Music Is A Language That Transcends Borders, Bridges Cultures And Emotions: Tabla Artiste Sutanu Sur

Exclusive interview: Internationally acclaimed Tabla artiste Sutanu Sur discusses the power of music in transcending boundaries and shaping cultural identities.

Sutanu Sur is an internationally acclaimed Tabla artist based in the United States.

Source : Sutanu Sur

Music has long been recognised as a powerful force that transcends boundaries and unites people from diverse backgrounds. US-based Tabla artiste Sutanu Sur is living this philosophy as an Indian-Western crossover musician. Speaking exclusively to ABP Live, the musician shared his insights on the profound connection between music and emotions, his understanding of culture, and invaluable advice for aspiring musicians. Through anecdotes and personal experiences, Sur shed light on how music creates a unique cultural experience and shapes our identities.

Music: A Celebration Of Diverse Cultures

Sur believes music is a universal religion that unites people all over the world. Asked why he believes music serves as a powerful force that connects individuals from different backgrounds and creates a unique cultural experience, he recalled acclaimed Indian American composer Reena Esmail's work, 'This Love Between Us - Prayers for Unity'. "I was captivated by how relevant this piece is in providing insights into all the religions practised in India and how they are connected despite their differences."

He added: "I was invited to perform on this piece as a featured guest tabla artiste with the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra, Choir, and Sitar (Sri Shreekant Shah), conducted by Dr Phillip A Swan. The piece was created in such a way that it used original texts from each religion, as well as different raags and taals to create the appropriate musical environment, blending the Indian and Western Classical genres to convey the message 'This Love Between Us'."  

Sur quoted Esmail from one of her interviews to Los Angeles Times to explain the meaning of the piece: "The thesis statement of the piece, if there is one, is that whatever you believe, somewhere in your religious canonical text it says that you should be good to one another, if you are not doing that, it is not your religion that is mandating it. It is you making a choice to go against your own religion." 

He added: "Over 200 musicians and a choir performed on stage, providing the audience (both in person and via live streaming) with a one-of-a-kind celebration of India's diverse cultures right here in Appleton, WI, USA. The audience's standing ovation demonstrated the significance of this extraordinary collaboration."  

The Melodic And Rhythmic Language Of Tabla: Celebrating Cultural Fusion

The World Music Day this year focused on the theme of "Music on the intersections" and its ability to bring together people from various cultures and backgrounds. Asked how he defines culture and how he thinks music contributes to and shapes cultural identities, Sur said: "Culture is people's way of life, their behaviours, and their beliefs. Music and the arts are important in defining culture. Tabla, the instrument I play, has its own language. Each stroke on the tabla is represented by a syllable known as the 'bol', which is mentioned in Vedic scriptures. These syllables are onomatopoeic when translated into tabla. In my pre-concert talks, I always try to demonstrate how interconnected this language is when spoken and the sound of the Tabla."

Sur was the featured tabla player at the Green Lake Festival of Music held ar Ripon the US state of Wisconsin on June 25. The festival started in 1979 and this was for the first time that tabla was featured, said Sur. Incidentally, Reena Esmail was the composer in residence at the event.

This year's theme was 'Hemispheres Uniting', which provided the ideal setting for compositions that fuse Indian and Western Classical music. 

"The tabla bols were used as the text of the piece 'The Tipping Point', creating the ideal scenario in which the choir group and tabla could share equitable space and create this unique experience," Sur explained.

The Expressive Power Of Tabla: Connecting Through Music And Emotions

Tabla, the main percussion instrument in Indian classical music, can be both melodic and rhythmic at the same time, said Sur. And it's because the tabla is such an expressive musical instrument that it is capable of eliciting the appropriate emotions in a piece through collaboration with other instruments, Sur said when asked to explain how he ensures that he maintains the same intensity of emotion while collaborating with other artistes playing other instruments. 

"Music positively impacts our lives and influences our feelings," Sur said. "I have seen firsthand how powerful music can be on our minds. Music of various styles can have varying effects on one's mood, allowing them to experience and process a wide range of emotions. The way music affects the brain is extremely complex, with different areas of the brain processing pitch, tempo, and melody."

He added: "I have realised how playing the tabla improves my problem-solving abilities in math, logic, and analysis. Tabla playing techniques necessitate applying pressure to the membranes of the drum with various sections of our hands and fingers. This is also linked to acupressure points, which help alleviate anxiety and depression."

"Just as we need regular exercise to keep our bodies physically fit, Tabla playing/practice not only improves our skills but also keeps our minds fit, working at peak concentration and attentiveness, allowing us to fully express ourselves. I realised how important music is in keeping me mentally strong during the difficult times of the pandemic," he said.

Sur also said the Indian classical music is an improvised form of art that takes a lot of practice to master and understand the emotional aspect of a piece in order to translate it into performance.

Road To Success: Embracing Challenges And Overcoming Doubts

Born into a family that loved music, Sur's musical journey started without him "even realising it". "I was born into a genuinely music-loving family where musical instruments, including the tabla, were already present. My uncle used to teach Indian Classical vocal music at home and was also a trained tabla player, so it quickly became a natural part of my life. I began formal tabla training at the age of five under the tutelage of my Guru, Late Pandit Sukumar Maitra."

As a child, he was more inclined to music than to studies, but his family "was incredibly supportive of that".

But, Sur explained, his music only made him a better student and eventually a software engineer.  

"As I grew older, I realised that rigorous tabla training and practice helped me equally in improving my skills in math, logical thinking, and analytical reasoning, which helped me become a software rngineer. It gave me a tremendous amount of self-confidence to face and overcome any situation," he said. "I realised this even more during the pandemic's difficult times, when we all experienced drastic changes in all aspects of life, providing a completely different perspective. My music has greatly assisted me in relieving stress and remaining mentally strong." 

Sur moved to the US over a decade ago to work as a software engineer. But music never took a backseat. "I was always focused on learning and improving my instrument skills, performing whenever I had the chance, and not worrying too much about success. Collaboration with Western orchestras and choirs has recently brought a completely new dimension to the tabla due to these unique compositions," he said.

Unleashing The Power Of Practice: Pursuing Excellence In Tabla

As someone who has achieved recognition in the domain of music, Sur has some words of advice for aspiring artistes.

While everyone knows practice is most important to master any instrument, according to Sur, it is critical to practise in the right way for it to be effective. "The first phase of learning, which includes establishing proper posture, hand position, and finger placement on the tabla, is critical for effortless playing of the instrument," he said, adding: "As we gain advanced knowledge and skill on the tabla, we must also develop our own style. Because there is no limit to learning the Tabla, the passion and appetite to learn the art should always be present."  

In his message for budding artistes, Sur said: "The tabla requires a lot of pitch and speed manipulation, almost like combining a fretless instrument and a percussion instrument. If you incorporate tabla into your life, you will be able to showcase the spectacular improvisatory art of this Indian classical instrument."