A rare gallery of musical instruments, named “Maestros Treasures” donated by eminent classical musicians both Carnatic and Hindustani of yesteryears were inaugurated at the Shanmukhananda Sabha, Sion on Sunday.
All the instruments used by the doyens were gifted during the past few years. The “Maestros’ Treasures” gallery has on display the Shehnai played by Ustad Bismillah Khan, Sarangi of Pandit Ramnarayan, Tablas of Ustad Zakir Hussin, Sarod of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Mandolin of U.Srinivas, Violins of Lalgudi Jayaraman, Prof T.N.Krishnan and M.S.Gopalakrishnan, Santoor used by Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Baasuri of Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Flute used by legendary T.R.Mahalingam( Mali) was donated by Pandit Ramnarayan when the former gifted it to Panditji after both played together at the French Radio Festival in 1979, Ghatam used by Vikku Vinayakram, Mridangam of Palghat Mani Iyer and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt donated his “Mohana veena”.
These instruments were donated by the artists, knowing Sabha will not exploit them for commercial purpose and will be appreciated by more than six lakhs people who visit the Sabha every year, said the Sabha president Dr V.Shankar.
Last year at a Sabha function, veteran Mridangist from South , Dr Umayalapuram Sivaraman played the Mridangam, which was 100 years old, and later donated it for the project Shankar said. “This gallery was assembled in three months time despite the pandemic and would serve as an inspiration to young musicians and the patrons of art and also recollect on each occasion when they see the instruments of vintage classics that they had experienced live of these great maestros”, he said.
