Limelight Saturday Children's Day Special - Sheer Moments of Surrealism, or Call It What You Will

Surreal was the only word that one could use to describe that night. The night of November 16, 2013.

On my way back home with Nupur, we both laughed at her son's obsession for Robin Van Persie and the world's most popular football club – Manchester United.

But it wasn't just the mirth or just the talk about football that made it memorable. That was the icing on the cake for me. Instead, it was an awakening of an appreciation of Indian music and dance through the performances that night that lay dormant ever since I visited my first Vasanth Habba.

Yes, it was a Hindustani classical concert organized by the Aamod Centre of Liberal Arts (also known as the Bangalore Institute of Music & Art to others) – a place we consider home to all things artistic and creative in both the Indian and Western sense.

As we made our way to the place where the concert was held, the gentle pitter-patter of rain only suggested that for those who did attend the concert – it added just that little bit more. Of surrealism, if you will...

Regardless of the technical snafus that threatened to stump us all, Sreela, being as versatile as she is, had a backup plan that worked just fine and in time, for our little Kathak performers to kick start the show.

And start the show they did... ever so deftly and with grace as their little feet left their mark, if only figuratively, to the rhythm, and to a captive audience.

The pitter-patter soon turned into a steady downpour as we sat in that hall and listened to Smt. Chandasree deliver a performance that was truly mesmerizing along with her student on the tanpura as well as with Priyabrata on the tabla.

The thing is that as some of us grow older, we look back with respect as we truly begin to relate with our elders for what they've done in their time and continue to do so. For it continues to define us in the here and now... living in 'modern' India! As we shuffle our feet in making the shift from the old to the new...

Speaking of which, there was no shuffling of feet – in fact, no one budged from their seats. It was a kindergarten teacher's dream come true. You could hear a pin drop, if it wasn't for the music...

And speaking of the proverbial “icing on the cake”, Nupur Chakraborty then took the stage, and broke into song if only to an audience that could barely muster a solemn encore at the end, considering the gravity of the occasion.

For some of us, the adage 'everything that is old will become new again' came to life that night. It was reaching 'full circle', if you will. Simply put, being Indian took on a whole new meaning...

Outside the one-man crew from Artea Matters, Ashok, served tea and a few snacks and Vidya, a sponsor of the event, her partner and myself spent a few moments in silence – taking it all in rather wistfully.

Tonic for the soul. A snack or two to satiate our 'lower order needs'. Definitely, a Saturday well spent. But most of all, a strong feeling of pride for being part of a culture that spans thousands of years.

Yet not forgetting that it felt so right being a part of the Aamod Centre of Liberal Arts that diligently holds fast to tradition as we find ourselves in an age where the world moves closer or for that matter, invades our living room at a moment's notice.

As Nupur and I sped away to our homes that night and as she regaled me with stories of her son's fascination for British club football, the irony wasn't lost on me.

That said, let's hope the upcoming Hindustani classical concert scheduled for February 8, 2014 at the very same venue featuring Imon Das, Nikhil Patwardhan and Partho Mukherjee begs the very question: What makes us truly Indian in these "changing times"?

Takafumi's Solo Performance on January 14, 2014 - A Short Review

So, it was the first solo performance of Takafumi Mori in India at the Aamod Centre of Liberal Arts. 

To say the least, it was a successful week as a piano teacher with a number of students telling us that he knew his stuff. So, it wasn't surprising that he wanted to lead by example by performing solo in a piano concert. 

Not surprisingly, the superlatives were flowing unabated, thanks to a dazzling show of skill by him as he performed three pieces and a final one that was a response to an encore.

The pieces that he played, in order, were:
Chaconne by J.S Bach & F. Busoni
First Movement - Sonata #2 by F. Chopin
2 Legends (St. Frances of Paola Walking on the Water) - Franz Liszt
Presto - F. Poulenc 

However, it wasn't the audience's reactions after the concert that really caught our eye but during the concert as well. Some seemed to be lost in the melodies while others expressed joy and awe of Takafumi's prowess with the instrument. Indeed, time stood still...

In playing with such passion for an hour, and from memory too, a number of us felt as if it was a spiritual experience - one which lifted us to another plane, if you will. And we're not exaggerating...

There was a sense of exhilaration that was felt by one and all, as we approached 7:30 pm, and thereafter - a feeling that parents who did attend the concert will vouch for. 

Finally, there was a question and answer session where Takafumi explained what he intended to do for his students as not only piano players but also concert performers. That said, an excerpt of the pieces that he played will be shared with the students shortly...

And as always, there are a number of upcoming Limelight concerts which include a Carnatic concert on January 25 as well as a Hindustani Classical Concert on February 4, 2014.

Our Second Art Mart - A Remarkable Day of Color, Food and Fun and Tea

Simply put, it was another remarkable day at the Aamod Centre of Liberal Arts premises as BIMA (Bangalore Institute of Music and Art) hosted the second Art Mart – and the first of 2014.

As people made their way into the Aamod premises, some were in awe of the rangoli work placed strategically in certain parts of the school while others pored over the paintings by our students.

If the Aamod Centre of Liberal Arts is known for its melodies, then this was indeed a day of color, patterns, tradition, beauty, mirth, conversation and food.

Of course, the focus of attention was the tea room, 'Artea Matters', and the aromatic Darjeeling Tea served to a number of willing patrons. Margaret's Hope first flush was the raison d'etre of it all.

A couple of people enjoyed trying their hand at 'rangoli' workshop  while there were others who preferred chatting away with people that they had met for the very first time that day or even family members that they took some time off to be with.

