Pandit Tanmoy Bose has created a unique fusion of eastern and western music, his latest creation being Taaltantra, which brings together percussion instruments from various countries of the world.Taaltantra, which means worship of the rhythm (taal), isn’t just fusion music. ‘‘It’s Indian music played on western instruments and vice versa,’’ explains the maestro. ‘‘There’s Barin baue, a Brazilian instrument which sounds like Ektara; Pandeiro, another South American instrument which sounds like the Khanjira; Derbukae, an Egyptian instrument which sounds like the Naal. If music has rhythm and melody it will be accepted globally.’’Bose and his troupe have had six concerts in Kolkata already and the composition has been recorded too. The shows, including items like Maccouelele, a Portuguese dance form popular in north Brazil which he renamed Communion or the German Strasse Musik which he calls ‘Music of the Streets’ have been greatly appreciated. The compilation features Bose, Brazilian musician Thomas Zen (a student of Bose), and Andreas Weiser, Andreas Advocado Spies, Kai Brukner and Martin Klingeberg from Germany, who play various Latin American, African and European instruments.The idea of fusion came to Bose 25 years ago with a gramaphone record created by Gnan Prakash Ghosh titled ‘Calcutta Drum Orchestra’ which was a fusion of various north Indian percussion instruments. The most emphatic pat on the back has come from Bose’s colleagues in the team. ‘‘It was a beautiful experience to play with Bose,’’ shares Thomas Zen.
