Evening star., 1934-01-07

ton to Western artists and. whether
understood or not, have left an indell-
BILE impression on those who have wit
messed them. 1t is not alone the per-
fection of his performance that arouses
interest. but the impressive glimpse OF
the ramifying character Of Indian art
that nevertheless is all-embracing, in
fluenced by and influencing every de-
partment of life. that one marvelS at
Shan-Kar approaches his interpreta-
tions from an intellectual standpoint
His company is not formed Of mere en-
tertainers, but of students and profes-
Sional men, some of them engineers
who have studied their country'S dance
and music with the object of giving ii
out again in an endeavor to acquaint
an alien civilization with a strong cross
section of their national life.
The different racial attributes which
make up the empire of India, its his
tory, religious forms, music and dance
technique have been profoundly studied
by Shan-Kar. From the lengthy and
complicated ceremonies in which music
and the dance are component parts and
which, from early morning to late at
night. through every phase of living, is
SO prominently present, he has made
condensed versions to fit the space and
time of a public recital, retaining intact
the formative idea. To this mental
conception Shan-Kar and his troupe
have added an eXquiSitely refined tech
nlQue and a pulSlng warmth OF feeling
of great appeal to foreign audiences.
In India dancing is believed to be of
divine creation. 1t is said that Brahma
entered into meditation and out of the
depths of divine thought brought forth
the Nritya SaStra (the science OF dane
ing) for the JOY of the universe" In
all religious rituals from times beyond
any of our reckoning the dance was an
integral part of public worship. SO i'm
portant was it considered that strict
rules were evolved for every movement
of the head, arms, hands and feet.
From these earlier severe regulations
the technique has been expanded and
the restrictions somewhat relaxed,
which are the only changes this age-old
art has experienced. Rhythm is the
fundamental rule of Hindu dancing
and there must be exact harmony in
every turn of the head or hand or
bodily movement-a constant and un-
interrupted rhythmical flow.
AS with dancing, so it is with music,
which pervades the entire system of
life in India. To a Hindu there is mu-
sic in the air, on the land, in the waters
and, as a celebrated Hindu writer says,
the universe is singing its way toward
perfection The fundamental ragas,
or male" tunes. and the raginaS Cfe-
male" tunes), from which all music is
evolved, are looked upon as deitieS and
certain hours of the day set aside for
each, in which they are conciliated
with appropriate music So strong is
this belief that no serious musician
would offend these deities by playing
his special music at the wrong time of
the day or season.
Thus it is that beautiful melodies
have been created which are dedicated
to the early morning. to noon or to
night to the rain, the sunshine, fire,
water, earth or air and an infinite num-
Der of less important subjects. These
simple melodies are left to the muSi-
clan to elaborate as his talent and SEN
timent dictate. In this way India has
accomplished what the Western world
has been unable totally to do-to make
music in truth a part Of the performer,
for the only music India may have, be-
yond its basic tunes. must be found in
the soul of each individual musician
and given out by him in Improvisation.
The origin of music in India is so
remote that no record Of 1t is known.
In the Vedas, the ancient scriptures
of India, there is mention Of music
and musical instruments, and 5000
years ago its hymns were chanted on
the banks of the sacred GangeS to a
music of already established laws. In
$50 B. c. there was used system OF
musical notation, which in the early
part OF the eleventh century was in
troduced into Europe by an Italian
Benedictine monk. The famous violin
maker StradivariuS claimed that
HinduStan was the birthplace of in
struments played with bow.
The Hindu musical scale IS COM
prised of seven notes taken from the
calls of various birds or animals. Thus
the "sa," corresponding to our do"
was taken from the call of the pea
cock. the ga or mi from the sheep,
the pa" or sol from the cuckoo, the
"dha" or Ia" from the horse and the
nj or I'll from the elephant. The
octave is divided into % tones, with
quarter tones and semi-tone intervals.
while the six ragaS or male" tunes
have 36 raginas or female" tunes and
many "putras' or sons" Students of
music learn the form of the ragaS and
raginaS only, the interpretive and
broader details being acquired by listen
ing and memorizing. while the indivi-
The Instruments which Shan-Kar
will introduce at his recital. while con-
stantly used today throughout India,
are yet of great antiquity. The star
is a seVen-stringed instrument. made of
resonant wood with the body about
two feet long and a -inch-wide
fngerboard. A favorite instrument of
Hindu musicians is the sarangi, with
two gut strings and one of brass, which
Is held upright and played with a bow,
while the Ektara. a primitive one
Stringed instrument, is popular with
Hindu beggars. Besides these Shan
Kar will have many varieties Of drums,
the most important instrument for
Hindu dances, since the rhythm is in
dicated by its means; pipes, gourds and
brass instruments.
Musicians in India are accorded
great honor kings and princes giving
place to these gifted ones. They are
supported by the wealthy. for they are
considered the leaders, whereby man is
brought to a profound understanding
of himself and his destiny, but in re-
turn give their services gratis.
The attitude in India toward music
Is distinctly interesting and informa-
tive There is no question OF music
beng solely tor specially gifted one'
Cr to be enjoyed at Certain times an.
in formal manner. Iii their wisdom.
they long ago discovered what We today
are lust talking abOut-that music 1,
necessary not only to the individual
but to every undertaking in life as {
means of pleasure, uplift and re-
newal OF spiritual force. The powe
of music is recognized as a vital facto
in private and civic life, and the sim
plicity of its nature as found in Indii
makes it accessible to every one.
The English seem to have a specia
gift for ensemble singing Of an informa
kind The charm of the organization
Known as the English Singers has beer
felt by every one who has assisted a
their unique recitals. On WedneSda.
morning at Mrs. Townsend's musical,
at the Mayflower another group o
these delightful singers, John Goss ant
His London Singers. will be heard, an
sharing the program will be Ellen Bal