Behind the scenes on the Brillante Piano Competition 2024

Brillante Piano Competition 2024
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

No artwork kind is replete with out opposing genres coming collectively to supply a contrasting, however grand impact, bridging any variations artistes could have past their love for artwork. On the not too long ago concluded Brillante Piano Competition, Bengaluru noticed pianists from all around the world come collectively to current classical, jazz, pop and different musical genres.

Tazim Sheikh, winner of the Brillante Piano Competition 2021 prize within the jazz class, expressed the significance of studying a musical instrument. “Studying a musical instrument is crucial for a younger youngster as it could assist one regulate feelings; an instrument additionally has the potential to construct motor expertise by growing hand-eye coordination. Moreover all this, the therapeutic powers of music are well-known,” he says.

On the competition this 12 months, Tazim performed ‘Dwam,’ the title monitor of his album DWAM, and ‘Ether’ — each an distinctive amalgamation of Indo-classical and jazz music.

Tazim Sheikh
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

The Brillante Piano Competition is probably the one piano competition held in India, that not solely invitations consultants from the world over, but additionally youngster prodigies. Mantra Upadhyay, a 12-year-old pianist from Gujarat, was the winner of the classical class and runner up within the jazz class this 12 months. 

“I like that the Brillante Piano Competition is open to all cultures, and a number of genres of music. Moreover, there have been choir and string quartet performances too this 12 months,” says Shantanu Patel, winner of the Brillante Piano Competition 2019 prize within the classical class. Shantanu was additionally on the jury panel this 12 months and carried out Beethoven’s Les Adieux and Claude Debussy’s Pour le Piano for his viewers.

Shantanu Patel
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

The competition welcomes nearly as many genres of piano music as there are world cultures. Speaking about his particular style, Tazim defined, “You must hearken to loads of jazz to actually perceive it, particularly because it’s not in our blood. The entire philosophy and an understanding of jazz is not going to come except one has been within the tradition of repression that it’s born out of. Nevertheless, if you happen to delve into the music and hearken to it lengthy sufficient, you can begin studying jazz, despite the fact that the sound of it’s sophisticated and layered.”

Jazz is an extremely improvisational style. “The very best half about jazz is that you just by no means know what’s going to occur subsequent,” added Pradyumna Singh Manot, one in all India’s jazz maestros and a juror on the competition. “It’s like a blind date with destiny,” he says.

In keeping with Shantanu, despite the fact that the common Indian doesn’t relate to classical music “as a lot because it does to Bollywood numbers,” it may be enormously useful for these coping with psychological well being points. “I’ve carried out with autistic kids within the viewers and seen them develop into visibly calmer,” he says.

“I imagine classical music reduces negativity and nervousness. I imagine there are specific varieties of music which have frequencies which launch hormones which can be calming to the ear.” 

The piano just isn’t initially an Indian instrument, however has captured the hearts of many right here. “The piano is a flexible instrument and covers a variety of frequencies audible to the human ear,” says Tazim.

Brillante Piao Competition 2024
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

“I began composing even earlier than I learnt to play the piano. When you need to use all 10 of your fingers to play an instrument, you possibly can play 10 completely different notes on the identical time, and that offers you the chance to layer your music to an extent the place you possibly can sound like an orchestra simply by enjoying a piano.” he provides. 

“Taking part in the piano takes me to a state of circulation, the place I overlook the remainder of the world,” says Shantanu, including, “The piano is a logo of grandeur that has a magnetic impact on folks. It has an vitality that pulls folks, along with being the best instrument to supply sound from.”

The night ended with a efficiency by sibling duo Lydian Nadhaswaram and Amirthavarshini, the place 19-year-old Lydian performed the piano whereas his sister performed the flute and sang alongside.