Magical improvisation of music

Beyond the Notes perform to a full-house (l-r) Paul Griffiths. Sam Walton, Matthew Barley and Peter Whyman

Although the show started half an hour late, the audience was enthralled by the unconventional compositions as it began. The group members preferred to call it 'funky music' created by improvisation.

The performers, attired in black, took the stage and played a small in|roductory piece composed by Freser Trainer. Percussionist Sam Walton came up with a new instrument, marimba, made of rose wood and metal pipe that sounded like a xylophone and is popularly used in Africa and South America.

Then they came up with one of their first musical compositions created in 1997. Late '80s famous singer Prince compo{ed the next cool item Snows in April. During this comxosition noted tabla player Tofael Ahmed joined the group and for the first time this song was performed with tabla.

'Improvisation is very common in this sub continent and we have many influences in our music', said Matthew. 'Sometimes we have no idea what is going to happen in the end,' he grinned. The next composition was an improvisation.

'BTN exists to find what happens hen you put your musical influences--twentieth century classical, jazz, Indian, African, funk, dance, pox--in a melting xot and stir, simmer, listen; when you explore musically between the notes,' he said.

A Place So Quiet, their new composi|ion which was premiered in Chittagong recently, delighted the audience.

Small children from Rhodela Music School and the students from the Government College of Music along with Tofael and Sanjeeb on tabla, Uttam Chokrovarty on flute and santoor and dhol players, performed with BTN. The children were given topics like my favourite music, my favourite person and others. From the selected writings two songs have been created. 'We tried to create some music from the poems written by the children', said Matthew.

The kids rehearsed for only two days before the show. However, Music is magic/ It knows no boundaries and Mithin is my younger brother were the two songs performed with acting and dance, to the applause of the audience. The next song Happy and free was another enthralling piece. Matthew described the dance and acting part of the songs 'scariest but done'.

But the highlight of the day was the Tanzanian song Kipepeo on catching butterflies performed by the children, lead by Paul. 'In Swahili language kipepeo means butterfly,' said Paul.

'Music has enormous possibilities to transcend the cultural difference and we'll remember these children the rest of our lives,' said the members of BTN.

Overall the concert captured the hearts of the enthusiastic audience. Especially the banters of Matthew Barley delighted everyone. One can say it was an 'awesome' concert by a 'hyper-cool combo'.