In the intimate setting of “baithaks”, small concerts of Indian classical music
Traditional music from northern India is making a comeback on the country's cultural scene. But to truly experience it, small concerts, called "baithaks," are being organized in private homes to recreate the sacred connection between musicians and listeners. The website "The Print" tells the story.
The soft, golden lighting creates a gentle intimacy. Seated cross-legged, forty people listen in silence, captivated, as three Hindustani musicians (related to the northern Indian subcontinent) unfold their enchantments – tabla, harmonium, and vocals. We are at a baithak organized by the Upstairs association.
Much like early jazz, the Indian classical music concert is not a one-way street: it is based on improvisation and is built together, between the artist and the audience.
“Even with extensive experience, you can’t feel the audience in a large hall,” says Anirban Bhattacharyya, a North Indian classical music singer. It’s different in a baithak :
“I can see the faces. They give me energy.”
The audience is not allowed to applaud while the artist is playing, however exhilarating their performance may be. But they can indulge in "Wow" moments.
While Indian classical music, defined by the cycle of talas (rhythmic structures) and ragas (melodic structures), is making a comeback in Delhi, another renaissance is taking place in the shadow of the grand concert halls – that of the baithak . These intimate concerts offer a more personal experience of the music. Listeners discover a
Read on and access a unique selection of articles translated from the foreign press.
Courrier International
