Keyboard replacing acoustic instruments
Speaking about the standard of musical compositions, he comments, "At one time the music in our production was very rich. They used several instruments such as the violin, guitar, tabla, sitar and flute. Now the film producers want to wrap up the work with as little expenditure as possible. Presently the music is more or less provided by just a keyboard and a rhythm box. The soul of the music is destroyed as a consequence and it appears as if the music is repetitive and monotonous. As the acoustic instruments are not being used, their prevalence is fast fading out. In India, meanwhile, along with the keyboard, other acoustic instruments are being used.
"We have no music association to protest against the new trend. Nobody takes the initiative to protest against the newfangled way of producing music in our country. The words as well as the tunes of the days gone by far surpassed the ones that are being churned out today." Alauddin cannot pinpoint the reason behind the lack of beauty and depth in present compositions but he feels that the earlier composers were perhaps more educated and motivated.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Alauddin, who teaches violin at the Bulbul Lalitkala Academy (at Dhanmondi and Waisghat) and College of Development Alternative (CODA), feels that violin will not die down in Bangladesh as students come here to learn from various origins. "My students who've been studying for eight to 10 years now perform regularly on stage at the Shilpakala Academy and Bishwa Shahitya Kendra. Some are enlisted with the radio and TV. Films today are not using the violin so much. However, it's being used in music albums to some extent."
The violin, Alauddin says, comes from places like India, China, Germany, Italy and other parts of Europe. It has to be made from seasoned oak wood. Recalling the wellknown violinists in our country, Aladuddin names Mansur Ali, Yunus Ali, Mumtaz Miah, Phatik Dutt and Shubal Dutt from yesteryears. Today Giasuddin Mia, Sirajuddin, Shamsuddin and Sunil Kumar Das are among the professionally established violin players.
Alauddin has performed in India, Pakistan, China, Hong Kong and Thailand.