INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC

Bansuri flute recital

A woodwind instrument whose ancient origin is in Northern India, the bansuri is a transverse flute made of hollow bamboo pierced with eight holes : a mouthpiece hole, six finger holes and a tuning hole. It is associated with Lord Krishna : the shepherd and the lover. It has a deep and warm tone colour. Its close resemblance to the voice gives the bansuri a prominent role within the Indian classical instrumentarium, ranging from instrumental music to vocal styles such as Dhrupad, Khayal, Thumri and folk music. Breath finds its own voice as it is blown through the flute, revealing a subtle, spellbinding song.

A student of the renowned Indian flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia, Guillaume has become a key figure of the bansuri flute in Europe. After many years of immersion and musical practice, he has made himself the spokesman for North-Indian traditional music, taking his audience on a refreshing journey. Whether playing solo or accompanied by other solists, he has performed in both prestigious venues and intimate music circles. Since 2010, his work as a permanent staff artist at the Philharmonie de Paris allows him to promote the bansuri and its heritage to new audiences through educational programs.

During the monsoon in 2004, Guillaume performed an early morning flute recital at the feet of the Kinner Kailash, a sacred mountain in the Himalayas, on the Reckong Peo Military Base, HP. The mountain was almost entirely illuminated by the first rays of dawn sunlight ; the atmosphere was mystical.

When in Bombay, he provided flute support for Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia on several occasions during the Hindu celebration Krishna Janmashtami : a 24hrs musical marathon and ritual with the most talented players in town.

In 2015, Guillaume performed in front of several thousand Indians of the diaspora at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, in prelude to the Indian Prime Minister’s Speech.

“Guillaume ushers in a potent challenge to the prevalent negative notions
about the competence of non-native performers of Indian classical music.
He belongs to an elite minority of foreign musicians who have absorbed
the essence of this music and are able to reflect this in performance.”

— Arnab Chakrabarty —

INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC

“The delicate melody of the Bansuri flute wraps around the neck,
down the back, it soothes, softens.”

— Caroline Prévost —

Indian classical music

A wind instrument whose ancient origin is in Northern India, the bansuri is a transverse flute made of hollow bamboo pierced with eight holes: a mouthpiece hole, six finger holes and a tuning hole. It is associated with Lord Krishna: the shepherd and the lover. It has a deep and warm tone colour. Its close resemblance to the voice gives it a prominent role within the north-Indian classical instrumentarium, which ranges from instrumental music to vocal styles such as Dhrupad, Khayal, Thumri, and folk music. Breath finds its own voice as it is blown through the flute, revealing a subtle, spellbinding song.

A worthy disciple of legendary Hariprasad Chaurasia, Guillaume has become a key figure of the bansuri flute in Europe. After many years of immersion and instrumental practice, he has made himself the spokesman of traditional music from India and led his audience in a refreshing journey. Whether solo or in jugalbandi (duet), he has performed at prestigious venues and music circles. Since 2010, he works as a permanent staff artist at the Philharmonie de Paris, promoting the bansuri to new audiences through educational programs.

Highlights: In 2004, Guillaume played an early morning flute recital at the feet of the Kinner Kailash, a sacred mountain of the Himalayas, in Reckong Peo Military Base, Himachal Pradesh. The mountain was almost entirely illuminated by the first rays of dawn sunlight. When in Bombay, he provided flute support for Hariprasad Chaurasia on several occasions during the Hindu celebration Krishna Janmashtami (a 24-hours musical marathon and ritual with the most talented players in town) at the Vrindaban Gurukul. In 2015, Guillaume performed in front of three thousand Indians of the diaspora at the Carrousel in Paris, in prelude to the Indian Prime Minister’s Speech.

“Guillaume ushers in a potent challenge to the prevalent negative notions about the competence of non-native performers of Indian classical music. He belongs to an elite minority of foreign musicians who have absorbed the essence of this music and are able to reflect this in performance.”

Arnab Chakraborty