Indian-Chinese music

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, right, with his sarod — a traditional instrument from northern India — and drummer Mithilesh Kumar Jha, left, arrives at the India-Taipei Association, yesterday. Khan will perform with the Taipei Chinese Orchestra for the first time tomorrow. (Akie Ang, The China Post)



TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A renowned traditional musician from India arrived on the island for the first time for a forthcoming performance that fuses Indian melodies and a local orchestra's Chinese tunes together.

Indian performer and composer Ustad Amjad Ali Khan introduces a classical northern Indian instrument called a 'sarod' to the local community, as the Taipei Traditional Arts Festival enters its second month of concerts.

Together with the Taipei Chinese Orchestra (TCO) and local leading pipa player, Chang Chiang, Khan aimed to bring the Indian and Taiwanese cultures closer by merging melodies produced with his sarod and traditional Chinese instruments.

“I named the performance 'Samaagam.' It means a combination of two different cultures, although here, it is music,” Khan told The China Post.

Khan has been a musician for about 30 years and has not only performed everywhere in India, but also in other countries such as England and Japan.

Only recently, Khan started composing for orchestras, also in India and other different countries.

“Most Indian musicians are soloists. I was one myself, too, but now I no longer want to restrict myself as a soloist anymore, so I work with different groups of musicians, both as a performer and as a composer,” Khan said.

“These two countries have such ancient history, and although the music is different, we share a lot of similarities that allows us to create harmony,” he added.

As one of India's most famous sarod artists, Khan has aimed to share his beliefs and attitude towards life with people from different cultures and religions through his majestic instrument and unique freestyle.

Khan said he wants to promote peace through the music he offers to the audience.

“Music brings people together and I feel that it has the power to connect the whole world,” Khan said.

Khan added that he looked forward to this cooperation as he has been impressed with what the Chinese instruments can do since he first heard traditional Chinese music.

Khan plans to compose a symphony for Chinese instruments in the near future, he said.

The only show of “Sarod meets Chinese Orchestra” will be taking place May 9 at Taipei's Zhongshan Hall.