Ebb & Flow

The symbol of life,the nectar of life,the essential of life. Water is the protagonist for violinist Sara Michieletto,Bhai Baldeep Singh,exponent of the tradition of Gurbani Kirtan and Madan Gopal Singh composer and lyricist,who has remedied many Sufi distortions to present ‘Soundscapes — Venice and Punjab: Water Memoirs’. The artists,taking water as a common theme of their cultures will present the instrumental music of the Venetian school of violin,Sufi mystic songs and the percussion tradition of the Sultanpur Lodhi – Amritsari Baj from Punjab.

Presented by The Anad Foundation and the Italian Embassy,for the curator of this unique amalgamation,Baldeep,this moment is special and deep,for it brings him back home to Chandigarh after ages. The revivalist and conservator Baldeep points out that Venice and Punjab share the legacy of water,and if one were to look closely at the waters one thing’s clear — the water in Punjab is evaporating and in Venice it’s getting polluted. “Memoirs describes our callousness towards this essential,recalls the tragedy and evokes a thought. While we draw everyone’s attention on this simple and vital element,the artists within their respective traditions,will find a way for a confluence of efforts and affinities,’’ Baldeep smiles to say.

Nods Sara,here from Italy for a two-year project funded by Gran Teateo La Venice. Studying the strains of violin in India and performing all over the country with Indian artists,Sara is quick to point out that Soundscapes won’t be a fusion of music,but a meeting,with each artist giving the other’s style freedom and space,the living link being water. “The violin,Gurbani and Sufi,there’s a deep connect here. The slow flowing of the water and the tides played an essential role in the rhythm and creation of wonderful masterpieces,’’ reflects Sara who’s loving the freedom of sound.

Baldeep adds that as a ‘’student of Punjab’s cultural heritage’’ he didn’t want to do anything contemporary and wanted the audience to see Venice through Sara’s eyes and touch Venice through her Venetian masters. “I had composed five taals in the ‘90s which were dedicated to the five rivers of Punjab,which gave Punjab in the geographical sense,its name,the land of five rivers. A lot has been left unsaid,but the underlying emotion is that we have insulted water enough and can’t take it for granted,the balance must remain,’’ asserts Baldeep.

Lend an ear to Sara,Baldeep and Madan at Tagore Theatre today at 6.15 pm.