“It often used to be the songs of 1960s and 70s,” Rijal, who also is the principal and research coordinator of Nepal Music Center (NMC), shared.[break]
Though he had zero knowledge about music composition when he first listened to Phatteman Rajbhandari’s Marna Baru Gahro Hunna, he however loved humming the lines of the song for some anonymous reason.
Now when Rijal is already a graduate in ethnomusicology from Kathmandu University (KU) and is a scholar doing his PhD in ethnomusicology, Rijal can proudly say why he loved the song Marna Baru Gahro Hunna.
“Though this particular number doesn’t follow the 12-bar format, this however has the true essence of blues,” he explained.
Currently busy with NMC, in research work, with his band Looza and with Hari Maharjan Project, Lochan Rijal surprisingly was not a music aficionado until he was a teenager.
While studying in Dipendra Police School, he joined hands together with his friends and formed a band “Steps.” It was only after performing with his friends that he realized his inclination towards music and decided to earn a degree in ethnomusicology.
Once he decided to get himself indulged in music, there was no looking back. Soon, he started listening to more numbers by Phatteman Rajbhandari, Narayan Gopal and Jhalak Man Gandharva.
“The music progression in Narayan Gopal’s Malai Nasodha is superb. In most of his songs, I really like the chord progression, voicing and music arrangement. Priyashika Yaadharu is another masterpiece composed so far. Gopal’s Himalsari is one of my favorites. The rhythm cycle in its loop in sharp and clean,” the promising musician added.
“What I like the most in Rajbhandari’s composition is his baritone in singing. His voice is raw, natural and the way time signatures are filled in, it’s so beautiful. Even the orchestra filling by Radio Nepal is so peculiar and has its own beautiful niche. Radio Nepal has the best sound recording system,” Rijal elaborated.
Rijal’s another favorite number that he is fond of listening to ever since his childhood is Jhalak Man Gandharva’s Aamaile Sodhlinni Khoi Chhora Bhani.
“I really love the lyrics of this number,” he said.
Unlike many other composers who often complain that Nepali musicians are not professional, Rijal says that Nepali musicians are highly skilled and innovative.
“Regardless of the fact that we still have no formal music education in Nepal, isn’t it commendable to see how people have understood music on their own and created such wonderful compositions? It’s just that the young musicians are more following the global way of composing music and are using their creativity at the minimum. We should learn from our veterans. Most of them did not attend any formal schooling in music. Still, they have created masterpieces,” he concluded.
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