Ustad Vilayat Khan: Interview - 3

This article is a part of the small attempt to consolidate all the interviews of Ustad Vilayat Khan, so that his fans and followers get to know more about his musical views and ideas, in his own words.

The long development of Indian music over the last five thousand years has given rise to various regional varieties and schools. The main divisions of classical music in India are two -- south Indian music, also called Karnatak classical music and north Indian called Hindustani classical music. Both are based upon very ancient texts like the Natya Shastra of Bharata. However while the base is the same they are now fairly distinct. Apart from vocal music, there are several instruments also. Over the years, there arose distinct schools of playing music, called Gharanas in Hindustani classical music. To this day music is learnt by example and ear beside the teacher ( guru , ustad) . Among the accomplished players of the Sitar was late Ustad Vilayat Khan .

He represented what is probably the seventh generation in an unbroken succession of great sitar players.
Rather traditional minded in his ways, he rarely spoke to the media .
His style of playing called Gayaki ang was also distinct and is said to imitate the human voice .( Other great sitarists are considered pure instrumentalists, of the beenkar ang.) .

Although he lived in Princeton, USA he remained rather conservative. Excerpts from an interview in 1996--

What do you think of experiments of " fusion" of Western and Indian music?

---I do not approve, really. They are two quite different systems with separate development. You have not succesfully fused south Indian and north Indian music yet --- and you want to fuse East and West..! First do this successfully and then try others I feel.

Indian music has a very long development, thousands of years. Most of the so called innovations were tried out , tested and discarded long ago, you know. Besides Western music scales are designed for several instruments -- harmony-- and trying out our music on their system doesn't work except as a novelty. By all means experiment, but only after exhausting all our music. Many western people ( for instance in the US) are very keen to learn more about our music and culture. They do very hard practice, this is to be highly appreciated.

And do not belittle western classical music. Their composers are very great musicians and should be appreciated. The systems are different, that's all.

There is scope for improvisation in say jaaz ..

---Improvisation has to be based on something. There is the composition, the idea of the composer, the language and meaning, the musical phrase and movement, the taal, the raga, the fixed notes played alongside the raga, so many things --- we improvise based on all these.
Improvisation in indian music doesn't mean you are free to do anything. Only after thorough mastery of all these, many years training, AND if the guru has permitted you to "improvise" you should go ahead.

Isn't classical music based on folk music?

---I agree classical music is based on folk. But over the thousands of years it has become a thoroughly researched scientific form of music. Earlier it was played in religious places, hindu temples and muslim dargahs, later to some extent in the rajas' courts. But really speaking because it needs some effort and training to appreciate fully, I cannot call it a mass music. Now people want to "popularise" classical music. It is not so easy. You don't realise how deeply researched and far refined it is. .....it is so vast one lifetime is simply not enough to know even a little.
As they say, it needs one life to understand it slightly. Then the entire next life to practise it. maybe in the further 3rd, 4th or 6th lives you can do something. But if you don't use it properly you will not be born as musician again.(laughs)

By the way, you are a devout muslim --- didn't Prophet Muhammad forbid music? the Taliban, for instance say --

---Yes I know. I think what is happening in Afghanistan is not correct. (ed.--this was in 1996.) The Prophet, peace be upon him, mentioned music was Mamnun ,( to be avoided or frowned on) but not Haram ( absolutely forbidden). Alcohol he called totally and absolutely haram. Also, in a related thing -- it is not correct to try and destroy other people's culture. See, I am not a buddhist, but I respect Buddha.

Why do you have this proud,aloof image? You aren't like that, really.

---I've never compromised for awards or fame or money . Heaven knows I have seen bad times. Practice , 14 hours a day in Delhi , under a tin roof in shivering winter and sweltering summer plus a leaky roof during the rains..
I have always kept this in mind. I HAVE NEVER, NEVER COMPROMISED OR DILUTED MY MUSIC come what may.
Thanks to Allah I am now well off now, have cars and houses have no worry about my next meal. But more than that I am content.

Whatever mistakes I have committed -- certainly I have made mistakes -- it was due to ignorance and not deliberately. See, I was almost an alcoholic at one time. Time was when I insisted drinking a full bottle of liquor and only then perform. I would be in full control and no one would know I was drunk ! This was due to stubborness on my part, really. I gave it up in 1980, and I felt I almost died due to the pangs.. But I gave it up totally. It has helped me musically too. All credit to my silent, long suffering wife who never said a word all the time. If I am anything today it is she is to take the credit.

What do you feel about style on the stage

(snorts)--Forget about dramatics on the stage. I am merely a simple artiste of your country.

Tell our readers something about musicians who have influenced you , besides gurus

So many are there ! Ustads Inayat khan, Imdad khan, Barkatullah khan, Hyderhusain khan, Alagh Khan , Hamid Khan , Rameshwar pathak, Balram pathak, Waliullah khan... so many are there. After listening to them.. why were we born, we feel! Experiment ? They can experiment, not us.

And more recent musicians..

Recent musicians ? See, people will misunderstand. If I leave out some name, or bring in some name there will be ideas of " emphasis" which I never intend. That is why I'd rather not say..... all the same there are several great musicians whom I hold in great regard. Faiyaz Khan, Alladiya khan, Abdul Karim Khan, Bhaskarbua, Baba Allaudin Khan and many others .... so many are there ! My friend Amir khan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Samta Prasad, (..reels off several other names). All great musicians.

And what are you doing now ?

Presently I'm at Princeton, NJ USA. I have several disciples and they are progressing very well. My sons Shujaat and Hidayat are doing well, as is my nephew Shahid Pervez. Then my senior disciples are well known

------------------

Audio recording of Ustad Vilayat Khan's BBC Interview, recorded by Ramprapanna Bhattacharya :

http://www.esnips.com/doc/bbc7b5cb-0799-48f7-976e-0c822e515266

Youtube Video recordings of Ustad Vilayat Khan interview, originally recorded from TV by Ramprapanna Bhattacharya:

Part1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inElNJh6at0

Part2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MBcDnEJS_g

Part3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD6Ns79mOyw