This month’s recommendation comes from Tarun Balani. Tarun is a drummer, composer and music educator from New Delhi and has worked with bands like Advaita, Artistes Unlimited, and has been the first call drummer for artistes like Faridkot, Ujwal Nagar, Suhail Yusuf Khan and NoJazz {France}. After completing a bachelors degree in music from Berklee College of Music, Tarun went on to study as well as share the stage with musicians such as Danilo Perez, John Patitucci and Ron Carter while he was a part of the Berklee Global Jazz Ensemble where he developed his voice as a World jazz drummer. Apart from being a sideman, Tarun’s own group, the Tarun Balani Collective, is all set to release their debut record in next couple of months and promises to be a record to watch out for.
A true guru will teach you how to be your own master, and it was Jamey Haddad who recommended the book ‘The Mysticism of Sound and Music’ by Hazrat Inayat Khan to me.
Jamey Haddad is a renowned World percussionist and collaborates regularly with Paul Simon, Simon and Garfunkel, Yo Yo Ma and Esperanza Spalding, to name a few. Jamey is the recipient of three National endowments for the Arts Performance Grants and can also be heard on more than 170 recordings. In my senior year at Berklee College of Music, I had the privilege of studying with Jamey.
I believe that one must know the purpose and power of music. Music to me is a path to reach a higher state of consciousness and bliss. This book contains a Sufi vision of music, sound, language and the power of words. Hazrat Inayat Khan explains topics like ‘The Divinity of Indian Music’, ‘The Manifestation of Sound on the Physical Sphere’, ‘Rhythm’ and many more. One has to study this text because it is not an easy read. And while the book is for everyone- musicians and non-musicians, I feel musicians will definitely get a lot more out of this. It’s heavy and profound, and you have to be interested in the subject to be able to understand and digest the text.
“Divine sound is the cause of all manifestation. The knower of the mystery of sound knows the mystery of the whole universe.”
Hazrat Inayat Khan
Hazarat Inayat Khan {1887-1927} was born in Baroda to a renowned musical family. His grand father, Maula Baksh was known all over India as a master of both Hindustani and Carnatic music, as well as a great teacher. In his early years, Inayat met great musicians, scholars and spiritual leaders and {all of whom influenced} developed an outlook of universality and depth in his music. Known for his beautiful voice and art of playing the Veena, soon made him a sought after musician. Along with his love for music, Inayat was a great scholar of the sacred texts, which led him to Hyderabad where the great Sufi master, Abu Hashim Madani, initiated him. Under the guidance of his master, Inayat was led to the gateway of mystical realizations and became one of the greatest spiritual luminaries of his time. He was the first Indian Sufi teacher to bring the Islamic mystical traditions to the west.
I find answers, inspiration, direction and a source of energy for my music and life from this book and I hope you do too. This is the perfect weather to read this text and compose some music. A visit to Inayat Khan’s Dargah, which is located in the vicinity of Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, makes the experience that much more special.
Go get a copy! And be inspired….
