The American composer says the power of the musicians lies in live performances; the essential characteristic of making original music is by ‘being yourself, find your language and connect with it’.
Local musicians of Kohima had the opportunity to interact with Henry Threadgill, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer, saxophonist, and flautist and his wife Senti Toy Threadgill this afternoon at Hotel Japfii, Kohima.
The programme has hosted by Director, Music Academic Kohima, Khyochano Ngully.
Interacting with budding musicians, Henry said the essential characteristic of making original music is by ‘being yourself, find your language and connect with it’.
Differentiating between a musician and an artist, Henry said an artist is one who express himself individually while a musician fulfils the whims of the audience.
When asked if it is important to have a degree and in-depth study of music inorder to pursue music as a career, Henry says nobody cares about degrees in music, unless one is going to teach.
Echoing the same view, Senti said Nagas are blessed with big ears i.e. listening whilst encouraging the local musicians to keep studying and learning the rhythm of various genres of music to improve oneself.
Inorder to market the music from Nagaland, Henry opined that it is important to understand the essence of one’s culture, get it out everywhere while finding an audience, and also the need to come out of the country exposing one’s talent.
He said the power of the musicians lies in live performances, and hence suggested that artists should go out often whenever possible to get recognition.
Senti also added that it is important to have a good networking and research on the various music festivals that are held across the world so that Naga musician gets an opportunity to show their talents to the world audience.
It may be mentioned that Henry Threadmill came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating non-jazz genres.
Threadgill studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, majoring in piano, flute, and composition. He studied piano with Gail Quillman and composition with Stella Roberts. He has been a bandleader and composer for over forty years.
He was awarded the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album ‘In for a Penny, In for a Pound’, which premiered at Roulette Intermedium on December 4, 2014.
Threadgill has performed and recorded with several ensembles: Air, Aggregation Orb, Make a Move, the seven-piece Henry Threadgill Sextett, the twenty-piece Society Situation Dance Band, Very Very Circus, X-75, and Zooid.
Senti, also known as Sentienla Toy Threadgill was born in Nagaland. As a songwriter and vocalist, Senti developed her unclassified blend of jazz, traditional folk and blues tinged pop perhaps owing to her unique childhood.
Encouraged by her parents, yearly singing contests at school provided Senti an opportunity to hone her musicianship.
‘The music I heard then was almost all religious. It was only later, when I moved to college in Bombay that a whole new world opened up for me. I learned jazz standards. I heard Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonders for the first time. It was an exciting time. The doors to a whole new dimension of music opened up for me’ said Senti.
She was featured on MTV Asia sponsored by Pepsi as one of the 20 top singers of India in 1993, even with no album or releases to her name. Despite recording contract offers, Senti preferred to enjoy her own music in privacy. She has her doctoral degree in Ethnomusicology from New York University.
Our Correspondent
