Changed the way classical music is presented: Bickram

Asserting he will remain to the core a classicist, celebrated percussionist Bickram Ghosh says he has only sought to change the way such music is presented
"All I had done in past 15 years is to promote Indian classical music. I was asked by a journalist how it felt like switching gear from pure classical to the other forms. But did I really move away!" the 'Rhythmscape' man told PTI on the sidelines of a live concert with leading percussionists.
"How can you change the content! I only endeavoured to change the way classical music is presented making it more entertaining, You can watch it, you can either get into the groove of deep, subtle intricacies of say a Sawal Jabab or you can just follow the beat and rhythm at face value, but follow nevertheless," Bickram said after the Siddha Live in India show here.

Bickram, who collaborated for an instrumental fusion with classical carnatic overtones with three other formidable instrumentalists from Southern India, averred, "West is slowly rediscovering India which has a versatile rhythm tradition."
"From Western Pop to Rabindrasangeet, everywhere there can be a tabla as the accompanying percussion equipment, " he said.
Pointing to Suresh, a prominent 'ghatam' player in the country, Bickram says, "He is playing an instrument which is indigenous and dates back to 2,000 years. Together with Arunkumar, one of the top three drumstick players they have conjured up a beat which has all the traditional Indian classical elements but yet very contemporary and global."

"This is the first time four divergent instruments together came on stage to recreate a wholly new and different sound beat. Ghatam, drumstick, tabla and a south Indian temple music tool. Despite performing together for the first time without any rehearsal, our pitches and tones matched as we could anticipate each other," Bickram said.
"I had performed with Bickram in Barcelona and some other places in world. But this is the first time you have drumsticks matching the beats of tabla and a 2000-year old instrument Ghatam. We would love to follow up this fusion exercise to other places in India in future," Suresh said.

The next fusion concert, having four different percussion beats, will take place in Mumbai by November, Bickram said.