SWARALAYAM ARTS FORUM ANNUAL STUDENT RECITAL Laya-Taal-Saadhna 2014: Inspired Performances Thrill Audience
An ensemble of young tabla students are accompanied by Pandit Shantilal Shah (center) and Ambarish Prabhukote on the harmonium. A total of 72 students performed.
By Pramod Kulkarni
HOUSTON: One of the highlights of the annual Hindustani classical student recitals in Houston is the Laya-Taal-Saadhna program of precussion ensembles on the tabla by students of Pandit Shantilal Shah. The students ranged in age from preschoolers to retired professionals.
Indian Consul General P. Harish (center right) lauded the guru-shishya parampara (student-teacher tradition) fostered by Pandit Shantilal Shah. Joining them on stage were Hema and Ravi Iyer, founders of the Swaralayam Arts Forum (far left and far right) and Mrs. Nandita Harish.
This year’s recital, by more than 72 students, was held Saturday, April 19 afternoon at the UC Theater on the University of Houston central campus. Chief guests at the recital were Indian Consul General Parvatheni Harish and his wife Nandita.
The climactic abhivadan (offering) was performed by Aparna Shah, to the accompaniment of Guruji and all the students.
Special guests included Indian classical music patrons Dr. Virendra and Nalini Mathur and India Music Society President, Govind Shetty and renowned vocalist Pt. Suman Ghosh.
Nine student ensembles performed, each grouped according to their skill level. Most of the ensembles performed Kaida (first lesson), Paltas (improvisations) and Tihaee (rhythmic end) in Teentaal (16-beat rhythmic pattern).
The most accomplished students in the Rela group performed Peshkar (opening composition), Kaida, Rela (aggressive play), and Tukras (brief passage) in Jhaptaal (complex 10-beat pattern). While Pandit Shantilal Shah, who his students affectionately refer to as Guruji, accompanied most of the ensembles, he allowed the skilled Rela group perform on their own.
One of the interesting performances was that of laggi nada, a series of fast rhythmic variations, by the accomplished Atheet ensemble. Also of interest was the bandish played by the senior students, with the left and right side set of students performing as part of a sawal/jawab (question/answer) dialogue.
The program concluded with Abhivaadan (offering) with Aparna Shah, wife of Shantilal Shah, and an accomplished vocalist in her own right, singing the vocals, Guruji and senior students accompanying on the tabla and rest of the students performing bols (audibles).
Dr. Keyuri Popat served as the emcee, introducing each student group, and revealing stories of how Guruji and the students are devoted to each other. “Guruji might forget his wedding anniversary, but never the birthdays of the students,” she suggested.
There was obvious reluctance on part of the students to leave the stage after their short performance. “They are used to playing at least ten times each time they sit down to practice in class,” explained Guruji.
“Each year, I’m inspired by the children’s enthusiasm and their performance skill,” enthused Dr. Mathur. CG Harish admired the dedication of the Guru and the shishyas (students). “There are a hundred distractions at this age,” Harish explained. “Dedication to this art, week after week, is a demonstration of the guru-shishya parampara (teacher/student tradition).”
A student of Pandit Mahadev Prasad Misra of the Banaras gharana and disciple of Pandit Suresh Talwalkar, Pandit Shantilal Shah came to Houston in 2003 to join the Anjali School of Performing Arts faculty.
Since 2010, Pt. Shantilal Shah has been on the faculty of the Swaralayam Arts Forum as the tabla guru.