Changing Time in Music

When I joined Guruji, Pt Vinayk Torvi for learning classical music 20 years back, he used to describe his experience about concert duration. 4-5 hours concerts were very common and that was the minimum time duration of a concert few years back. More the time duration, more was the pride and test for the artiste that he or she can perform. Time has changed, man has also evolved. We have experienced many new tremendous inventions in all the fields including music. Even in musical instruments like tanpura and tabla, we have electronic versions. Along with the growth of music, presentation, instruments and duration of performance has also changed. If we see the present day situation in Indian classical music in India and abroad, maximum duration of a concert is 2-3 hours. 3 hours concert of one artiste is very big( we have few chamber concert which may be longer than this due to keen interest and knowledge about classical music). In Television and Radio we have to present just 30 mins to one hour performances. Present day artiste works and tries to show his mastery in lesser time duration than in the past. If we take classical Hindustani Khyal, singer presents one rag for around 45 mins to one hour, so in one concert he or she can present 2-3 rags considering a concert of 2 hours. Within a given time you have to show your talent. Time limits your creativity and restricts your imagination but whoever does it well within the given time is a good artiste. Conveying the message in the given time limit is the key challenge and basic necessity nowadays. When you are having a performance, within a few minutes after your concert, it may appear in Facebook or YouTube, people get to know about your performance quickly but at the same time you have to keep up the practice and never get over confident. The responsibility of the artiste is much more in this new generation. We have lots of knowledge and information regarding music but presenting it in the right way is the vital part. We can listen to Pt Bhimsen Joshiji’s yaman, Pt Mansurji s yaman and Pt kumar Gandharvji s yaman, but when you present it, it should be your yaman, rather than copying from stalwarts. Time management, deep knowledge and learning the right way to present it from a guru about your subject will take you to a higher level.