Collections Corner is an online initiative aimed at highlighting objects of art, collections and pieces of obscurity from museums and institutional collections across India that the public should know more about. This month, we feature The Indian Music Experience, Bangalore 

The Indian Music Experience (IME) is India’s only interactive music museum. The IME is an initiative of the non-profit Indian Music Experience Trust, supported by the Brigade Group. The vision of the museum is to increase the understanding and appreciation of the diversity of Indian music, from the traditional to the contemporary through exhibits, performances and learning activities.

• First-of-its-kind museum of 50,000 sft with interactive, permanent and temporary exhibits spread across three floors.
• 10 exhibits that explore various facets of Indian music, from the traditional to the contemporary
• Spaces for performance include: Performance theatre, terrace amphitheatre and seminar hall

Kaavad

Before the popularity of the celluloid film people were entertained by story-tellers who sometimes would carry the whole story in one wooden box called Kavaad. Kaavad, the colorful wooden toy box is a shrine, with a collection of doors that open layers of stories. Kavadiya Bhat, the traditional genealogist, who also plays the role of a story-teller , travels from place to place, captivating the listeners with his stories. Kaavad Banchana, the oral tradition of story-telling is still alive in Rajasthan, where stories from the great epics like Mahabharatha and Ramayana , along with Puranas, are narrated. The listener is taken on an audio- visual journey, which is a surreal experience.

Samay chakra

The Hindustani tradition prescribes appropriate times of the day and seasons for the performance of each raag.  This time based prescription arises from an understanding of how sunlight and climatic factors govern people’s lives and moods. As carriers of emotional values, ragas are believed to be more effective at certain hours of the day or night, or during certain seasons.   Even though this time-specific prescription for performance may have lost its significance in contemporary times, Hindustani musicians, still respect its sanctity.

Harmonium/violin in Indian music

While harmonium found its place in Hindustani music, Violin became an integral part of the Karnatik music culture. Though it owes its origin to the European countries, it now occupies an important place on the Indian classical music platform. As per references, Violin was first introduced in the court of Travancore during the regime of Maharaja Swati Tirunal. Baluswami Dikshitar and Vadivelu are credited with introducing and popularizing violin into Indin music. The harmonium, which initially had legs and was meant to be played sitting on a chair, was adapted to the Indian style of sitting on the ground, and the pedals were replaced by hand operated bellows

Making of instrument

Instrument Gallery, Indian Music Experience

Instruments can be divided into four major categories – wind, string, percussion and solids. Displayed are all the four types and from various regions like Kerala, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh etc. Same instrument is referred by various names in the surrounding regions.  A lot of effort and skill goes into the making of an instrument.

Memory box

Pick any stage, mood or situation in your life and you will find a Bollywood song associated with it in the memory boxes. Film songs have  always been a part of the storytelling, just as it was from the beginning.Remembering an event, a situation from one’s past can rekindle fond memories  by evoking a shiver of excitement. Holding onto certain possessions is a way of recalling fond instances from chapters of one’s life. Songs for each emotion that speak for themselves adds more depth to that feeling.

The Indian Music Experience is hosting its Grand Launch on the 27th July’19 a Music Confluence by: Ustad Zakhir Hussain & Louiz Banks with Gino Banks, Sanjay Devacha, Sheldon D’Silva. To find out more about the museum and events write to info@indianmusicexperience.org

Would your museum like to be part of this monthly initiative? Please send us images and a brief description of five objects from your collection that the public and our readers should know more about. Write to info@rereeti.org.