It was a colorful evening at NAPA with many shades of music on its palette. Even the sky wore a rare deep magenta look at dusk on December 21, adding a stroke of divinity to the launching of the book ‘Great Masters – Pakistani Classical Music.’
The Great Masters – Pakistani Classical Music has been authored by the musicologist S. M. Shahid, who is also the Advisor to the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) on classical music. The book is a tribute to the classical music maestros who are no less of a legend but did not receive recognition from the society that they deserved. The 110-page book, which, in the words of Senator (R) Javed Jabbar, is a Gallery of Glory, presents life portraits of twenty-two classical music virtuosos. The book also mentions other vocalists, instrumentalists, folk singers, composers, classical music gharanas as well as individuals who have written on music. There is a section in the book that describes musical instruments, classical music thaats or scales, and the structure of ragas, beats (taals) and the rhythm cycles.
The programme commenced with a panel discussion with Javed Jabbar, S. M. Shahid, Sharjil Baloch, and the chief guest, Saadia Naveed, on the forum. The panel discussion was moderated by Abdullah Haroon. Javed Jabbar, a director at NAPA, praised the life and works of the author and applauded the latest addition to his repertoire of books. S. M. Shahid and Sharjil Baloch reflected on the challenges faced by them in the preparatory stages of the book. He elaborated on the methodology he uses to train his students. Javed Jabbar lauded the Sindh government’s decision to make it mandatory for the schools to impart music education across the province.
The chief guest, Saadia Naveed, Deputy Managing Director of English Biscuits Manufacturers (EBM), recounted the early life of her father, Khawar Masood Butt, and delved into his deep interest in classical music.
While approaching the venue of the event, the Zia Mohyeddin Auditorium, guests were first ushered to the recently renovated Music Cabana, which has also been equipped with necessary furnishings and instruments and where music classes are being held now. To top it all, large framed portraits made by Sharjil Baloch, of the classical music maestros mentioned in the book were hung on the walls of the music cabana, which enhanced its internal environment.
After the panel discussion, S. M. Shahid presented his three young students who gave live performances and enthralled the audience with their singing prowess attained at an extremely tender age. Eden Samuel (7 years), Kirpa Dhanja (8 Years), and Jessica Dhanja (3 years) sang intricate, raag-based songs and compositions (bandishes).
The last item of the eventful evening was the sitar performance by Farhan Rais Khan and his younger brother Huzoor Hasnain Khan, sons of Late Ustad Rais Khan. The great Tabla maestro, Ustad Bashir Khan, who is a faculty member at NAPA, did the sangat with the sitarists. Later, Syed Jawaid Iqbal, Chairman of NAPA, presented a memento to the chief guest Saadia Naveed. Hamza Ali Jafri, Head of Music at NAPA, offered concluding remarks and expressed his vote of thanks.
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