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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Pt Ravi Shankar: A global ambassador of Indian music


Labelled the 'godfather' of world music, Ravi Shankar undertook an extraordinary journey from the banks of Ganges to the heart of the west mesmerising them with Indian ragas and partnering with musical greats like Beatles' George Harrison and Yehudi Menuhin.

Darling of the hippie movement in the 1960s, Shankar trained for seven years under Ustad Allauddin Khan and was known for his characteristic sitar sound with powerful bass notes.

Shankar, 92, whose health had been fragile for the past several years, died today at the Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California after undergoing heart-valve replacement surgery on Thursday.

The Bharat Ratna awardee started as a dancer with the group of his brother Uday Shankar but gave it up in 1938 to learn sitar under Allauddin Khan.

During the tour of Uday's dance group in Europe and America in the early to mid-1930s, Shankar discovered Western classical music, jazz, and cinema, and became acquainted with Western customs.

The music doyen composed his first raga in 1945 and embarked on a prolific recording career.

In the 1950s and 1960s, he became the unofficial international ambassador for Indian music, enthralling audiences in the USSR, Japan, North America.

However, it was his association with Harisson that got him international stardom. In the 1970s, they collaborated on two albums and toured the USA together.

A Bengali Brahmin, Shankar was born Robindra Shankar on April 7, 1920 in Varanasi, the youngest of four brothers, and spent his first 10 years in relative poverty, brought up by his mother. He was almost eight before he met his father, a globe-trotting lawyer, philosopher, writer and former minister to the Maharajah of Jhalawar.

As a performer, composer and teacher, Shankar was an Indian classical artist of the highest rank, and he spearheaded the worldwide spread of Indian music and culture, said writer and editor Oliver Craske, who provided additional narrative for Shankar's autobiography 'Raga Mala'.

Through his influence on Harrison, and appearances at the Monterey and Woodstock festivals and the Concert for Bangladesh, he became a household name in the West, the first Indian musician to do so.

Shankar also composed for ballets and films in India, Canada, Europe and the United States. He created music for the 'Apu Trilogy' by Satyajit Ray.

Credited with incorporating many aspects of Carnatic music in the north Indian classical system, Shankar was music director of All India Radio, New Delhi, from 1949 to 1956.

A three-time Grammy award winner, Shankar last performed in California on November 4 along with his daughter Anoushka Shankar.

Shankar has also been nominated for the 2013 Grammys for his album "The Living Room Sessions Part-1" and was pitted against Anoushka in the same category.

He was awarded the three top Indian national civil honours - Padma Bhushan in 1967, Padma Vibhushan in 1981, and Bharat Ratna in 1999.

Shankar befriended Richard Bock, founder of World Pacific Records, on his first American tour and recorded most of his albums in the 1950s and 1960s for Bock's label. The Byrds recorded at the same studio and heard Shankar's music, which led them to incorporate some of its elements in theirs, introducing the genre to Harrison.

The sitar legend authored violin-sitar compositions for Yehudi Menuhin and himself, music for flute virtuoso Jean Pierre Rampal, music for Hosan Yamamoto, master of the Shakuhachi and Musumi Miyashita - Koto virtuoso, and has collaborated with Phillip Glass (Passages).

A Magsaysay award winner, Shankar was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1986.

Believing in the greatness of Indian classical music and blessed with charisma and intelligence, he pursued a dream of taking Indian music out to the Western world.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav to be held for six days


The 60th edition of the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, a festival of classical music organized every year by the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, will be held for six days this year to mark the diamond jubilee of the prestigious music fest. The festival will be held between December 11 and 16 at the New English School, Ramanbaug grounds.

Kirana Gharana maestro, late Pt Bhimsen Joshi, had started the festival in the memory of his guru Sawai Gandharva and was initially known as the 'Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav'. The festival was renamed the 'Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav' last year after the demise of Pt Joshi.


"The Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal has decided to hold the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav for six days this year in order to commemorate the 60th year of the festival. Last year the festival was held for five days, while in 2010 it went on for four days," said Shriniwas Joshi, executive president, Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal.


