Music Maker

Semi-classical vocalist Vidya Shah has found new fans — in Morocco. Last week,the Delhi-based thumri singer became the first Indian musician after Pandit Ravi Shankar to perform at the Asilah Arts Festival in Morocco. “The organisers told me that since language will be a barrier,my music should be heavy in rhythm. Therefore,a lot of my songs were dominated by intricate rhythm patterns,” says Shah,who sang poetry by Baba Bulleshah,Amir Khusrau,Kabir and Meera among others. The Asilah Arts Festival is a 32-year-old annual festival that brings together studio and performing artistes from across the world.

Shah was accompanied by an ensemble of musicians from Delhi,which included a sarangi player. “The people of Morocco recognise the rabab so they were surprised to see a sarangi,which looks like the rabab but is played differently,” says Shah,who returned from the festival on Monday. The highlight of her performance was the rendition of damadam mast kalandar,which brought the audience on their feet. “They were dancing as if possessed,” says Shah.