Rupam Ghosh is on a mission of music. On the road for two months, the violinist travels only with his instrument, a suitcase and his connection to a network of musicians. His goal? Exposing audiences to North Indian classical music and the Hindustani musical traditions of his home.
"North Indian music is totally different from other music,鈥� Ghosh said on Tuesday鈥檚 St. Louis on the Air. 鈥淕eneration after generation, it goes through from the master to his disciples ... we have to listen and [remember it, with] no written script."
Among the central concepts of Hindustani music are 鈥渞aga.鈥� More than just a combination of notes, Ghosh said that raga must follow certain rules and structures of ascending and descending tones.
"I want to share this music, this culture, this philosophy to that new generation. Because while traveling all over the world, I am seeing the serious aggression, the restlessness of the youth,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚'm trying to spread the Indian music, because Indian music has that power to establish peace and love."
Ghosh is making the most of his time in St. Louis. While he鈥檚 visiting, he鈥檒l guest lecture a jazz theory class at Washington University, see a punk band at a converted convent in Belleville, record tunes at Clayton Studios, give a workshop at Parkway Central High School and eat plenty of Korean BBQ. He will also perform at the Chapel, Lindenwood University and Jack鈥檚 Joint at O鈥機onnell鈥檚 Pub.
This is the second year that Ghosh has traveled the U.S. to spread Indian music. For this journey, he鈥檚 continuing to share his lifelong love for Hindustani music of North India 鈥� a love that鈥檚 come to define him on the road.
Part of that definition involves enormous humility. At last year鈥檚 Focal Point performance, tabla player Matt Pickart closed their first set with thanksgiving to Ghosh for the honor of learning beside him. The Indian master鈥檚 correction was short, swift and endearing: 鈥淣ot learning, [just] sharing,鈥� he interrupted.
Explaining that moment on today鈥檚 St. Louis on the Air, Ghosh insisted it was he who was in the company of experts. In his view, the group was simply sharing music, philosophy and culture.
Ghosh began the interview with a Hindustani incantation, a first for St. Louis on the Air. This chant is typically performed accompanied by the lulling strings of a 鈥� a fretless, sitar-shaped instrument used to supply a tonal center for the chant.
Learning classical music has traditionally been a private endeavor, one passed down by ear through ancient traditions from one generation to the next. Even sacred texts like the Vedas, Ghosh explained, were learned by sitting down in front of your master and listening, remembering and immersing oneself in a lifetime of wisdom. Sacred texts like the Vedas were chanted before they were written down, and the same mode of transmission was used with North Indian classic music.
Ghosh himself states he . His first studies were provided by Professor Robin Ghosh (no relation); his earliest exposure to the violin was through his father.
From British rule to more recent times, the Indian government on its professed value of teaching music in the classroom. Meanwhile, serious students and those who have the means to do so still seek out private mentors for their studies. At university levels, those studies often involve cohabitation .
Ben Wheeler, organizer of Violision, the St. Louis iteration of Ghosh鈥檚 tour, is appreciative of Ghosh鈥檚 gentle spirituality and what that means for the ensemble. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely there,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e barefoot onstage, and he鈥檒l take his violin 鈥� and he鈥檚 sitting down 鈥� and he鈥檒l open the case and kiss it and say a little prayer to himself and 鈥� it just frames the whole performance in a different way.鈥�
Violision tabla player Sebastian Buhts also feels Ghosh鈥檚 extramusical energy.
鈥淲hen we sit down to play music, he immediately touches his violin. And then he touches his forehead, and his heart. It just reminds me to be more mindful and thankful for the opportunity to make music with one another. It allows the entire performance to just be almost meditative and reflective, and I think that's really beautiful.鈥�
You can see the four members of Violision perform this week. They are Rupam Ghosh (violin), Matt Pickart (violin), Sebastian Buhts (tabla) and Ben Wheeler (bass). Violision plays at the O鈥機onnell鈥檚 Pub venue Jack鈥檚 Joint on Thursday evening and at the Chapel on Friday.
Related Events
What:
When: 8 p.m. April 13
Where: Jack鈥檚 Joint at O鈥機onnells Pub (4652 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110)
What: Violision performance at
When: 8 p.m. April 14
Where: 6238 Alexander Drive, St. Louis, MO 63105
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