NOIDA. Cambridge School, Noida hosted a vocal recital by Ms. Vidya Shah, an eminent vocalist who was initially trained in Carnatic music and later received guidance in the North Indian genres of Khayal from Shubha Mudgal and Mujahid Hussein Khan and Thumri Dadra and Ghazal from Shanti Hiranand. Her vibrant, melodious and energetic hour and a half long performance kept the audience captivated as they drifted into the lyrical journey of music. She was accompanied by talented musicians on the tabla, sitar, harmonium, guitar and dafli. After the auspicious lighting of the lamp she began her performance with a Sufi song composed by one of the first woman Sufi poet of the 7thcentury, Rabi’a Al Basri, which was followed by a traditional folk song from Rajasthan. Her next song was a composition by the 17th century Punjabi poet Shah Hussein, about ‘salu’, a cloth that signified the bond between mother and child. She sang a Guru Vandana written by Sant Kavi paying tribute to teachers. She went on to perform a few old Hindi film songs such as ‘Hamri Attariya Pe’, and ended the performance with an energetic rendition of ‘Duma Dum Mast Kalandar.’ It was heartening to watch the students participating by clapping in- sync with the beat. The performance was followed by an interactive session where students asked Ms. Vidya Shah several questions, which she answered with great depth and wisdom. The occasion was graced by Dr. Kalyani Roy, Secretary Society for Advancement of Education and distinguished members of Education Research Centre and the Management Committee.
