Music of India - Western Classical Music

Western Classical Music

The spread and following of Western classical music in India is almost entirely non-existent. It is mainly patronized by the Indian Zoroastrian community and small esoteric groups with historical exposure to Western classical music. Another esoteric group with significant patronage is the Protestant Christian community in Chennai and Bangalore. Western Music education is also severely neglected and pretty rare in India. Western keyboard, drums and guitar instruction being an exception as it has found some interest; mainly in an effort to create musicians to service contemporary popular Indian music. Many reasons have been cited for the obscurity of Western classical music in India, a country rich in its musical heritage by its own right, however the two main reasons are an utter lack of exposure and a passive disinterest in what is considered esoteric at best. Also, the difficulty in importing Western musical instruments and their rarity has also contributed to the obscurity of classical Western music.

Despite more than a century of exposure to Western classical music and two centuries of British colonialism, classical music in India has never gained more than 'fringe' popularity. Many attempts to popularize Western classical music in India have failed in the past due to disinterest and lack of sustained efforts. Today, Western classical music education has improved with the help of numerous institutions in India. Institutions like KM Music Conservatory founded by Oscar Winning Composer, A.R.Rahman, Calcutta School of Music, Bangalore School of Music, Eastern Fare Music Foundation, Delhi School of Music, Delhi Music Academy, and many others are dedicated to contributing to the progress or growth and supporting Western classical music. In 1930, notable Mehli Mehta set up the Bombay Symphony Orchestra. There is 'Melody Academy' in Darjeeling established in the early 1980s by Mr. Jiwan Pradhan who single handedly has brought the western music in the hills of Darjeeling which is very rich in its musical heritage.

The Bombay Chamber Orchestra (BCO) was founded in 1962. It is now the only Indian symphony orchestra that functions and performs on a regular basis with a concert standard of performance. The BCO Society serves the dual purpose of filling in, to some extent, the great void created by the lack of a school or academy of music in the city of Mumbai. In 2006, the Symphony Orchestra of India was founded, housed at the NCPA in Mumbai. It has since presented two short concert seasons per year.

Some prominent Indians in Western classical music are:

• Andre de Quadros, Conductor and Music Educator.
• Zubin Mehta, Conductor.
• Mehli Mehta, Father of Zubin, violinist and founding conductor of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra.
• Anil Srinivasan, pianist.
• Ilaiyaraaja, the first Indian to compose a full symphony performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London's Walthamstow Town Hall.
• Naresh Sohal, British Indian-born composer.
• Param Vir, British Indian-born composer.
• Karishmeh Felfeli, Indian-born Irani pianist and radio broadcaster.