Schedule:


11-Dec-2012

Artist Name                             Performing
Shri. Ashwini & Shri. Sanjiv Shankar     Shahanai
Smt. Meena Faterpekar                     Vocal
Smt. Padma Deshpande                     Vocal
Shri. Rahul Sharma                     Santoor
Pt. Jasraj                             Vocal


12-Dec-2012

Artist Name                             Performing
Shri. Rattan Mohan Sharma             Vocal
Ayaan Ali Khan & Amaan Ali Khan             Sarod
Smt. Shobana Chandrakumar             Dance (Bharatnatyum)
Pt. Rajan & Pt. Sajan Mishra & Ritesh & Rajnish Mishra Vocal


13-Dec-2012

Artist Name                             Performing
Shri. Sanjeev Chimmalgi                     Vocal
Smt. Kalapini Komkali                     Vocal
Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar & Shri. Sameehan Kashalkar Vocal
Farooque Latif Khan & Sarwar Hussain      Pakhawaj & Sarangi


14-Dec-2012

Artist Name                              Performing
Smt. Pallavi Pote                      Vocal
Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia              Basuri
Shri. Anand Bhate                      Vocal
Smt. Malini Rajurkar                      Vocal


15-Dec-2012

Artist Name                              Performing
Shri. Samrat Pandit                      Vocal
Smt. Arati Ankalikar                      Vocal
Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri                      Tabla
Shri. Shrinivas Joshi                      Vocal
Ut. Amjad Ali Khan                      Sarood


16-Dec-2012

Artist Name                              Performing
Smt. Kalpana Zokarkar                      Vocal
Shri. Vijay Koparkar                      Vocal
Pt. Shivkumar Sharma                      Santoor
Apoorva Gokhale & Pallavi Joshi              Vocal
Shri. Shounak Abhisheki                      Vocal
Shri. Upendra Bhat                      Vocal
Shri. Atulkumar Upadhye & Ut. Shahid Parvez  Voilin & Satar
Shri. Parmeshwar Hegade                      Vocal
Dr. Prabha Atre                              Vocal

Monday, September 10, 2012

Pandit Manohar Vasudev Chimote


Pandit Manohar Vasudev Chimote

Pandit Manohar Vasudev Chimote veteran harmonium and Samvadini player who contributed towards Hindustani classical music.

Chimote was awarded with Maharashtra government award for excellence in the field of music.

Born in a rich family at Nagpur on March 27,1928, he learnt harmonium from Pandit Bhishmadev Vediji and migrated to Mumbai to contribute towards Indian classical music.

He was awarded by Maharashtra government for excellence in the field of music in the year 1998. He was also awarded by ITC for research in the field of music and Uttam Sangeet Shikshak Puraskar, 1995 by Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Pune.

Pandit Manohar Chimote was famous for jugal bandi on his researched instrument Samvadhini with various artists.

He had accompanied popular Indian tabla player Ustad Allah Rakha Khan, famous flute Pandit Ronu Majumdar , Hindustani violinist Shridhar Parsekar and harmonium player Shree Govindrao Patwardhan in a number of concerts all over India.

"Pandit Chimote made changes in the keyboard of the harmonium so that pressure control on the keyboard along with the air pressure in the bellows would display subtle expressions to the music being played on Harmonium. Along with Pandit Bhishmadev Vediji and Acharya Brihaspatiji, he worked on the tuning of this instrument and introduced the concept of 'gandhar-based tuning' for the first time in Harmonium.

This tuning system is the original tuning system used in traditional Indian classical music. With this change Harmonium became a complete instrument for solo performances with equal capability as any other instrument.

"He believed 'Harmony' means 'samvad' in sanskrit an thus, an instrument which is capable of creating harmony must be called 'samvadini'. Since then this instrument is called samvadini" said Rajendra Vaisampayan, a samvadini (Harmonium) soloist and disciple of Pt Manohar Chimote.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012


Raasrang world flute festival

Raasrang World Flute Festival to delight music lovers in Delhi from August 9-11.
Music lovers in the Capital are in for a delight. The third Raasrang World Flute Festival will be bringing in three days of magic, featuring performers like Karthik Vashist, Rajat Prasanna, Naveen Kumaralong, Nawang Khechog (a Grammy nominee and a monk), Burcu Karadag from Turkey, Nathalie Ramirez Tovar from Mexico, Shemyakina Asya from Russia, Pravin Godkhindi, Tagaram Bheel, Kusumakar Pande, Pintu Khan, Steev Kindwald, and an ensemble led by Dipak Sharma which will showcase wind instruments from North-Eastern India. There will be shorter versions of the festival in Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram.

