REVIEW: Mandolin Maestro Visits the Cotswolds

Last night we attended Abbey Home Farm, or the Organic Farm Shop, for something spectacular. It was the first time we had been to the shop at night. We usually visit during the day, on a trip to collect organic supplies, catch a bite to eat, or browse the books and beautiful Indian wares. This time we were there for a concert that was a fundraiser for the Bhopal Medical Appeal which the farm has been supporting for many years.

 

 

Following a string of lights, we found ourselves in a rustic, wooden-beamed room that smelt of aromatic curry and was filled with the chatter of people who waited patiently for the start of an Indian classical music concert.

The evening started with Nigel Barlow, an internationally renowned inspirational business speaker and author, introducing mandolin virtuoso Pandit Sugato Bhaduri, who is currently on a world tour. We learned that Sugato is one of a kind, rendering meditative melodies of Hindustani classical music on a mandolin, an instrument that is unusual in Indian music. We were told to be prepared for the music that we were about to hear.

"Bob Marley once said “One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain" Nigel Barlow.

 

 

Sugato then performed. Setting his drone, he positioned himself so that his mandolin could be picked up by the mic and settled into an improvised melody, which ascended and descended, blending the Gayaki-ang with Tantrakari throughout the first half.

Sugato said that the ongoing challenge is to create something new and that the piece that he was playing was a night melody that he had never played in the UK before. If that wasn't awe-inspiring enough, we were treated to ancient traditional singing as an accompaniment to the mandolin. Sugato's capacity to sing without pause was astonishing. He admitted that the deep resonant sound from his voice may be different to our ears and he was quite right! It is hard to describe his vocals and how he adapted them to 'brighten' the sound and make it even more interesting.

 

As the evening came to an end, everyone took their time to leave. I certainly felt a bit like I had been in an invigorating sound bath for an hour and a half! It was an honour to experience the music and the atmosphere of the Organic Farm Shop.

Review by Julia

 

Find out more about Abbey Home Farm HERE

 

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