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By Daniel Albuquerque
Rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul. – Plato Applause. Upsurge. Standing ovation. Applause. Rising crescendo. On and on. Such was the response by the audience to the German National Youth Orchestra a classical western music performance at the Kala Academy, Panjim, on 23 January 2018. As is our general experience in India or in Goa such exuberance and exhilaration is not in vogue. We enjoy our tiatr, clap politely and get out of the hall as fast as we can; but we admire it in our own way by praising it to others for over many days. So the over enthusiastic response to the concert itself was an experience of sorts.
Having read a couple of reviews that analyzed the performances both at Kala Academy, Panjim and Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, as a layman to music I was quite taken aback by the criticism levelled against the udience as well as at the concert rendering capabilities of the venues. As for me, as a visitor to classical western music, I was over the moon to realize as to how beautiful music can be no matter where and for whom it is performed. The aim to acquaint and popularize such exclusive and select music was achieved by the organizers.
To understand the stuff a little better I had to read the concert brochure several times. I had sufficient time to do so before the concert. What bowled me over completely is the fact that such lofty rofessional quality music is rendered by the youth aged between 14 to 19 years; further, the orchestra group consisted of 78 musicians and an unstated number of support staff. To think that this entire grand performance has come all the way from Germany for gratis is mindboggling. Again thanks to the organizers, Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa, Opus Gala and The Indo-German Educational and Cultural Society of Goa and the sponsors.
Having enjoyed the symphonic concert for free, I decided that I must do some justice by knowing a bit more about it when I get home. Thanks to the Internet, the basic research is always at hand. The star of an orchestra is always its conductor. The impressive, tall, balding conductor Hermann Bäumer, 50 +, is among the Who’s Who conductors on global stage. He was born in Bielefeld, Germany and started to play piano from the age of six. The brochure mentions over a dozen orchestras that he is affiliated with are of world repute; the Internet has hundreds of pages in his name. To sum, it is said that he is not concerned about his image; his dedication to music is paramount.
Apart from the performers who were excellent and surely the future of classical music lies fairly with them, the next most interesting thing is the musical instruments which they master. A dozen of them played 1 st Violin; 10 played 2 nd Violin; Violoncello was played by 7; Double Bass was played by 5; Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Trombone were by 3 each; French Horn, Trumpet, and Timpani/Percussion were played by 4 each; 1 played Tuba, the extra large brass instrument which is indispensable in every Goan brass band.
I learnt something more; the collection of selected musical works in a concert is known as ‘musical repertoire or ensemble’. The Panjim concert consisted of three chosen works: Tempest, Rhenish and Geysir. As a prelude to the concert they performed Geysir a brief introduction in terms of classical symphony. Now Iceland is as icy as the name itself suggests, however, it is also known for Geysir or Great Geysir due to the natural phenomenon that throws up gushing scalding hot water from the bowels of the Earth to a height of 70 meters. The word for the hot water appliance ‘geyser’ in English originates from this occurrence. Icelanders, however, live in such danger of hot water outburst. Jón Leifs (1899 –1968) was Iceland’s famous composer. In his composition ‘Geysir’ he was able to score successfully the threat of Nature with which the Icelanders have to live daily.
Next was ‘Tempest’ by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1894) depicting the famous Shakespearean play by the same name, that of a calm sea turning turbulent and build up into severe tempest that swept the audience off its feet. Although criticized in his own time, the works by this Russian composer are one of the most popular even to this day.
The climax of the evening was the rendition of ‘Rhensh’ by Robert Schumann (1810-1856), who was one of the greatest romantic composers. Although he lived barely for about 46 years that were marred by several personal tragedies such as a hand injury that prevented him from playing the piano of which he was a virtuoso and his last days spent in mental asylum, he is still one of the greatest composers of all time.
When I reflect upon this concert it seems not only very appealing but it is a revelation of the various facets of life. It speaks to us about the contemporary problems of environmental concerns, its dangers and also its beauty. The concert speaks to us how tumultuous our own life can be; it can be happy and romantic but at the same time difficult and even tragic. However, the harmony of the large philharmonic admonishes us to live in harmony irrespective of the problems of life. We can live in peace and friendship only if we can endeavour to tune into each other and strive together. Whether we make our lives an orchestra of harmony or a confusion of cacophony depends upon us. As the great philosopher Plato believes music alone makes us conscious to the inner recesses of our soul.
(Photograph Credits: Gulaksha Kunkolkar)