Classical camaraderie  The half-lit hall was nearly full and the crowd in raptures as celebrated French guitarist Philippe Loli and Kachchapi Veena exponent Thakur Chakrapani Singh took them to new heights of classical music. The concert was organised by the Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum.------------------------------------------------------------------ Indian Express Features
East meets West
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A fusion concert held the audience in thrall
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VARIETY IN STYLE Chakrapani Singh and Phillippe Loli at play
A world-class Western classical guitarist from France, and an Indian innovator who has modified his guitar to play it like a veena. For one evening, they played ragas, jazz, flamenco, and even a Hindi film song together, and the result was an interesting and melodic experiment in fusion music.--- THE HINDU
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The fusion concert organised by Alliance Francaise was entertaining
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Photo: S. SIVA SARAVANAN
Music to the ears When two worlds meet
Before the programme begins, murmurs in French fill the hall. Well, not surprising: It is a French and Indian fusion concert organised by Alliance Francaise of Madras, Coimbatore branch. ---------------------------------------------------------
In contrast comes the incredibly lively Canarios. And, what is a Western classical music evening without a piece by the great German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (Prelude in D Major)? After this is Loli’s final solo, Isaac Albeniz’s Asturias. What a way to wrap up! The composed guitarist commands complete attention, and gets it too. Be it the tremolo technique in Recuerdos… or just the strumming of the gui tar in Canarios, the sight of Loli’s nimble fingers moving swiftly leaves you in awe.
Soon, kachhapi veena (Indian classical guitar) exponent Thakur Chakrapani Singh takes the stage. For nearly half-an-hour, Singh lulls the audience with a caressing rendition in shyaam kalyani. After this, the two artistes come together, and the contrast is conspicuous — a smiling Singh in his off-white kurta and his 32-stringed guitar in a horizontal position, and a serious-looking Loli dressed in black with his six-stringed guitar placed vertically. And, the two begin.
Tango of Del Mar, Loli’s composition, teaches you that the Western classical guitar is subtle where the kachhapi veena is obviously demanding. Nevertheless, when they come together, they compete with and comple ment each other. And, the outcome is brilliant. Rafaga, a Spanish dance piece based on raga keeravani, comes next. (A grinning Loli says “It’s Rafaga not Raga Faa!”). If a piece c an both depress and elevate you at once, this is the one.
The ChakraLoli
This is followed by ChakraLoli, the duo’s piece, in keeravani again. After this, a surprise! Loli sings a small piece in Hindi (Chalte Chalte…which he had practised only the previous day!) with a delightful French flavour, to end the programme. The audience were so totally tuned in that there were no mobile phones ringing or quick insensitive chats as the musicians played. It was easily an entertaining evening.------------- THE HINDU
Strings of harmony
Kachhapi veena player Thakur Chakrapani Singh tells what made him take to this unique instrument.
GROWING up amidst a royal family nudged Thakur Chakrapani Singh towards the world of music. Singh, a Rajput hailing from Delhi, plays a unique instrument called the kachhapi veena which draws its name from a turtle (kachhap in Hindi).
At an event organised by The Alliance de Francaise, held at the Taj Connemara on Saturday evening, Singh created musical magic along with French guitarist Philippe Loli, playing raga Chakraloli, named after its two composers. With passion for music running deep in his family, Singh was exposed to an array of musicians who came home to perform and discuss music.
His initial tutelage began under his mother by learning Dhrupad. Since then, Singh has been trained under several gurus, only to culminate his classes under Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. The kachhapi veena, which Singh says is an ancient instrument, is quite a rare one, an existing piece of which is now housed at Pune museum.
Explaining the queer name for the veena, Singh says, ‘‘I always claim that the guitar is an Indian instrument. The term guitar constitutes of two Indian words - geet (song) and taar (strings). If you upturn the guitar, it somewhat looks like the shell of a turtle. Hence the name kachhapi veena.’’
