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Sitar Guitar Suites commissioned by renowned guitarist Timothy Walker 1994 with support from the Arts Council.
Portraits Of The Dark Supported by ACE Seven “sound pictures” describing Bauji’s life.
Theatre Music
Musical Director and Composer Little Clay Cart and Tejo Vania, Tara Arts
Assistant musical director for British Asian Theatre, FilmFilmFilm , by Farouk Dhondy Featuring Meera Syaal at Shaw Theatre London
Composer and musical director The Lost Ring, Theatre Royal Stratford East
Musical director Untouchable, Tamasha Theatre
Film Music
Kama Sutra for Nim Nim Musik
‘Masala’ directed by Srinivas Krishna
‘A Love Supreme’ directed by Nilesh Patel
‘Savitri’ documentary film.
Reviews of Original Compositions
….the alluringly atmospheric music of the blind composer Baluji Shrivstav, who also
performs with great expertise on the sitar, and tabla and other instruments. If our
own Richard Wagner’s intention was to match the music to the action, then he could
learn a lot from Shrivastav’s concentrated economy of style-
Paul Chand, The Stage and Television Today
…the gentle music palyed by Baluji Shrivastav, seated in front of the players and
changing from instrument to instrument, heightened the mood till we began to be moved-
Portraits of The Dark
If Indian music philosophers have taught us that sound is knowledge, then Baluji Shrivastav’s autobiographical composition Portraits Of The Dark, commissioned by the Association of Blind Asians, added a new dimension to the ancient dictum. Taking us on a personal journey of musical discovery, the series of tableaux , each portraying dramatic episodes in the life of the composer, allowed us to share in the joys and sorrows of a blind musician coming to terms with the world through sound. Ably supported by the talents of a small but diverse group of musicians, who themselves represented some of the fruits of his discovery. Baluji inspired us with his wisdom.
Lest there was any doubting Baluji’s standing as a solo classical artist in his own right, he first delighted us with a sitar performance in Raga Mukhari. We were treated with some brilliant exchanges with tabla player Sarwar Sabri notably in the closing jhala.
Portraits of the Dark was essentially a programmatic work, weaving everyday sounds
( street noises, birdsong, animal cries etc) and objet trouves ( particularly musical
toys) which formed his childhood experience, around specific compositions associated
directly or metaphorically with critical events in the musician’s life. The resulting
collage was a rich tapestry, not without moments of great humour as well as poignancy,
which, leaving aside the occasional ungraceful cliche, rarely lacked inspiration.
Some weaknesses in the links between improvised and through -
After a devotional prelude, Krishnavandana, the work launched into a bhajan, exuberantly
led by the singers Linda Shanson and Sanyogita Kumari, to celebrate the birth of
a child in avillage of Uttar Pradesh. Darkness the arrives after the monsoon as the
child, having fallen ill, is offered a ’remedy’ by a neighbour ( portrayed by the
flute of Clive Bell). The anxious parents, in the form of a plaintive violin-
The fourth portrait was a lively display of the youngster’s musical development,
imaginatively coloured by Tristram Llwellyn’s synthesised sounds. A succession of
charming scenes incorporated a variety of music from the sub-
The turning point comes when finding himself alone after an arduous journey to a
concert, courage takes root in his voice. The performance of a tarana ( again beautifully
executed by Sanyogita) convinces him of his vocation… Arriving in Europe, the blind
musician experiences the sounds of other continents; folk music, jazz, and popular
song jostle in the urban mayhem as the expatriate’s sensibilities are assaulted.
As a show-
From the chaos, Baluji emerges triumphantly with the performance of an Arabic song
set to an original melody, whilst in Tunisia; this was tenderly executed with a nay
accompaniment sympathetically provided by Clive Bell. Baluji’s musical fulfilment
is blessed by Laxmi as he finds romance. After a sentimental ( almost over-
Baluji’s sensitivity to his material together with his personalised mode of representation make Portaits a highly commendable work, and perhaps it should be apprehended as a reaction against less inspired attempts to be ‘modern’ which sometimes fall of the back of the World Music bandwagon. Take note, those Indian philosophers were probably right after all.
Mark Trewin, Bazaar Magazine
Portraits of the Dark
A stunning virtuoso performance by blind musician Baluji Shrivastav with accompanying
musicians makes compelling entertainment for the most indolent of sitar non-
In a spirit akin to Joyce’s ‘Portrait of the Artist’ he develops the infantile memory
of sounds-
Exhilaration sets in when Shrivastav recalls fresh impressions of the west by integrating the accordion and the Parisian street sounds with traditional eastern instrumentation. The weaving of symphonic sound from as diverse sources as Indian folk music, Arabic music and western jazz is extraordinary, making it difficult to remain unmoved
Felicity Godden Islington Chronical
A Suite For Guitar And Sitar by Baluji Shrivastav Purcell Room
…excellent music-
Classical Guitar Magazine, Therese Wassily Saba
Composer
Baluji has composed to commission and created new works for theatre and screen. Please get in touch if you would be interested in discussing any requirements you may have for your project.
New Work
Sohini and Mahival by Baluji Shrivastav and Dario Marianelli,
An Urdu oratorio commissioned for the festival by Eye Of Shiva
An Indian In London Commissioned for Indian In London Festival. Performed at Union
Chapel London. Performed by Timothy Walker-
