Soulful sitar evening enthrals music lovers
By Peerzada Salman
KARACHI: A baithak featuring sitar recital by Ashraf Sharif Khan organised by the All Pakistan Music Conference in collaboration with the music society of Institute of Business Administration (IBA) enthralled music lovers at the institute’s city campus auditorium on Friday.
The maestro’s first act was a soul-stirring rendition of raag bheem pilasi. Before the performance he told the audience that he’d first play the alap (which he likened to an act of worship) painting the picture of the raag, follow it up with the jod (when the beat takes effect) and round it off with the jhala (speed). The alap was so well-constructed that despite its nearly 30-minute duration it entranced the audience from the start. Ashraf Sharif (son of Ustad Sharif Khan Poonchwale) closed his eyes during that part of the recital as if meditating, and despite holding the instrument tight, made it sound free-flowing. When he hit the softer notes, they had a lasting and mellifluous resonance more than those of the heavy notes.
In his typical style, he would wave his right hand in the air every time he left a note to have the effect that it was played for.
Even the open notes sounded just as beautiful. He gently raised the tempo of the composition without compromising on the sur. With every passing moment his nimble finger-work became nimbler and even the small pauses for tuning the sitar didn’t let the passion subside for a moment or the rhythm and melody go off-topic. He dazzled the audience with his remarkable control over the instrument and when the tabla (played by Ustad Bashir Khan) joined in, he let himself loosen up a bit with an intermittent smile appearing on his face. It was a rare treat. Ustad Bashir Khan gave him decent company.
In the latter part of the performance, Ashraf Sharif Khan gradually upped the tempo, yet the audience felt as if the pace had never been changed. The denouement of raag bheem pilasi was simply magical, as the artiste sat in a Buddha-like posture and exhibited speed that totally matched the sur of the alap. It was an awesome display.
His next act was a light and short tune, after which he looked at the crowd as if to say goodbye, but the audience demanded that he present raag bhairvi. He complied. That composition too was very well received.
Before Ashraf Sharif Khan, IBA students exhibited their musical skills. Sohaib Ali Khan played a piano piece, after which Omar Mukhtar (guitarist) and Sohaib Ali presented a B.B. King number and finished their stint off with an instrumental on the keyboard.
A word about the cameramen and photographers: it’s time someone tells TV camera crew and media photographers not to set their equipment wherever they wish, because it blocks the audience’s view.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/14/2011
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
