6 The Gentle Giant

 

If you stumbled upon this post, reading this introduction might help

 

It was a private concert and they needed someone to play the tamboori. It so happened that a few others who could play were busy with other activities connected with the evening’s function. So, the job landed in my lap. Though I could play the tamboori and was accustomed to sit on the floor cross legged for long periods of time, I had not done the two together in a long time. I had played the Tanpura for another artist at the Mysore palace’s Dasara concert but that was when I was much younger. I had no choice so I accepted with great trepidation though I deemed it a privilege because the evening’s musician was none other than Veene Doreswamy Iyengar – my Guru’s Guru.

The concert went on very well and after about an hour and half or so I started squirming resisting an urge to change position. The maestro turned back towards me and with a gentle understanding smile said, "ಒಂದೇ ತರಹ ಕೂತು ತೊಂದರೆ ಆಗ್ತಿದ್ರೆ, ಬೇರೆ ತರಹ ಕೂತ್ಕೊಳ್ಳಿ. ಪರ್ವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ" (If you are finding it difficult to sit in the same position, change your position. No problem.) I marvelled at the great man’s simplicity and concern. With great relief I changed my position and could play for the remainder of the concert. I bow to him in my mind whenever I remember this.