After playing for an audience in Delhi, it was time for Germany’s youth orchestra, BuJazzO to offer Chennai a taste of the same euphoria on Saturday night. The concert, held at the Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, was the fifth in a series of concerts organised to celebrate the Year of Germany in India (September 2011 to November 2012). It was certainly a treat for music lovers as the musicians performed along with RA Ramamani, TAS Mani, Karthik Mani — all members of one of South India’s most respected families in the music industry — and Germany-based Ramesh Shotham. Conductor Mike Herting said, “We are very proud to be here in Chennai, the heart of Carnatic music. This is something we have been planning for six years.” And before one knew it, the orchestra was in full swing along side strong Indian percussion. A number of the pieces performed were compositions by Ramamani, whose voice effortlessly matched the pace of a rapidly rising tempo. The packed auditorium made it evident that music lovers in the city had gathered in full force to enjoy it. One enjoyable composition titled Balaji was quite unlike the grand crescendos and high velocity musical tones of the others. Instead, it began slowly with the gentle weave of a saxophone and then steadily moved forward leading to a change of pace and an impressive drum solo to follow. It was interesting to note the conductor at one point tapping his hand on the podium stand — palm down then palm up (in exactly the same fashion a carnatic singer would do to keep rhythm).Another piece, City Life composed by Louis Banks had members of the audience in rapture. Herting offered, “This was originally written for Mumbai but now that we’ve had a taste of Chennai, I think this composition fits here as well.” With multiple time signatures to create an illusion of chaos and movement and later the soft ebb of calm, followed by more ‘orchestrated confusion’, this one was memorable, long after the cramped parking lot stood empty.
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