The instrument has 32 strings, the maximum number of strings an instrument can have according to him, and creates music without the support of either the tabla or tanpura, which are the basic supporting instruments played in Indian classical music. Thakur Chakrapani Singh claims that music has divine powers. He recounts an incident that took place in Deoghar in Bihar, few years ago.
He says, ‘‘I was at Deoghar for my music practice, doing riyaaz beside a mango tree daily for 10 hours. The tree that had not borne fruit for years suddenly opened up its womb to bear the best mangoes anyone had ever seen in the region. This is the power of classical music.’’
The friendship between Loli and Singh is now blooming, thanks to their common tastes in music and strings. He says, ‘‘Ten months ago, Loli forwarded me his resume on the Internet and soon the seeds were sown for some excellent fusion music. And now, a raga has been created and named after us.’
 ’Sujata Chakrabarti
When guitars spoke
For the love of music
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A harmony of two musical styles
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In harmony Thakur Chakrapani Singh and Phillipe Loli tuning in
As melodic and easy on the ears fusion music may sound, there’s much effort that goes into creating perfect musical harmony, a fact that was evident at the Fusion Concert of Philippe Loli and Thakur Chakrapani Singh recently. As different as a guitar and an veena may sound individually, the merger of sound between the two string instruments was flawless. A fact clearly appreciated by the select group of classical music lovers present at the concert. Thakur Chakrapani Singh says that any kind of fusion music needs good understanding and synchronisation. The concert was organised by the Alliance Française of Hyderabad and Novotel, in collaboration with the French Embassy in India, with the duo touring the country. -------------------------------THE HINDU
String theory
Eastern and Western musical sensibilities intermixed harmoniously with Loli’s classical guitar and Singh’s Kachhapi Veena
European notes perfectly complemented Raga Kirwani. The magic revved up on the guitar by French artiste Philippe Loli and Delhi-based Thakur Chakrapani Singh found an engaging audience that took in every bit of their performance at Balgandharv Rangmandir on Monday evening.--------------------------
Bound by strings
Philippe Loli and Thakur Chakrapani Singh are from different parts of the globe but are bound by strings and sur. “The inherent differences in Indian classical and western classical music remain but melody is the same and we understand the language of music,” smiles Philippe, the French man, as he makes himself comfortable.
While Loli strums the guitar, Chakrapani Singh strikes a chord on his Kachappi veena (Indian classical guitar). And, when masters of the stringed instruments come together on stage, there is no barrier for melody. ------ THE INDIAN EXPRESS
Alliance Francaise the Indo-French Cultural Promotion Organization has been providing a platform for Indian and French artistes to come together and showcase their talent.
Taking this tradition forward they have brought together Classical Guitarist Philippe Loli and ---Thakur Chakrapani Singh The Classical Guitar Fusion concert.---------------
Thakur Chakrapani Singh is an exponent of the veena, a unique instrument with 26 strings in addition to the six strings of the guitar. He has performed at various festivals all over the country and abroad.
When these two wonderful artistes got together on stage, it was an unforgettable experience for the audience.
Two different artistes with two different styles, but the same will to explore, learn and respect music across borders - that's what fusion is all about
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videopod/default.aspx?id=16432 NDTV News
Bound by melodic strings Photo: S. Gopakumar
Symphony For Thakur Chakrapani Singh and Philippe Loli, the guitar is their muse
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An album by Thakur Chakrapani Singh and Philippe Loli will be released in October
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They are bound together by strings. For Thakur Chakrapani Singh who plays the Kachhapi veena and Philippe Loli who plays the Western classical guitar, the guitar is their muse. And although their music comes from two different classical forms, one Indian and the other Western, the euphony created is one. While most musicians would aim for a fusion of the East and West in music, this duo, who are coming out with an album shortly, prefers to stick to their roots.
“Fusion is confusion. In our album there is no attempt to fuse the two styles of music. It is a confluence of Western and Indian classical notes. Besides, Indian classical and Western classical music are similar, and it’s just the style that varies. If it’s ‘sa, re, ga’ for us, it’s ‘do, re, me’ for them,” says Singh.
