Sadharani

Dhrupad with Djembe

Balachander — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:54:53 +0000

My last concert in South Africa at the Erin Hall, Cape Town was on 8th Aug. Till a few hours before the concert, we still had not decided on rhythm accompaniment. Finally, on Mike’s suggestion, we went with Ali – a brilliant Djembe and Talking Drum drummer. This was our first meeting – and within couple of hours we were in the Concert Hall !!!

It was one of the finest concerts i’ve had. His sense of rhythm was fantastic, and the sound of Djembe went very well with Veena and the Dhrupad style. I really look forward to doing it again.

Wonder if there are any good Djembe players in India !

Lecture at Cape Town University

Balachander — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:17:41 +0000

Mike has arranged for me to take a couple of classes for his 4th year Music Graduation students tomorrow. That could be most interesting – and has kept me brooding on my approach to the lecture !! Look out for after lecture comments.

Dhrupad Concert with a Jazz drummer at Erin Hall 29th July, Cape Town

Balachander — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:01:29 +0000

There is a general lack of good Tabla players in Cape Town. So, I chose to play with a Jazz Drummer Kesavan !! The Erin Hall Concert on the 29th July was most exciting – and my first Dhrupad recital with a Jazz Drummer. I must say, it was a most pleasant experience – once we quickly worked out the logistics !!

Excitement at Lanseria Airport !

Balachander — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:48:31 +0000

On the way back to Cape Town, we took the flight from Lanseria Airport – a suburb of Jo’burg. We got lost getting to the Airport from Laudium – for there were NO Road Signs to the Airport.

To make matters worse, when we called the Lanseria Airport Information Centre – they initially gave us incorrect directions, before guiding us correctly on the second panic call. However, we reached the Airport late – and missed the flight. We booked for the next flight after paying a substantial penalty !!

When we approached the Airport authorities to complain about lack of Road Signs – they put their hand up saying its not their job !! To add insult to injury, the liaison official put the blame back on us for booking the second flight – and advised we should have been on “stand-by” – and we would not have had to pay the “penalty”. Imagine being stranded for the night with all the musical instruments if there was no place on “stand-by”. Apparently, thats the risk we should have taken ! I must say on the whole, this liaison officer was quite obnoxious !!

It gets better !! when we went for our hand baggage check-in – boom – they said we have some speakers which cant go through – apparently they cause magnetic interference !! the speakers in contention were Roland cube 30 and Roland stereo (10 w) – pretty tiny ones ! and the only way of checking was – keep them near antique computer monitors – and there is some color change !! they wouldnt even let us take it as check-in luggage. Thank God for some good souls who managed to get it out to us in Cape Town.

Hell, what an experience !!

Tagine Dinner

Balachander — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:37:54 +0000

Yesterday – 31st July 2011, i had a fantastic salad breakfast at the Italian restaurant in Century City, Cape Town called Col’Cocchio pizzeria. Its a great place for Italian food.

Mike Nixon invited over his friend Brendon Bussy (a brilliant South African Sound artist, website : www.brendonbussy.co.za) for dinner. Brendon had come over with another brilliant visual artist Masha du Toit. It was basically to test Mike’s new cooking toy called Tagine, and cook a new dish called Tagine !!! On the whole, we had a great time – and dinner was good too !!!

South Africa – Musical and Otherwise !!

Balachander — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:09:16 +0000

I arrived in South Africa on the 13th of July – and been here since then. There have been so many pleasant happenings and exciting times – but been just too lazy to blog. Hopefully, i shall be able to recall most of the interesting experiences.

Family Vacation

Balachander — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 03:30:22 +0000

Here we come – watch out Rhinos… We are off on a family vacation to Guwahati / Kaziranga National Park.. looking forward to the Elephant Safari !!

KSHITIJ Concert

Balachander — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:03:04 +0000

KSHITIJ music group invites you to ‘Panchyatari Mehfil’,

An evening of Hindustani instrumental and Vocal music,

Sri S. Balachander

( Dhrupad Veena player, Disciple of Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and Pt. Pradeep Kumar Barot)

Sri Kedar Bodas

(Vocalist, Disciple of Pt. Ashok, Ranade, Pt. JT Janorikar and Pt. Ram Marathe)

Venue: 2103-04 Sky Flama A-wing, Dosti Corp.,Tokersee Jivraj Marg, Parel-Sewri, Mumbai 400 015

Date: Sunday 21^st. November 2010

Time 5.30 pm

PS: This concert is being organized to celebrate Sri Sandip Thakore’s 75^th Birthday. Sandeep Thakore has been a serious amateur sitar player and conoisseur since the age of sixteen, a formal disciple of Ustad Mohammed Khan ‘Beenkaar’ and a close associate of the inimitable Ustad Rais Khan. On the night before I (i.e. Anand Thakore) was born he was at a live private mehfil listening to Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar’s music. Almost forty years later one of the foremost disciples of the late Ustad will be playing for him: another rich and glorious cycle (‘avartan’) draws to its close to let another cycle begin.

Another Day !!

Balachander — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 08:10:37 +0000

Another day, another weekend – and a whole lot of errands to complete.. shopping for Diwali, guests coming – and planning for the week ahead including a vacation and Diwali..

My Salutations !!

Balachander — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 07:00:14 +0000

Entharo Mahanubhavulandariki Vandanamu – (so says Saint Thyagaraja in one of his Pancharatna Kritis) – which means – “there are countless great personages – my salutations to them all”…

so i begin this blog with my salutations to all the great personages – and seek their blessings in my life and work !!