Program

9th Aug : Celebrating Peace

10:30 am: Mangla Dhuni

Venue: Baha’i House of Worship, Lotus Temple, Kalkaji, New Delhi.
Temple Music by Nandan from Tanjore on Nadashwaram
‘Sublime Serenity’ - Bansuri vadan by Flutist Rajat Prasanna
‘Meditative Melodies’ - Nawang Khechog, USA.


11:45 am: India on Flute

Exhibition of artistic rendition of Indian culture on Flutes & other mediums
depicting the theme of the festival- LOVE PEACE WATER curated by Dhoomimal Art Centre.


12:00 Roots
Exhibition and demonstration of languishing wind instruments of India such as Peepli,Sutli,Peepah... by rural folk artists.


2:30-4:00 pm: Mind Sound Resonance - Inspired by Brahmshri Patri
A special session using the powerful vibrations of A-U-M-kara chants and Flute notes to deeply relax and rejuvenate the mind. Shatrughun Jiwnani, Bahai House of Worship: Haresh Bhutta- Svyasa University, Bangalore. Shemyakina Asya on Dejereedoo, Russia Abhya Phagre, Indian classical flutist, Bhopal

4:00-5:30 pm: Bansiyog
Venue: Madhuban, B - 71, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi, Ph:49854985 Dr Nagendra–Former NASA Scientists & Vice Chancellor–SVYASA University Nawang Khechog–Grammy Nominee, USA

6:30 pm: Mainstage: Melodies of Peace
Venue: Baha’i House of Worship, Lotus Temple, Kalkaji, New Delhi. Nawang Khechog, Grammy Nominee, USA Roots Team North East of India led by Flutist & Composer Dipak Sarma.

10th Aug : Celebrating Water

10:30 am : Champaner
Venue: Baha’i House of Worship, Lotus Temple, Kalkaji, New Delhi. Exhibition on Water “Champaner” Photographer - Rahul Gajjar. Drop by Drop Jal Tarang by Kansi Ram Kotwal Manish Sharma with Tabla Player Ustad Fateh Mohammad Khan. Bansi Choir by Children of Sandipani Muni School, Vrindavan & Karthik Vashist on Algoza Steev Kindwald on Jaw Harp, Germany.
2:30-4:00 pm: Mind Sound Resonance - Inspired by Brahmshri Patri
A special session using the powerful vibrations of A-U-M-kara chants and Flute notes to deeply relax and rejuvenate the mind. Dr Manjunath - Svyasa University & Abhay Phagre, Bhopal. Pravin Godhkindi, Bangalore, Karnataka
4:00-5:30 pm: Bansiyog
Venue: Madhuban, B - 71, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi, Ph:49854985 A unique Workshop combining the principles of Yoga and Flute. Dr Nagendra–VC–SVYASA University Naveen Kumar, Flutist – A R Rehman Ensemble
6:30 pm: Mainstage: Blow
Venue: Baha’i House of Worship, Lotus Temple, Kalkaji, New Delhi. Special ensemble of 11 popular young musicians from Mexico, Russia and India on Wood and Metal. Music composed by Suhail Yusuf Khan. Boondein Ace Flutist, Praveen Godhkindi springs a surprise and establishs a world record. Independence Celebration

11th Aug : Celebrating Love

10:30 am Wind of Indian Culture - Sharon Lowe
Venue: Baha’i House of Worship, Lotus Temple, Kalkaji, New Delhi. Invocation: Lama Dhundup & Tshering on Radong - Karamapa Monastery Pravin Godhkindi – Contrabass: Steev Kindwald – Jew Harp: Tagaram Bheel – Algoza: Pt.Kusum Pande - Bamboo Flute Pinto Khan - Morchang Exhibition cum demonstration of unique wind instruments of India such as Pungi, Algoza, Bheen, Peepah, Sutli, Kaaliya among others. ‘Raasleela’- Impromptu presentation led with audience participation.
2:30-4:00 pm Mind Sound Resonance - Inspired by Brahmshri Patri
A special session using the powerful omkara, and notes of the Flute to deeply relax and rejuvenate the mind. Faculty : Dr Manjunath – Svyasa University Pt. Kusumakar ji,Flute, Nathdwara Steev Kindwald, Germany
4:00-5:30 pm: Bansiyog
Venue: Madhuban, B - 71, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi, Ph:49854985 A unique Workshop combining the principles of Yoga and Flute. Dr Nagendra–Vice Chancellor–SVYASA University Pravin Godhkindi, Karnataka
6:30 pm: Mainstage: Desert Love
Venue:Baha’i House of Worship, Lotus Temple, Kalkaji, New Delhi. Rajasthan Roots - 6 member team led by Pt. Kusumakar on rare Indian Wind Instruments. Turkey Swirl Ms. Burcu Karadig celebrated Ney artist from romantic Istanbul will make you catch your breath with poignant strains of the Ney.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Hemang Mehta - Mewati Gharana

