“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dreams. Wandering by lone sea breakers, and sitting by desolate streams. World losers and world forsakers, for whom the pale moon gleams. Yet we are the movers and the shakers of the world forever it seems.” - Arthur William Edgar O'Shaughnessy, British Poet in the 19th Century
One such ‘Mover and Shaker’ shook the alpha world city, Frankfurt Am Main with his scintillating music ensemble on the cloudy summer evening of 14th May 2012.
English Theater, Frankfurt Am Main was the venue to showcase the 60 years of Germany – India Diplomatic Relations in the form of a Fusion performance by Dr. L. Subramanium and his ensemble.This is a part of the ‘Days of India 2012-2013’ celebrations jointly organized by The Consulate General of India, Frankfurt Am Main, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Dr. L. Subramanium is a well known Indian artist in Germany and Germany holds a special place in Dr. L. Subramanium’s concerts. The connection seems obvious - Johann Sebastian Bach, the favorite of the Maestro.
Dr. L. Subramanium likes to call his team and compositions - ‘Neo-Fusion’. Vividly blending the classical carnatic music and European Classical Music with contemporary jazz, world music, folk forms and last but not the least progressive rock. This essence is seen in the concert team composition too. Firstly Western Classical and Indian Classical instruments, and secondly German and Indian artists. The team included - Herbert Lang from Frankfurt on Kanjira , Sekar on Tavil, Satya Sai on Morse, Raju Kulkarni on Percussion, Ravi Raj on Keyboard, Rody David on Bass and Alwyn Fernandes on Guitar.
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| Dr. L Subramanium along with his wife, son & accompanists | |
The Concert started with the solo guitar presentation by Alwyn Fernandes, followed by the first glimpse of East-West fusion - Indian Express by the Maestro accompanied by his son Ambi Subramanium on violin. As the name suggested, the music threw the different moods of the fusion music at the listeners.It was the ‘base setting’ for more capturing and enchanting music compositions to follow.The mastery over the pace of the fingers dancing on the violin strings and also controlled co-ordination with the ensemble, weaving a dream form in the listeners. This brought the words of Frank Zappa, American composer, songwriter to memory - “Music, in performance, is a sculpture. The air in the performance is sculpted into something.”
The offerings for the mesmerized audience was a pure acoustic duet between the Violin and the rest of the Ensemble. The masters transcended the boundaries of their respective musical backgrounds and aesthetically engaged the other within the context decided by the composition.
The next rendering was 'Journey' - composed to celebrate the 40th year of India’s Independence at the United Nations, New York followed by one of the Johann Sebastian Bach composition, and finally ‘Ganga’ , symbolizing the Eternal river of India.
All the renderings had the Indian flavor laced with Jazz influence.
Dr. L. Subramanium’s wife, Smt. Kavitha Krishnamurthy Subramanium also presented some of her yester years melodies.
For two hours, this pure musical fantasy transformed the fast paced city life of the listener to the serenity of their dreams.As aptly said by Sir Thomas Beecham, British Conductor and Impresario, - “Great Music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty. Magical music never leaves the memory.”
