Cuttack, Jan. 22: The roots of Indian classical music are so strong that it cannot get lost despite influence of other music, especially modern classical, says German guitarist Matthias Muller.
Muller, along with Salil Bhatt, the creator of satvik veena, performed at the 148th foundation day celebrations of Ravenshaw University yesterday.
The jazz guitarist and Bhatt conversed through music and left the audience spellbound. The two started with a simple performance based on raag Basant Mukhari, followed by a fast-paced rhythmic jugalbandi based on raag Jog.
A sentimental Rajasthani folk composition based on raag Miskirmani was much appreciated by the students on the occasion.
"Not just in India, traditional forms of music have been influenced in the West as well and such influences keep music alive. We should not be afraid of the fusion as there is a vast scope for exploration," said Muller.
He said there was always a debate on the threat to classical music from modern and fusion. "But Indian classical music has holiness, which connects directly with people's heart," he said. "It is the unique blend of spirituality for which Indian classical music is appreciated and popular across the world," he added.
Both the artists are known for their flamboyant performances across the world and have established themselves as the young faces of global music.
Bhatt, who is the disciple and son of Grammy-winner and mohan veena creator Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, has been instrumental in lending a modern touch to his creations by inventing the improvised satvik veena, which has 24 strings.
A graduate from the College of Music at Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Germany, Muller has studied Western classical and jazz at the Munich Guitar Institute and Grove School of Music, Los Angeles.
Having done an extensive study on jazz and fusion with the likes of Jeff Richman and Joe Daversa, Muller has a profound fascination for the Indian classical and folk music.
"It was a great feeling to perform before the young students at Ravenshaw University," said Bhatt.
