CHENNAI: Imagine what happens when the Do-Re-Mi of Western music meets Sa-Re-Ga-Ma of Indian classical? French composer and curator of the band Ensemble Variances, Thierry Pécou, is back in India again, this time with an interesting fusion of Indian and Western music. The composer who will bring ‘Sangata’ at Phoenix MarketCity over the weekend, says he is excited to come back to India.
Pécou was introduced to music by his brother who would listen to 20th Century musicians like Ravel, Stravinsky, Debussy, and Messiaen. He was only nine when his parents enrolled him for piano classes. “It was out of curiosity that I started taking these classes. And after a few months, I tried to compose, and notate the music onto paper by making simple improvisations. That is how it all started,” he says.
It was his love for travel that exposed him to different cultures and genres of music. As a student at the Paris Conservatory, Pécou says that he wasn’t happy with the way his masters taught him music, because it was Euro-centric. “I thought it was not reflecting the possibility of combining and understanding different music. Western music history couldn’t move on without being enriched by all the other traditions in the world,” he points out. With this in mind, Pécou started his voyage to experience the world, especially in Central and South America.
The last time he played in the city with his band, he brought in some of his western compositions to the Indians, and was mesmerised by the kind of response he got. “The crowd was listening very carefully and were curious to know more about the music. They came to us after the show with many questions,” he says. This time, Pécou has something else in store for music lovers out there. Along with Indian musicians, he will present a collaboration of the two styles.
Although it is said that music is a universal language, there are many differences in terms of notes and structure between these two kinds of music. So, was it a challenge to bring them together? “I have always been fascinated by Indian music, but there are things that are difficult for me to understand. Back in France, I read some books to understand the music, but was still sceptical about the composition. But I am really happy with the outcome now, and I’m looking forward to playing in the city,” he shares.
At the performance, Pécou’s Ensemble Variances will play along with tabla, flute, and bansuri players from a Hindustani background, and a violinist from Carnatic background. Talking about the process of making different styles of one composition, he says that he would pick a raga from Indian classical, and incorporate that into the western notes, making it easier for him to understand and compose. “The notes we use are different. The tonal system or the harmony is not there in Indian music. But as a contemporary music composer, I don’t use that either, because I find it more interesting to use it as a raga itself” he explains.
Watch
Thierry Pécou live with his musicians on Feb 25 from 4 pm onwards at Phoenix MarketCity. For details
call: 66513007