The annual World Peace Music Festival, Sur Jahan was held at the Kala Academy over the weekend. It was a celebration of musical styles from Iceland, Sweden, Netherlands and India. The audience was exposed to sacred and medieval tunes from Europe, the magic of the ghumat and the magical voice of Habib Khan, the talented artist of Langa music from Rajasthan.
The Goa Ghumat Project lead by Carlos Gonsalves was a performance that featured
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different indigenous instruments like the dhol, tasha, shamel, kasale, a western drum set, acoustic guitar and Goan traditional folk vocals. The fans in the audience kept applauding the interesting use of Goa’s traditional percussion. He got the audience involved with a rhythm of claps to the percussive magic of the ghumat. It was a short set but it got
the audience perked up for the magic that was to follow in the festival.
A traditional folk band from the Netherlands, with all four members being over 70 years old, Folkcorn it was their first visit to India. Their sense of humor and the interplay between the band members made it a delight. The fact that they sang in Old Dutch did not make it a barrier. The songs were about everyday life in the village, its complications and the challenges that arise when one falls in love. The band improvised and it was a very interesting experience. Jitze Kopinga who was the singer and who did most of the talking had the audience laughing with his quirky observations about life and love. One of the songs was about a weaver. Jitze said there were songs about people in various occupations in Dutch folk music. It was a set that was enjoyed by the audience who connected with the emotions expressed in the songs.
Habib Khan Langa and team were the revelation of the first day. His strong voice filled the auditorium. He sang songs about life cycle, seasons, festivals and folklore. This is the only folk music to follow ragas that is also dependent on the time they are performing, the direction they are facing at that point in time, the season they are performing in, and finally the event they are performing for. It was a set that had the audience clapping at times and as Habib’s voice washed over the audience there was a sense of awe at the magic he was able to create. He ended his set with the song that was once featured in a Bollywood hit, ‘Mast Kalandar.’
The second evening’s program was started by the Fadista of Goa, Sonia Sirsat. Her powerful voice had the audience entranced. This was undoubtedly a master at work on her art. She sang various songs in her repertoire. It also included a Fado in Konkani called Sopon which was written in 1966 by Manohar Rai Sardesai. There were songs about love and of being away from their loved ones and the sense of longing that it brings. Goan members in the audience asked for more as her set ended. It was a wonderful way to start the proceeding on the second day.
The all-female band from Iceland, Umbra Ensemble, coming from the coldest part of the world, their songs comprise not just folk songs but also original arrangements of medieval tunes but also contemporary songs composed by band members. They also sang songs about Vikings and of love lost. It was an interesting set by the first ever Icelandic group to ever come to India. The sounds were certainly new to Indian ears and it made for an interesting set.
The final set of the festival was by the big daddy of Nordic music, Ale Muller. He may be touching 70 but the verve of the man was certainly a sight to behold. His set contained a number that was a waltz and a blues inspired folk song to name just a few. His interaction with band members had a definite light touch which kept everything moving smoothly. Ale dedicated a song to his three and half year old granddaughter living in Stockholm. It was a set that had influences from Greece and Turkey which signified his interaction with people living in Stockholm.
The final performance of the event involved Habib Khan, Ale Muller, Folkcorn and Umbra ensemble. It was a jugalbandi of various styles that started off in the cold of Nordic Europe and came through Rajasthan. It was a composition that aptly described the beauty in this world and to appreciate it there had to be peace and harmony.