The album, which will hit stores in October, contains five original compositions. “There will be pieces with pure Indian classical overtones and some which have hints of jazz and dance rhythms like the flamenco, salsa and tango as in ‘Tango Del Mar’ and ‘ Rafaga,’” says Loli. ------------- THE HINDU
Strumming notes of harmony
 The first move was made by Loli when he sent across a piece of his music to Singh.
What happens when two people with tremendous music training and an ear for good music come together? Fusion, of course! That’s exactly what happened when classical musician Philippe Loli and classical guitar maestro Thakur Chakrapani Singh came together in a symphony of sound at a guitar concert held in the city recently.
The first move was made by Loli when he sent across a piece of his music to Singh, who immediately sensed that this could culminate into a beautiful sonata together.
Singh, who is renowned for his unique guitar style, plays the kachappi guitar that highlights the strokes of sarod and da, dir, dir.
Interestingly, he also owns the distinction of having added the largest number of strings to the guitar. He exclaims, Did you know that the origins of classical guitar are Indian? As for the kachappi guitar, it is called so because it resembles a tortoise. ----
THE TIMES OF INDIA
Strung out
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Thakur Chakrapani Singh (left) and Philippe Loli perform at the Calcutta School of Music. Picture by Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya
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September 17 witnessed a rather ‘different’ fusion concert at the Calcutta School of Music, with French guitar virtuoso and composer Philippe Loli in a jugalbandi with kachhapi veena player Thakur Chakrapani Singh. The music on offer — a blend of Western Classical, flamenco and jazz with Indian ragas — was something the audience isn’t likely to forget in a hurry------------
-------------------The Telegraph
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Fusion Concert
French guitarist, veena exponent perform today
Gayatri Rajwade
Tribune News Service
French guitarist Philippe Loli (left) and Kachchapi veena exponent Thakur Chakrapani Singh will come together for the first time for a performance in Chandigarh on Thursday. |
Chandigarh, August 22
The guitar is their muse and while their music draws from two diverse classical forms, their sound is one. In an uncommon concert of classical camaraderie celebrated French guitarist Philippe Loli and Kachchapi Veena exponent Thakur Chakrapani Singh come together for the first time for a performance in the city tomorrow.
What is interesting is that this is not a fusion concert where innovative sounds are cajoled from existing forms. “This is a pure classical concert where one musician accompanies the other, blending the familiar and leaving the limitations out,” explains Thakurji.
This is because, as they explain, the roots of Indian and Western classical music are the same. While Loli has been performing as a soloist with an acoustic guitar all over the world, Thakurji says his instrument is the forerunner of the modern-day guitar. “Most people believe that the guitar is a western instrument. But, the guitar was played in India as early as the Vedic period. The Kachhapi Veena was used in this period for solo performances and also as an accompanying instrument. However, like many things from our ancient past, it vanished,” smiles Thakurji.
The name ‘guitar’ is actually derived from ‘geetar’ (geet + tar) which means an instrument that evokes music from ‘tars’ or strings, he explains. Thakurji’s ‘Kachhapi Veena’ has been modified to highlight the strokes of the ‘Sarod’. It has 32 strings besides ‘Chikari’ and ‘Tarab’ being used on both the sides. “Every instrument has its identity. The 26 strings that have been added create a tonal quality, range and clarity that are incomparable,” he says. What is more, it blends beautifully with other instruments. --------
