The flute is a natural instrument: Dhan Bahadur Gurung

Kathmandu. In 2006, I participated in a folk music competition and won an award for flute playing. I have been active in flute playing for about 19 years. I used to play Halkafulla when I was in Gorkha, my home district. After coming to Kathmandu, I realized that I had to learn to play the flute. I studied flute at Pulchok Kala Kendra. Apart from the flute, I also play 'Sahnai'. I have also been doing flute training and production.

The flute is a natural instrument. The melody from this baja, which is made of bamboo in a melodious shape, is very melodious. It is also the most used instrument in Nepali music. This is the original folk baza of Nepali and also our Chinari. When going to foreign concerts, no matter how well Nepali people play the guitar and violin, the audience is not surprised. However, they are engrossed in folk instruments like flute and sarangi. Manoj Singh, recently nominated for a Grammy Award, has gained international fame for playing the flute.

Until a few years ago, the baza of western music was more dominant in Nepal than the folk baza. However, now pop songs also have a fusion of folk instruments like bansuri, sarod, sarangi, with guitar and drumset. This experiment is appreciated. In Nepali society, songs are given more priority than music. But the joy felt by a person longing to hear the melody is different. Music connects people with the soul.

The flute is an excuse for me to be happy. Nothing brings me more joy than playing the flute. Living is being done in this area. So it has given recognition and I am happy about it. I advise the young generation who want to enter the folk market to be more serious and determined.

Flutist Dhan Bahadur Gurung has done many solo shows. He has been doing solo programs of flute and sahanai playing in the cities of the country and abroad. His demand is still increasing. He is a busy instrumentalist who fills the flute tunes and sahanai tunes in the songs being recorded in the studio. He has received dozens of awards and honors through flute playing. He has won the 2nd National Entertainment Award, the 2nd Quality Entertainment Award for flute playing and has also received many awards in competitions. He has played the role of judge in many programs and has been making and selling flutes of various scales.