Data collection and Presentation Strategy of Bharata, Matanga, Sarangadeva and other Ancient Authors… Anil Beohar talks…
Posted on September 19, 2012 by sitardivine
I had been to Khairagarh for a week from 08 to 15 September 2012 to teach a course. I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to reach today’s ace-musicologist Dr. Anil Beohar and talk to him. I was not sure how our ancient researchers took to researches on Indian Music. How vidwans like Bharata, Matanga, Sarangadeva and others collected such a volume of data and wrote such brilliant treatises that covered music so methodically with so much detail. We see that these scholars also described the music that was present in different geographical locations of the country when transport was difficult in those days. I wanted answers to these questions. So, I approached him and Anilbhai gladly accepted to talk.
I had my little Zoom Q3 HD video recorder with me, I carried this from Kolkata. The Khairagarh palace, the first building of the university, was a good backdrop. The roof-top of the teachers’ hostel appeared to me a good spot to try the shooting. From the roof we could get a good view of the palace. I set the camera on three heavy wooden stools, kept a couple of books on one stool and managed to put the camera-stand firmly. Anil-bhai sat before the camera and it appeared to me all set for a beautiful shoot out. So I recorded the interview. But…. on reaching the guest-house I discovered that I had very bad audio. The whole talk was blurred with the sound of the wind and I forgot to put the wind-shield on the microphones! It was very frustrating after all these work. I became sad. Anil-bhai was too busy with his administrative responsibilities and I feared that he might not be able to give me more time for a fresh recording. However, I told him what happened and requested for time. To my immense pleasure he agreed for the second go!
This time I chose the first floor of IKS University’s Central Library where they have kept the university theses. I was glad that there was enough light to shoot. So finally we could make it during the brief 30 minute free time on the 14 September 2012 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The recording was okay this time… and here it is for you… I hope you will like it.
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