Sounds and the City

IF Ensemble on its maiden India tour and composing a first-of-its-kind audio-visual concert for it

THE traffic is maddening. The heat is catching on. And the people stare and interfere quite a lot. But Brussels-based cellist Mauro Sarachian finds a certain fluidity to this rush,and an order in this chaos. India is colourful,and while Delhi was a bit tough,we are liking Chandigarh, says Sarachian. Chandigarh is cool. It is not touristy like other cities. No one is out here to sell you stuff and one can work and walk here freely, adds fellow musician,Canada-based guitarist and composer Otso Lahdeoja. Scenographer and visual artist,Alexandre Berthier from Canada,and flautist Florian Guibert from Brussels also agree.

Together,the four of them take in Indian culture,and for the last two years,have been fusing those elements in their music. Today,they will present a first-of-its-kind audio-visual concert in the city as part their first India tour. Performing under their band name,IF Ensemble,the group represents the coming together of an acoustic world music trio and a visual artiste. They will create a blend of engaging music,born out of their varied cultural backgrounds and influences,coupled with captivating visual imagery. Its basically World music,all original compositions,with a lot of improvisation. You will hear different notes Finnish,Argentinian,French,African and Indian as well,since Florians wife is from Chandigarh and he has also played alongside Indian classical musicians, says Lahdeoja,who has a doctorate in electronic music and has based his research on digital arts at the University of Mon,Belgium.

Created in Brussels in 2010,IF Ensemble will also perform in Jaipur,Bhopal,Thiruvananthapuram,Pune and Nepal. This project has been put together especially for India. The concept and the theme are local,and even the stage,sound and light equipment and the set-up has been done by the local workforce, says Lahdeoja.

Veiled behind a black screen,the trio will play their music,while Brethier will throw carefully selected and composed visuals on the screen. It will be layered,and will run like a story, says Sarachian. Visuals along with music do tend to distract the listener,admits Lahdeoja. But thats what we are trying not to. We are trying to find a balance,a frame that compliments the two and enhances the act, says Lahdeoja.

Brethier,who has been travelling back and forth to Delhi and Chandigarh,has been collecting visuals and is now ready to weave a story and make it dance.

Strangely,there is no percussion instrument in the ensemble,nor are there any original folk instruments. That was a challenge for us. It is easy make music with the drum beats, says Lahdeoja about his choice of limiting it to just three instruments the guitar,cello and flute.

While documentary filmmaker Juliette Mauduiet and cameraman Fabian Marandola will record their entire tour,they agree to a quick preview of the concert. The black screen goes down and the lights at the Alliance Francaise cafe dim down,and the four take positions the trio behind the screen and Brethier on the digital console. The first note strikes,and visuals of the roads of Delhi and Chandigarh,along with trees and traffic play on the screen. Its a musical conversation,with a touch of African and Celtic music.

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The concert will be held today at Alliance Francaise,Sector 36,7:30 pm onwards