One couldn't help but notice the paintings of Kantharaj and Santanu Maity, artists whose work was  on display, strewn across the school in a tasteful fashion. Taka continued taking his piano classes with precision while Komal attended to the needs of her ever-growing list of art students in the morning.

Sreela and Durga, our able hostesses, were everywhere at once, attending to people that were in need of nourishment, both literally as well as pertaining to art & music, while the people from Swirls & Sprinkles as well as The Happy Baker waited patiently for customers to savor their goodies too.

We started at 11 am and wound up exactly at 5 pm having our fill of art (both in the Indian and Western sense) and a variety of condiments that were, no doubt, visually pleasing but just as palatable.

We would like to thank those who took the time to visit the school, and share in this celebration of food, conversation and art in all its forms.

In a nutshell, not bad for the second Art Mart at the Aamod Centre of Liberal Arts...

That said, these offerings from Artea Matters, which were launched only recently as a part of the Bangalore Institute of Music and Art is open 365 days specifically for those who enjoy the acquired taste of a 'tea room' and more.

The next Art Mart is scheduled for 9 February, 2014 and is open to one and all! More details will be shared in following posts...

In Retrospect... July-December 2013

Truly, A Year of Positive Changes
To sum it up, it’s been a year of changes but most importantly, one that required the Aamod Centre of Liberal Arts (including ACCEL) to move —yes, change its location, and in particular to Inner Circle in Whitefield, if you will.

Speaking of more changes, Mathilde Legrand too, completed her last 6 months here with a farewell concert that was definitely memorable apart from her direction of the ICAV choir.

Chandashree Roy, disciple of the acclaimed Gyan Prakash Ghosh, began taking Hindustani vocal classes during this time. Takafumi Mori joins us as the new piano teacher from France while Daniel Chakraborty is handling the aspects of marketing and communication.

As for the twice-a-month Limelight performances, here are a few noteworthy performances took place: 
- Marc Behin’s guitar concert 
- a sitar performance by Nikhil Patwardhan 
- a violin and piano duet by Mathilde and Surajit 
- a piano, trombone, cello and violin trio at a patron’s place 
- a harmonica and guitar duo by Saibal and Muthu 
- a Hindustani Classical concert featuring our Kathak students as well as performers such as Smt. Chandashree Roy, Partho Mukherjee, Priyabrata and Nupur Chakraborty.

Yet the icing on the cake was our resident composer, Jacques Petit, who put together the Aamod Orchestra in such a short time. We performed at the InOrbit Mall to the delight of a number of people. Indeed, a milestone for the school that has touched the lives of many for almost a decade now...

ACCEL resumed activities by making a number of visits to the  market, pottery town, brick factory and a village too. This was apart from the usual activities that our parents are familiar with. 

That said, we have opened a daycare centre between 9am-6 pm for children from ages 3-6 years and 4-8 pm for children from ages 6-12 year olds, and in particular for, busy parents.

The Birth of Artea Matters
The conceptualization of ‘Artea Matters’ all began with Sreela and her affection for art, tea, great food and conversation. Yet the fruition of this idea wouldn’t have been possible without the continued efforts of Durga Menon and Ratna Ghose...

A theme that was evident during the first Art Mart, and which also involved showcasing the art work of both professionals as well as students too. To say that it was a success would be putting it lightly, especially since it was the first one of the lot. 

This was largely due to a positive response from both parents and connoisseurs and we thank them wholeheartedly.  Of course, we had a great time conversing about food, music, arts and culture over a cup of tea and snacks too.

Going forward, we would like to include the work of sculptors, photographers among a host of other artistes who continue to enthrall audiences. Yet this event will benefit our students the most, who between the age of 15-17 years, will build their own art portfolios as we recognize the growing need (and a solid future!) for well-groomed professionals in the visual arts. 

With the Art Mart scheduled to take place on the second Sunday of every month henceforth, themed birthday parties for children from the age of 3-9 is also on the agenda— no doubt, an excellent way to spend the day with your child!

What's Happening in January & February 2014

As we find ourselves in the first month of 2014, we, at the Aamod Centre of Liberal Arts, would like to wish all our readers a successful and prosperous New Year.

So, without further ado, let's jump right into what's happening in January and February 2014 at Aamod & BIMA, and for which, we request you to make your presence felt as always.

Events Scheduled for January & February 2014

LIMELIGHT SATURDAYS*

January 14 (Tuesday) - Piano solo by Takafumi Mori

January 25 (Saturday) - Carnatic Concert (Veena recital)

February 8 (Saturday) - Hindustani Classical - Sitar (Nikhil Patwardhan) & Vocals (Iman Das - student of Pt. Ajay Chakraborty), Tabla (Partho Mukherjee)

February 22 (Saturday) - Western Classical Instrumental by students

*Limelight Saturdays are musical events held on two Saturdays or on holidays of every month where performers are either students of the school as well as professional artists associated with us. The events are hosted by Aamod and its members in and around Whitefield. Timings are 6 pm to 7:30 pm.

ART MART*

January 12 (Sunday) - Sculpture artist (Mahadev), Clay artist (Nandish), Rangoli workshop (Madhuri Joshi) and bakers from Swirls & Sprinkles and the Happy Baker.

February 9 (Sunday) - Art Mart schedule not yet finalized

*The Art Mart are art exhibitions by 4-5 non-competing artists while also building awareness about art through tactile activities. At every Art Mart, Artea Matters introduces new flavors of tea by means of a 'tea ceremony' and showcases works of art from students of the Bangalore Institute of Music and Art too. Timings are from 11 am to 5 pm.