The P52 photography assignment this week is to
show a photo that makes use of a centered (in the picture) subject. “I won’t be
disappointed if you don’t want to continue this project,” my daughter wrote
when she forwarded this week’s subject. “It’s great for photos…but not so much
for writing,” she continued.
Actually my Centered Composition came rather easily this week. I had the privilege and pleasure of experiencing Zakir Hussain in concert. He is a master tabla player: Indian drums that are a little like bongos. Zakir is a centered subject in every sense of the word. He is not only a most spiritually centered musician, he also happened to be sitting dead center of the stage during the performance. He therefore fits the bill for this week’s prompt in more than the photographic sense.
Why did I decide to go see Zakir Hussein? My dear friend Kathleen had heard Zakir perform at Seattle WOMAD some years ago and had the pleasure of meeting him and experiencing his warm presence. When she invited me to the concert, I Googled him. He has had accolades galore – multiple Grammies not withstanding – and he has performed with artists as diverse as George Harrison, Yo Yo Ma, Van Morrison and the Kodo drummers. I also Youtubed him. He was clearly an amazing drummer and, even on the video, I could feel his joy radiating out from the screen. He was irresistible. I had to go experience him in person.
Zakir Hussain brought his Pulse on the World: Celtic Connections tour to the venerable Moore Theatre in downtown Seattle. He sat cross-legged on the stage surrounded by eight other talented musicians. On either side of him on the riser were Indian compatriots, a brilliant flute player to his left and an equally brilliant Indian fiddle player and singer to his right. Below the dais on his left were two Celtic violin players and an English bodhran drum player. On his right were a Scottish flute and pipe player, a French (from the Celtic region of Brittany) flute player and an Irish guitar player. Nine musicians in all, every one of them amazingly accomplished.
And Zakir was the one that brought them all together. What a master, to be able to bridge music genres and to connect musicians from all over the world! He brought out the similarities in music from different countries – not only in tones and rhythms, but in the ancient stories that inspired songs. Zakir introduced one of the ancient Celtic songs and talked about the connection between the Celtic story it told and those of Arjuna in the Mahabharata. The ancient song indeed sounded both Celtic and Indian at the same time – a true fusion. It was fascinating to experience.
Another haunting piece resembled Native American music – the bamboo flute riffs were so beautiful and reminded me of the Canyon Trilogy by R. Carlos Nakai. The fiddle sounds sliding up and down resembled Chinese and Japanese style music. The bagpipes lent a decidedly Scottish flavor but even that seemed part of a truly ecumenical blend.
Ah, but the true centerpiece was Zakir himself. His hands flew over the different tablas, his rhythms so precise and so in tune that I was amazed. I leaned forward in my seat to take in his performance. How did those different notes come out of the same drum? How did the different types of sounds come out of the same drum? How on earth did a main beat come out so clearly and precisely paced amidst a flurry of other notes? How the heck could he exactly repeat a complex melody that his flute friend had just played? Zakir’s hands flew over the drums so rapidly that only a whirr was visible – and he had the amusing audacity in the midst of his drumming to take out his hammer and tune his tabla without missing a beat in his flow.
And all the while he had a look of pure joy, his curly hair bouncing and framing his face like a halo. He grinned at his fellow musicians inviting them into his delicious musical feast.
I thought to myself, how is such talent in a human possible? Zakir is at the leading edge of what man is capable of: creative talent coupled with a spiritual depth that enhances his talent; and his ability to co-create with other musicians, not just in his genre, but spanning the world. Zakir is truly a world and a spiritual ambassador for our human race. I feel honored to have been in his presence and to do my small part in co-creating this musical event with my participation.
Actually my Centered Composition came rather easily this week. I had the privilege and pleasure of experiencing Zakir Hussain in concert. He is a master tabla player: Indian drums that are a little like bongos. Zakir is a centered subject in every sense of the word. He is not only a most spiritually centered musician, he also happened to be sitting dead center of the stage during the performance. He therefore fits the bill for this week’s prompt in more than the photographic sense.
Why did I decide to go see Zakir Hussein? My dear friend Kathleen had heard Zakir perform at Seattle WOMAD some years ago and had the pleasure of meeting him and experiencing his warm presence. When she invited me to the concert, I Googled him. He has had accolades galore – multiple Grammies not withstanding – and he has performed with artists as diverse as George Harrison, Yo Yo Ma, Van Morrison and the Kodo drummers. I also Youtubed him. He was clearly an amazing drummer and, even on the video, I could feel his joy radiating out from the screen. He was irresistible. I had to go experience him in person.
Zakir Hussain brought his Pulse on the World: Celtic Connections tour to the venerable Moore Theatre in downtown Seattle. He sat cross-legged on the stage surrounded by eight other talented musicians. On either side of him on the riser were Indian compatriots, a brilliant flute player to his left and an equally brilliant Indian fiddle player and singer to his right. Below the dais on his left were two Celtic violin players and an English bodhran drum player. On his right were a Scottish flute and pipe player, a French (from the Celtic region of Brittany) flute player and an Irish guitar player. Nine musicians in all, every one of them amazingly accomplished.
And Zakir was the one that brought them all together. What a master, to be able to bridge music genres and to connect musicians from all over the world! He brought out the similarities in music from different countries – not only in tones and rhythms, but in the ancient stories that inspired songs. Zakir introduced one of the ancient Celtic songs and talked about the connection between the Celtic story it told and those of Arjuna in the Mahabharata. The ancient song indeed sounded both Celtic and Indian at the same time – a true fusion. It was fascinating to experience.
Another haunting piece resembled Native American music – the bamboo flute riffs were so beautiful and reminded me of the Canyon Trilogy by R. Carlos Nakai. The fiddle sounds sliding up and down resembled Chinese and Japanese style music. The bagpipes lent a decidedly Scottish flavor but even that seemed part of a truly ecumenical blend.
Ah, but the true centerpiece was Zakir himself. His hands flew over the different tablas, his rhythms so precise and so in tune that I was amazed. I leaned forward in my seat to take in his performance. How did those different notes come out of the same drum? How did the different types of sounds come out of the same drum? How on earth did a main beat come out so clearly and precisely paced amidst a flurry of other notes? How the heck could he exactly repeat a complex melody that his flute friend had just played? Zakir’s hands flew over the drums so rapidly that only a whirr was visible – and he had the amusing audacity in the midst of his drumming to take out his hammer and tune his tabla without missing a beat in his flow.
And all the while he had a look of pure joy, his curly hair bouncing and framing his face like a halo. He grinned at his fellow musicians inviting them into his delicious musical feast.
I thought to myself, how is such talent in a human possible? Zakir is at the leading edge of what man is capable of: creative talent coupled with a spiritual depth that enhances his talent; and his ability to co-create with other musicians, not just in his genre, but spanning the world. Zakir is truly a world and a spiritual ambassador for our human race. I feel honored to have been in his presence and to do my small part in co-creating this musical event with my participation.
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