Music is the flow of tradition from generation to generation, which we are enjoying even today with the rhythm of its musical instruments. In our country, the bands are immensely flourishing day by day following the western tradition at the most . And we are inhabited of keeping far distance with the tradition of our own self.
Yet, The popular band in Nepal has embraced the flow of tradition all over the Nepal. It has proved the strong bond of Nepal tradition with its people with the celebration of music. Such band has played a vital role in preserving our culture and representing the Nepal all over the world.
The band which fills the traditional enjoyment in every heart of the people, The Kutumba Band is the most popular band in Nepal. It is an instrumental folk Nepalese band which ensemble committed to the research, preservation and elaboration of the diversity that exists in indigenous Nepali music. Kutumba firmly believes that the richness in Nepali music is directly significant of the rich diversity that exists in the Nepali people. It firmly believes in seeing the possibility of finding respect by promoting our multiculturalism through the medium of our indigenous music art forms.
The Kutumba Band was started with the concept of using traditional music instrument among the band groups. Some of them knew how to play and that talents motivated them to form a group, a band. They came across with some good musician from “Sukrabar” event, where most of the bands and instrumental artists perform. They said that the most of the bands didnt play music in the traditional way with its instruments. So in order to promote this traditional music instruments, they started to practice together and began to perform on different stages. They organized the show at Patan Museum, even at Joon Festival, wembly Arena where the people admired their work and enjoyed their music. The Kutumba Band also perfdormed at MAD Festival in Ooty, South India. It was a huge succes and overwhelming. According to them, “we were not able to come down the stage for there were lot of reporters wanted to interview the us and it was like selling fresh fish from the stage.”
In the band, Arun Manandhar play on Tungna and Arbajo, Kiran Nepali on Sarangi, Pavit Maharjan on Percussion, Raju Maharjan on Percussion and Rubin Kumar Shrestha on Flute. Finally, Siddhartha Maharjan on Effects.
At the present, they are working with Kanta dAb dAb for Echoes in the Valley. It is a music festival, the festival that strive to uncover, revive and make relevant Kathmandu’s intangible heritages and disappearing sounds by showcasing local music, art, and performances of everyday rituals. It transforms small neighborhoods into grand stages for musical conversations between international and local artists. In addition, this festival offers an array of interactive educational initiatives, creative workshops, guided neighborhood walks, and an open museum of communal art and artifacts.
They cited, “We would love to work with children and hunt for Nepalese instruments and learn them.We do not have particular musicians to admire, listen to wide variations of genre from folk, classical, pop, rock to heavier metals. Maybe its the age that makes us want to explore every kind of music that exists.”