International pianists mesmerise Pakistani audience

Kai Yin Huang, Kimball Gallagher enthrall with their flavour of folk, classical music

KARACHI: Last weekend saw Taiwanese and American pianists, Kai Yin Huang and Kimball Gallagher respectively, tour Pakistan. After a few days in Lahore, the duo spent three days in Karachi, performing and conducting workshops at the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) and T2F. On Monday, I managed to attend their last concert at the former.

The two musicians brought their flavour of Taiwanese folk and Western classical music to Pakistan and the audience seemed to appreciate it. Huang kicked off the night with her performance as she was joined by vocalist Intizar Hussain and Ustad Bashir Khan on the tabla. The performance was based on the Jaunpuri raga. While the raga is usually performed early morning, it seemed to have inspired awe in the local audience on Monday night.

The rest of the evening mostly witnessed Huang and Gallagher perform together on a single piano using the four-hand technique. Their first collaborative piece was titled Nagani meaning Red Dragon in Burmese, a traditional Myanmar composition.

PHOTO: PUBLICITY

Throughout the show, Gallagher sprinkled the music with his anecdotes and stories. He spoke about meeting a young Afghan boy Elhaam in 2010, who was interested in composing his music. He taught him how to spell his name using the notes on the piano. And the next day Elhaam returned with an original composition. The American pianist said he told Elhaam he would play his composition around the world and he has. Currently, the Afghan boy is studying music in New York City.

Huang, who is the director of Kairos Art and Myanmar Music Festival, and Gallagher, the founder of 88International (based on the 88 keys

of piano), play concerts around the world. Their tours also work as social impact projects. Therefore, they often perform for children and have devised ways to engage children through music and promote unity and love in the community.

Throughout the night, they played children’s games such as making the audience guess what the composition was about, specifically playing 19^th century French composer Bizet’s pieces as well as Gallagher’s originals. He also played his blind Peruvian musician friend Hwaen Ch’ugi’s compilations and ended the night performing his original alongside Ustad Nafees Ahmed on sitar.

PHOTO: PUBLICITY

Talking to The Express Tribune, the pair shared Gallagher visited Pakistan back in 2014 while this was Huang’s first time. Gallagher said through their social projects, they use music as a tool to connect people, enhance their creativity and empower them.

Huang’s Kairos Art, which she established three years ago also, serves a similar purpose, empowering aboriginal Taiwanese musicians and helping them to rediscover their traditions. She said her experience in Pakistan has been wonderful. “Pakistan and this part of the world has a lot of mystery surrounding it. But then you come here and you discover it’s a whole different, culturally rich world. It’s far beyond what you expect,” she said.

Huang feels the musical collaborations have been rewarding because while performing with local musicians, they had to find a common ground due to the difference in musical structures and nuances. She concluded her enriching experience playing in Pakistan will surely serve as inspiration in the future.

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