The sound of healing music

The shelves were lined with unique instruments used by native people around the world, while wind chimes of varied sizes hung from a stand and the ceiling. Svaram is a spacious and well-ventilated music research centre at Auroville in Puducherry. As I entered, the receptionist, a young lady from the local community, began explaining the features of the various instruments on display. In ten minutes we were joined by Aurelio, the director of Svaram and an expert in music therapy.

Musical vision

The centre, which started with seven people about a decade ago, today employs 30 locals, who are engaged in the production of musical instruments, as also the sales and management.

Originally from Austria, Aurelio explains how the idea for Svaram came about: “I was a part of Auroville’s cultural performing arts group and studied theories on Hindustani music, natyashastra , tattilam in sangeetha ratnakara . Inspired by the instruments used by aborigines worldwide, I always had this vision to be involved in music. I started by making simple and folk-ish instruments, and took the help of local school dropouts. There was unemployment in the villages, and that’s when I got the idea of starting Svaram.”

During the summer months, workshops are held to help the staff enhance their life skills, spoken English, and knowledge of musical instruments.

For Karthikeyan and Gnanavel, Svaram has been their college as also a source of livelihood. “I used to be a painter, and didn’t know to speak and read English. I met Aurelio and found this job interesting. I started by making instruments and, over the years, I graduated to become a trainer, supervisor and overall production assistant,” says Karthikeyan, who has been with Svaram since its inception.

He and Gnanavel have even attended music workshops abroad, and continuously engage in exchange programmes with likeminded individuals and organisations worldwide. Having attended the International Youth Leadership Programme in the US, Gnanavel says, “I learnt their way of healing through rhythm of music. It was a very satisfying experience.”

Healing with natural tunes

In one corner of the centre is a black granite structure, with a bowl of water beside it. I am directed to wet my palm and rub it against the granite — lo! serene sounds echo in my ears. This is the ‘singing stone’ — a specially-cut granite block used in music healing. The xylophones and metalophones on display also have therapeutic value.

“Music is nourishment for our inner being, and is very relaxing and inspiring at the same time. Apart from therapeutic instruments, Svaram boasts several instruments that replicate the sounds of nature — ‘ocean drums’ filled with tiny metal balls create the sound of rushing waves, while the ‘storm drum’ attached to a spring evokes the sound of thunderstorms; wooden whistles make bird sounds, and bells give out the sound of raindrops.”

Adds Karthikeyan, “These wind chimes are unique as each is set to a particular raga that represents air, water, fire, earth or space. They are made out of specific elements and tuned to play the raga when the wind blows,” says Aurelio.

Making constant efforts at innovation, Aurelio has brought out a set of “New Waves” instruments — the ‘swinging chimes’, ‘rotating chimes’, ‘pulse tubes’, ‘energy chimes’, ‘single resonators’, and ‘plate bells’, among others — all with specific, unconventional tunings.

As he explains: “These instruments bring together an innovative approach to the science and healing art of sound and vaastu applications. Our new designs comprise a series of instruments with researched tunings that predate the western tempered chromatic scale. Apart from sound healing, they have also been used in theatre and performing arts for sound effects.”

Aurelio’s hope is that Svaram would always be surrounded by the melodies of natural music, “We plan to create a unique vocational training institute and campus for the art and science of musical instruments; this would bring together rich Indian heritage, international academic research, and innovative enterprise and design.”

Pics: Deepa Venkatraman