In fact, both musicians believe innovations are what will keep the sounds of music evolving and developing. “If you stay within the boundaries of tradition, there will be no growth,” avers Loli. He heard the ‘Kachhapi Veena’ only yesterday when the two met. “But I feel I understand it and know what to do,” he says. And, it is not necessary to play Indian instruments to stir classical notes. “Our languages may be different, but our music is one,” he says. ---------------------------------------
  
HONOR FOR CELEBRITIES IN MUSIC
First Lady Smt. Gursharan Kaur presented the Award of "Bharat Ke Sangeet Ratna"to Guitar player Pt. Brijbhushan Lal Kabra and Bharat Natyam Dancer Saroja Vaidyanathan. The award ceremony was oragnized by Art and Cultural Trust Of India,headed by noted veena player Thakur Chakrapani Singh to honour some of the celebrities in the field of music.On the occasion,noted musician Dr. Haricharan Verma was honoured with Award of Sangeet Shree. The Delhi Ratna award went to Bharat Natyam Dancer Geeta Chandran and tabla player Ustad Akram Khan. Gursharan Kaur and Delhi Lt. Governor B.L. Joshi also presented awards to budding artists Aditya Bhasin, Alekh and Aryandeep Singh-----MID DAY --DELHI
DELHI IS TALKING ABOUT - The audience loved THIS JUGALBANDI
---After the awards giving ceremony was over, veena player Thakur Chakrapani Singh ,accompanied by Akram Khan On Tabla gave a lovely performance.Their sometimes slow, at times fast jugalbandi, reached out the audience,who remained rivetted to their seats. ----------------------------- Pallavi Pasricha, The Times Of India (Delhi Times)New Delhi
Chakrapani's guitar is not quite a guitar any more. Its tone has the sarod's piquancy joined to the lilt of the guitar,Caribbean and seaside. The thing is, Chakrapani is a first rate musican and that is the final test of any guitar or its allotropic form.
RAGHAVA R. MENON, The Times of india, New Delhi--------------
Chakrapani's unique style of guitar vadan highlights the strokes of sarod and the Da,Dir,Dir. He is the only guitar vadak to follow this style. Thakur chakrapani has improved the tonal quality of his guitar by adding 26 more strings . Being taught by the "Dhruvpad "and "Sarod" maestros his recitals clearly show his genius of perception in to the ethereal mysteries of tonal relationship and nuances in the context of the Raga.
RAHUL NAIR,The Hindustan Times, New Delhi------------
Thakur chakrapani singh of Delhi has not only practised and performed on 32 stringed Guitar but has revived its ancient form and with this instrumentality has successfully mingled GAYAKI and TANTRAKARI part of music with speciality in the region------. Sunil Saxena "MUKTA" ----------------
The ruins of the 11th/12th century historical "KIRADU TEMPLES" and its walls surrounded by hills were all alive and gay by the scintillating GUITAR PERFORMANCE OF THAKUR CHAKRAPANI SINGH and its melody echoed from all arounds the surrounding hills.
DAINIK BHASKAR OFFICAL REPORTER ----------------
THAKUR CHAKRAPANI WAS IN THE CITY TO PERFORM AT THE Y.V.CHAVAN CENTRE .HE PRESENTS A SUCCINCT PORTRAYAL WHICH SATISFIES THE LISTENERS.HIS '' SHYAM KALYAN'' WAS A MELODIOUS PIECE OF MUSIC. THE RAGA WITH TWO 'MADYAMS' WAS HANDLED WITH DUE CARE AND RESPECT BY THE GUITARIST.
Amrendra Dhaneshware, AFTERNOON --MUMBAI----------------
The Art and Cultural Trust Of India has decided to bestow the "Bharat ke Sangeet Ratna"awards of 2005 to Vocalist Pt.Ramashrya Jha "Ram rang" and Pakhawaj percussionist Pt Ramasish Pathak, -------Kathak Dancers Mr.M.L.Koser & Shobha Koser both jointly to be conferred the title of "Sangeet Shree" for their service to the cause of Music
Hindustan New Delhi, Monday May 09,2005 (News ) ------------
A Musical evening with the members of the Chakrapani's "WORLD SCHOOL OF MUSIC" At India Habitat centre
The Hindustan Times New Delhi, Tuesday May 10,2005 (HT CITY) (News) ----
Vocals speak out for themselves when art and culture meet each other. And what else could have been a pleasant evening when the young children presented the skills at India Habitat Centre on Tuesday. A mesmerizing musical concert presented by the member children of Chakrapani's " World School Of Music" made people lose themselves in the fine tunes of the Classical Music
MID DAY New Delhi, Friday, May 13, 2005 (REVIEW) --------------- |
Delhi gets a dose of French culture
