Pt. Shivkumar Sharma uplifts the raag 'Chandrakaunsa' at the 37th Saptak Annual Music Festival

The fourth day of the music festival  belonged to Pt. Shivkumar Sharma. The artist began the programme with ‘alap, jod and jhala’ in raga ‘chandrakaunsa’. The raga has the most simple configuration ‘sa ga(komal) ma dha ni’ and played after 12 night. He carried the audience to a journey in the celestial world by the most delicate and melodious impact of the sticks on the strings of ‘santoor’. The serenity of the melody was so intense that one felt the presence of celestial happening.

Being a ‘pandit’ in the art of playing the ‘tabla’ he has inherent gift of executing the rhythm .He is a master craftsman and exploits the rhythm sartistically. Along with the execution of rhythmic play the Indian music also has a stress on beat cycle system.

He played two compositions first in ten beat cycle ‘jhaptal’ and the second one in the sixteen beat cycle of ‘taantaal’. The ‘taan patterns were simple but lyrical.  Rendition of ‘jhala’ in the concluding part of the concert had a mesmerising effect. The recital on santoor  by Pt. Shivkumar Sharma was received with long thunderous applause. Shri. Ramkumar Mishra  gave excellent percussion support.

Photographs : Aditya Sharma