are different raags, which strictly have to be played at different times of the day. These raags have the power to affect environment and playing raags meant for morning in the evening can emit negative energies.”

Working into different variations of notes the band started the programme with Alap. “Alap is the beginning portion or introductory part of the whole musical performance and provides a glimpse about the melodies to be played,” Regmi said.

The band slowly extended the pace working faster making crowd clap now and then. The compositions were called Madhyalaya (medium speed), Drutlaya (medium-high speed), Tarana (High speed) and Jhala (climax) — “variations in style of playing that depends upon speed”.

The performance was followed by a semi-classical music performance based on Raag Kirwani. The band tried a lot more variations in this raag and merged many other raags like Raag Bhairavi, to come up with new variations and sound. The later part saw Raag Khamaj that was a

devotional song about Lord Krishna. According to Regmi, “At the end of the show we played a holi song based on Raag Kafi and Sindhura.”

A musical piece dedicated to Goddess Saraswoti was played in the beginning as the event was held a day after Saraswoti Puja, the day when Goddess Saraswoti of knowledge, is worshipped, and it ended with a holi (festival of colour) song, which is yet to come.