SHILLONG: The lilting tunes of Late Listrimai Syiemlieh, the everlasting enigma of Late N C Shabong, the timeless classical resonance in the voice of Late Skendrowell Syiemlieh, the powerful matching brilliance in the poetry of Late Beriwell Kyndiah, and the immortality in the lines penned by Late C D Lyngdoh – all great Khasi music composers of yester years – came alive in a one day symposium which paid glorious tribute to their contributions in greatly enriching the cultural life of the Hynniewtrep people.
The occasion was perfect at the Don Bosco youth Centre Laitumukrah Shillong last Thursday as All India Radio Shillong held the interactive session graced by luminaries from the field of music and literature like Dr.(Mrs) Helen Giri and Dr J. S. Shangpliang. Appropriately titled in Khasi -NA SHLEM KI SUR JONG NGI, the symposium saw an active participation from veteran composers, music lovers and young learners in this field.
Large number of Students aspiring to go to the root of some of the most enchanting charms behind the penning of immortal lines by great Khasi composers of yesteryears also participated in the programme.
Some of the amazing facts from the lives of the Khasi composers and their contribution in various fields came probably to public light for the first time as their social and literary background was chronicled by those ) who presented papers on this occasion.
Songs penned by the great khasi composers were also sung by Lamphang Syiemlieh , Tanbor Swer, Iarapsbun Marbaniang, Silbi Passah and party, and Asunda Mary Nongkhlaw.
The initiative of All India Radio Shillong was much appreciated in this regard as many of the speakers lamented the fact that the original works of many of the Khasi music composers of yester years may disappear without institutional or organisational support. In this regard many of the speakers urged upon AIR Shillong to sustain with such noble initiative and take it to its logical conclusion of not only maintaining its own records with utmost care and dedication but also ensure that the younger generation wanting to pursue research on the subject can access AIR Shillong’s rich repository to further intensify their understanding of the origin and patterns in Khasi Musical composition.
They also pointed out that All India Radio Shillong is best suited for the purpose as no other institution has the mandate or rich library of the collections of the famous Khasi music composers like the Nations public broadcaster.
The interactive session also provided a whole lot of inputs to the authorities of All India Radio Shillong as useful suggestions came from luminaries in the field who attended the symposium.
Calling for a lyrical analysis of the songs of the Khasi music composers to be taken in right earnest Dr.(Mrs. ) Helen Giri in her keynote address said that apart from chronicling the contributions of the great composers there is also a need to classify each of the songs and their compositions according to their theme and rhythmic patterns.
Dr J S Shangpliang as the chief guest said that it is important and notable for tracing the development of small melodic motifs through in the works of Khasi Music Composers to get an insight to the timeless classics these works have etched in the minds of the people. Tanbor Swer said that in finding a distinction between symposium, seminar or workshop there is need to understand various aspects of Music compositions including style of reference, style of a genre or an epoch, style of the composer, style of a period in the life of a composer which he said often work inter textual analyses and often succeed through simple verbal description which are good reasons to literally compose the proposed connections.
How these songs resonate with one another, comment upon and affect one another…in a way, the music speaks for itself can be a good material for the younger generation to learn from such symposiums about the works of the great music composers. The symposium was chaired by R K D Budon veteran broadcaster.
Among others who spoke on this occasion were Narimon Shadap Deputy Director General, K Thangkhiew, Programme Executive All India Radio Shillong, R M L Marbaninag, Programme Executive All India Radio Shillong and B Nongpluh.