Hemang Mehta


Profile



Born on 16th October, Hemang Mehta comes from a family of Gujarati businessmen, steeped in culture, religion and music. Soothing strands of music fell on his ears from infancy, ever since he can remember. Inspiration came from the priceless music played around him of Padmabhushan Pandit Jasrajji. He received intense training from his Guru Sri Chandrashekhar Swamy under the strict guidance of Pandit Jasrajji as a result of day to day association with the maestro. Inspiration turned into ambition under the encouragement given by his parents. This ambition to reach the pinnacles of our rich musical heritage in turn, sparked off a burning desire to get high class training and untiring “riyaz” right from the tender age of nine .

Hemang’s family’s deep love for Indian music has allowed him to devote himself passionately in the pursuit of music as a career. Hemang’s music is an extension of his personality and philosophy viz. to reach out to God through singing, as he truly believes in ‘Naad Bramha’. This is why Hemang practices a very high degree of professional ethics.

A product of the time tested ‘Guru- Shishya Parampara’ but imaginative and creative enough to exploit the freedom within discipline, innovation within tradition, which is what our music is really about, this sincere young man strikes a most appealing balance between intellectual sensitivity and aesthetic creativity. Thus, he is most highly emotive and communicative.

Hemang excels in the high watermarks of the ‘Mewati Gharana’ such as ‘meend, layakari, kan-gayaki’ and proper bandish presentation. He has several awards to his credit such as the ‘Surmani’ award. He has performed widely in India as well as abroad, at prestigious festivals and has received a good press all over.


Training



It was Padmavibhushan Pandit Jasrajji's priceless music played around me that allowed me to eventually visualize devoting my life to music.I have been receiving training under Shri Chandrashekhar Swamy, a very senior exponent of the Mewati Gharana. Shri Chandrashekhar Swamy trained with Pandit Jasrajji from the 1960s to the 1980s. Chandrashekharji has performed at several prestigious festivals across India like the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, Sawai Gandharva Sammelan.

I have been very fortunate to be training under him since the tender age of 8. Chandrashekharji stayed with us for two years when I was in my teens, during which I received intensive taalim. We would wake up everyday to start practice at 5 AM and our practice sessions would continue throughout the entire day, often until late at night. On certain mornings when I failed to get up at 5 AM, he was loving enough to wake me up to train. He was very patient with me during our lessons and would teach each intricate phrase several times until I was able to reproduce it. Through Chandrashekharji, I was able to imbibe the salient features of the Mewati Gharana, including Pandit Jasrajji's diverse repertoire of ragas. Chandrashekharji is an extremely affectionate Guru who has continued to mentor me during every stage of my musical journey.

My family has been extremely fortunate to be associated with Pujya Guruji Pt.Jasraj Ji for more than 30 years.It was Pujya Guruji who placed me in the very caring hands of Pt.Chandrashekhar Swami , to initiate me in this celestial art called Hindustani Sangeet.

Through the years while I was training with Chandrashekharji, I also received continued guidance from the maestro, Pandit Jasrajji. I have had many opportunities to accompany him in his performances both within India and abroad. He included me in all his training camps which would sometimes last for up to a month.

Once when I was 18, I was practicing at home in the late morning. Pandit Jasrajji visited our house at that time and advised me to practice music at 5 AM in the morning. Ever since, I made it a habit to wake up early at 5 AM to start my morning riaz.


