|
|
Sawaal-Jawaab, Concerto grosso, Syncopation and Call-and-Response
The origins of the phenomenon called "sawaal-Jawaab" have yet to be
investigated. This process is not of very recent origin. "sawaal-Jawaab"
is now rather commonly performed. It is something special and remarkable,
perhaps, requiring less of intuition on the part of the listener, than the
meditative-contemplative, mystical awareness which characterizes the
khayal singing.
"Sawaal-Jawaab" is now a part of jugalbandhi between two performing
artists, or between the performing musician and his accompanying tabla
player. It is both competitive and collaborative. The two participants
are friendly rivals.
"Sawaal-Jawaab" commences with one musician challenging the other by
playing a short (often eight-beat) musical phrase. The rival musician
is expected to reproduce, on his instrument, the same phrase, identical
in every detail -- same number of beats, identical contours, same
tempo, same distribution of notes, same rest places. This goes on, with
new phrases being tossed at the responding rival, till a cresendo is
reached. The performing tempo is accelerated many times. Now a
breath-taking tihaai is executed. The "sam" is arrived at, with a big
bang, and everyone is happy and applauding.
However, the fact remains that playing quickfire dialogue by two
musicians at breakneck speeds, the senseless, needless high-speed
humbug, and doing the customary "sawaal-jawaab" have become a routine.
Sometimes decent and enjoyable, it can become something pretentious,
silly and deceitful; a deliberate trickery intended to gain a cheap
advantage and applause. For many listeners, "sawaal-jawaab" is simply
spell-binding because of sheer excitement it can generate. It does have
the artistic quality of effect or workmanship, showing imaginative
skill in arrangement or execution.
In passing, we should mention the terms used in Western music: Concerto
grosso, Syncopation and Call-and-Response. They display some similarities
with "sawaal-Jawaab".
2004/03/04
|
Online Store
