‘Music empties our lives of superficial things’

BHARATI PAWASKAR | FEBRUARY 25, 2018, 07:33 PM IST
‘Music empties our lives  of superficial things’



THE GOAN: Ketevan is probably the most stunning and unique musical event on the sub-continent with you as its creator and artistic director. What made you initiate it?   

Santiago Lusardi Girelli: My interests in philosophy, meditation and religious enquiry led me in this direction. I created Ketevan in collaboration with other local artists three years ago, and from the very beginning I assumed the artistic direction of the festival. Music brings different cultures together, binding relations, blending emotions and uplifting humanity. We hope that this festival keeps on growing, so that it can offer Goans and Indians a deep experience of co-existence through the beauty of music from all cultures.   


How different is Ketevan 2018 from its earlier editions?   

Every edition is different, new, basically because we curate each edition from a different perspective. This time our focus is on three concepts - the life of Ketevan, her trip through cultures - East Europe, Iran and India and the concept of light and darkness. This is why many concerts will be done by candle light - the third being the minimalism concept.   


Yours being the music of awakening, how has it helped the society to transform itself?   

Art gives us the possibility to perceive really from a refreshing point of view, where past, present and future can be understood from the point of dialogue, co-existence and co-creation - a dialogue without barriers.   

Music, as universal language, can offer to all of us a message beyond our limitations. This happens because it exposes us to its beauty beyond the limitations of other languages. For me, music can communicate the proclamation of human existence, it leads us through paths of beauty, goodness and truth. It awakens each of us, and allows the society’s co-existence.   


Why is it that you intend to help local musicians and choirs to interact and engage with the best world traditions of music and performance?   

We always try to interact directly with the local traditions because it is very important to recognise where we are situated. It is important to recognise the land under our feet.   


You’ve stated that Ketevan renews the tradition of Goan musical heritage. How?   

The Ketevan Sacred Music Festival mainly focuses on vocal sacred music from all traditions, and Goa was, for hundreds of years, a reference point for sacred music in the East. To restore this tradition is very important - to start from the beginning again, to focus on the children, the young singers, the local choir and ensemble. In this edition we are hosting a children’s choir for the very first time ( this will be at the closing concert) and also some local choirs. This renewal or restoration is not a one-day job; it takes years and years of hard work. The Ketevan, in collaboration with the Goa University, wants to lead this re-consecration of Goan vocal heritage.   


What are the differences between classical and sacred music?   

Basically, when we talk about sacred music we recognise that this kind of music leads us to a spiritual experience - an experience of perceiving the manifestation of the divine soul in us. From this approach, anything can be sacred, because at the end of the day God expresses Himself in all his creation. John Cage, a eminence of western musical tradition said in the XX century that he used to sit on his balcony on the Fifth Avenue (in New York) just to listen to the traffic and connect with God through that sound, like in a concert of different sounds and noises. From another point of view, sacred music is only the music that was composed for liturgical purposes and religious functions. At the Ketevan Sacred Music Festival we host all kind of sacred music expressions.   

We call classical music to all music that’s composed for non-liturgical purposes. For me a Beethoven’s sonata, a Mozart quartet, a Mahler’s symphony is ‘Sacred Music’, because its beauty leads me directly to God, and to the experience of recognising his beauty in me, in all of us, and in the whole universe.   


What do the audiences look out for in music?   

Audiences always look for the same, for a sincere music, for the artist to speak from its heart. Everywhere you’ll find that at the end, the most important thing is to work hard to offer a sincere and renewed message through music.   


(The Ketevan World Sacred Music Festival which is inspired by the life of St Ketevan, Queen of Georgia will be held from February 28 to March 4)   


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