Friday September 21, 2001

Sarode master will give one performance at Centennial Hall

Hailed as one of today's most accomplished Indian musicians, Ali Akbar Khan is India's pride and joy, often compared to Johann Sebastian Bach in his native country.

Khan's 76 years of musical studies began at age 3 when his father started him with vocal music and a variety of instruments. Soon Khan selected the sarode to be the primary focus of his musical endeavors.

A sarode is a 25-stringed instrument that resembles a guitar. It contains four main playing strings, higher-pitched drone and rhythm strings known as chikari, and sympathetic strings called taraf. Teak wood is traditionally used to make the instrument, and Khan's particular sarode is carved out of a 250-year-old tree in his family's ancestral homeland.

The concert consists of various ragas - compositions that begin slowly as solo pieces, then quicken as members gradually add their instruments. Ragas are based on Hindu history and traditions with their inspiration stemming from devotion.

Matthew Nelson, a local authority on world music who will moderate an Arts Encounter discussion before the performance, explained more about the ragas.

"Certain ragas are only played at certain times of day because of the mood it portrays," Nelson said. "Lots are based around emotions - love, passion, sorrow, valor and so on."

Not only are the ragas based on emotion, they can evoke emotion within the audience.

"He (Khan) doesn't know what he's going to play when he gets there," Nelson said. "He gets a feeling from the audience, and then he will decide what to play."

Khan practiced 18 hours a day for 20 years. He gave his first performance at age 13 and became the court musician for the Maharaja of Jodhpur in his early twenties. The state of Jodhpur granted him his first title, "Ustad," or master musician.

Many other honors have followed Khan since then. He received the President of India Award, the Padma Bhusan Award from the Government of India and the Padma Vibhusan, the highest honor presented to an Indian civilian. He is a five-time Grammy nominee and has written music for many Indian films and the American film, "Little Buddha."

Khan will be accompanied by three other musicians at the concert, including his son Amir Khan on another sarode, James Pomerantz on the tamboura (a drone instrument) and Swapan Chaudhuri on the tabla (Indian drums).

Performing Eastern music for an audience accustomed to Western music might seem like a challenge, but Khan disagrees.

"It is not a question of Indian music or American music; any music in rhythm, in tune, gives you food for your soul," Khan said.

UApresents's publicist, Tara Kirkpatrick, reflected on the UA community's response to Eastern music.

"Tucson is very receptive to cultures from all over the world," she said. "Last year when Ravi Shankar and his daughter, Anoushka, came to Centennial, the show was an overwhelming success. We're expecting the same for Ali Akbar Khan."