MUSIC is an old form of art. if not the oldest. In ancient Greece and in classical India music used to edify, entertain and enlighten the mind of the hearers. With the development of technology music has reached greater number of people but do not always run as deep as it used to in olden days. But still there are people who Stand against the all encompassing consumerist world order to set their music to speak to the conscience of people. For them music is the vehicle to light the candle of good sense, sanity and of reminding the most important message we. human beings, are ultimately herd animals, without unity and harmony in existence we will perish .

Sumon Chatterjee in his macho and vibrant voice yesterday sang what he said his belief as a citizen of the world; the belief in music and the belief in man. Sumon after Shalil Chowdhury has injected new blood into Bengali music. Bengali music which lost its way into foolish sentimentalism

has been revived into its past glory by Sumon Chatterjee. He has brought stunning chances to the patterns of lyric by putting weight to it and by introducing fresh rhyming pattern. His lyrics are more prosaic and grounded on contemporary issues: issues that concern sensitive minds, issues that disturbs the fabric of a society. His songs are rich in literary allusions and he shows his reverence to the virtuosos who have contributed to the rich cultural and aesthetic tapestry of this subcontinent. But above all else Sumon is a performer par excellence. He can pass what he believes, what he upholds as a humanist smoothly to his audience. In any Sumon concert one feels very much involved and cannot remain a lazy listener. He has the ability to spread his philosophy of love and humanism infactiously to his listeners. The musical evening at National Museum yesterday would surely remain permanently etched on the collective memory of the audience. Sumon and Sabina musically teamed up to further the cause of eye aware-

ness programme taken up by Rotary Club of Dhaka New City. It is nice to see that music is reverting back to its traditional role of edifying and enlightening people.

The preamble of the evening was Sabina's presentation of such popular numbers as Sunder, Subarna. Tarunya. La-banya, and Janam Hamar Dhannya Halo Ma Go in her mellifluous voice. Then there was a Sumon -Sabina jugal-bandi Dekhechhi Tomai Dur Nilimai, a composition by Sumon. There after it was Sumon and a silent and engrossed audience. His respect for great minds once again showed up when he dedicated a musicals number Katata Path Perulae Tabe Pathik Bala Jai to late Ahmed Sharif with cheerful roars from the audience.

In the middle of another song he declared his solidarity with the people who are against fundamentalism and obscurantism, and condemned the recent Jessore bomb blast.

This is vintage Sumon always expressing in his own telling style ultimately we live for 'us' not T.