Indo-German composer Sandeep Bhagwati on building bridges between Western and Indian classical music, seeking untrodden ground and how all art is political | Lifestyle News, The Indian Express

Indo-German composer Sandeep Bhagwati on building bridges between Western and Indian classical music, seeking untrodden ground and how all art is political | Lifestyle News, The Indian Express

Written by Suanshu Khurana |Updated: April 9, 2019 1:02:34 pm

Indo-German composer Sandeep Bhagwati on building bridges between Western and Indian classical music, seeking untrodden ground and how all art is political

Not many in India, including the ones from the world of Western and Indian classical music, are familiar with the name Sandeep Bhagwati. Bhagwati, an award-winning composer and conductor, was the artistic director of the composers’ workshop at Munich Biennale (1990-92).

Sandeep Bhagwati, an award-winning composer and conductor, was the artistic director of the composers’ workshop at Munich Biennale (1990-92).

The solemnity of Montreal-based Indo-German composer and conductor Sandeep Bhagwati’s piece, Vistar (Elaboration), was haunting and meditative at the same time. A tender opening on the strings led one into complex structures with glorious and swelling high notes, fascinating bass patterns and much clarity in resonance and delivery. Presented by Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra at Delhi’s Stein Auditorium recently, the story of the somber notes comes from a painful past. The melodies first came to him when he lost his friend, mentor and musicologist Ashok Ranade, who introduced him to Indian classical music, “one that could shake away its defensive post-colonial and traditionalist mindset without succumbing wholesale to commercial fusion”. Bhagwati called the piece Alaap for Ashok.