Rehearsals at the Studio

The studio is in Delhi so we take the long trek from Noida at about 10:30 to reach there for opening time at 11:30. Shoes have to be removed before entering; this took a little time to get used to but now it's second nature (I have been barefoot more in these two weeks, than in my entire life!). Everywhere we have been, the floors are always spotless, and in open areas where no shoes are allowed, there are carpets laid on the ground!

The children are loving the interaction with the people from the studio who are friendly and warm.

One of the greatest experiences has been listening, understanding and appreciating the amazing talent of the Indian musicians. The instruments produce a variety and quality of sound which is impossible to explain in words.The tablar player (drummer) is an extremely knowledgeable and talented gentleman. He explained how they are taught the drums - there is an actual language which you need to know before learning to play. The language is then "translated" into the drumming.

I also find it astounding that all this is created while sitting flat on the ground! The following are just a few pics taken at various times at the studio.

The lady sitting singing is Sumitra Guha, the Indian Grammy Award winning star. She is a gentle, elegant and delicate lady who produces the most incredible sounds with her voice. You cannot imagine how poignant the mix of African and Indian traditional music is; a particularly touching moment was when Sumitra Mam (as she is called) sang a Hindi prayer over our rendition of Nkosi Sikileli.. It had us all choking down the tears.

The more we rehearse and really get the feel of this project, the more we realise that this is indeed a history-making process and one that will remain indelibly etched in our hearts and memories.