Performance (Concert)




Harvallabh Sangeet Samaroh, Jullandur 2000, 2009
Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, Kundgol 2002
Sangeet Kala Manch, Pune 2003
Deval Club Kolhapur 2004
Ganvardhan Pune 2005
Dadar Matunga Cultural centre Mumbai 2007
Pt.Jitendra Abhisheki Mahotsav Panjim 2007
Mewati Gharana Sammelan, Bhopal
Baithak, New Delhi
Swar Vilas, Vadodra
Nrityagram's Vasanthabba, Bangalore
Swar Sangam, Surat
Motiram Sangeet Natak Academy, hyderabad
Jhankar Music circle, Kolkotta
Swaranjali, Gulbarga
Pune Festival Sept.2008
Concerts Abroad

Milap Festival England
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan England ( As a Music Teacher At Summer School 2000-01)
Lotus Festival, New York, Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto etc.
Series Of Concerts In USA and Canada
Upcoming Tour Canada-USA July-Sept.2010


Vandana Somaia Performing Raag Malkosh With Hemang Mehta (November 12th 2009)


Website : http://www.hemangmehta.org/

Contact
Name/Address

Hemang Mehta
703 Oriole
Nyati Enclave
Mohamad Wadi,Hadapsar, Pune - 411028
Maharashtra, India


E-mail
mehtahemang@hotmail.com
hemangmehtavocal@gmail.com


Phone/Fax
Tel: +91 20 26802364
Mobile:- +91 9892376806

Monday, March 5, 2012

UDAT ABEER GULAL - Holi Special classical music program

Udatha abil gulal


Udatha Abil Gulal - Holi Special classical music program

Artist : Dhanashree Pandit, hemang mehta, Dr Stanley Scott, Narayan Mani,snehal Muzoomdar

Monday, February 6, 2012

अब्बाजींच्या नंतरची पिढी

दिवंगत तबलानवाज्म उस्ताद अल्लारखा हे आजचे विख्यात तबलावादक उस्ताद झाकीर हुसेन यांचे गुरू आणि वडीलही. त्यांच्या बरसीचा (पुण्यतिथी) उपक्रम ताल धरूनच साजरा व्हावा, यासाठी ‘अब्बाजी की बरसी’ हा उपक्रम झाकीर यांनी सुरू केला, त्याच्या तपपूर्तीचं- बारावं वर्ष यंदा आहे. झाकीर यांच्याकडे अब्बाजींच्या आठवणी आहेत ,पण ते नसतानाच्या १२ वर्षांत ‘बरसी’बरोबर एक पिढी
वाढत जाताना झाकीरना दिसली आहे.. या दोन्हीबद्दल सांगताहेत स्वत: उस्ताद!
अब्बाजींच्या बरसीचं हे बारावं वर्ष आहे. बारा र्वष कशी निघून गेली अजूनही कळत नाही. पहिल्यांदा केलेली बरसी अजूनही आठवतेय. त्यावेळी आपण हे केवळ पहिल्या वर्षीच करणार आहोत, असं डोक्यात होतं. त्यानंतर देवाच्या कृपेने मी जिवंत असलो, तर शंभरावे वर्ष दणक्यात करायचे ठरवले होते. पण नियतीच्या मनात काही वेगळेच होते. पहिल्याच वर्षी आम्हाला खूपच चांगला अनुभव आला. सुरांनी वेडावलेल्या हजारो लोकांचा खूपच चांगला प्रतिसाद मिळाला. मला अजूनही आठवतं पहिल्या वर्षी एनसीपीएमध्ये आम्ही हा कार्यक्रम केला त्यावेळी सकाळी सकाळी सुरेश तळवलकर, नयन घोष, भाई गायतोंडे, अरविंद मुळगांवकर, असे एकापेक्षा एक दिग्गज तबलावादक आणि त्यांचे शिष्य अशा शंभर तालवादकांनी अब्बाजींना श्रद्धांजली वाहिली होती. त्यानंतर पंडित शिवकुमार शर्मा, किशोरीताई यांनी स्वरांचं झाड उभं केलं होतं. दुपारी अब्बाजींवर, तालवाद्यांवर असे वेगवेगळे माहितीपट दाखवले होते. आणि संध्याकाळी काळा घोडा परिसरात आम्ही सर्व कलाकारांनी एकत्र येत बहार उडवून दिली होती. त्या घटनेला आता बारा र्वष होतील, पण त्यावेळचा माहोल अजूनही मनात घर करून आहे.
ते र्वष सरल्यानंतर पुढल्या वर्षी असं काही करायचं आहे, हे डोक्यातच नव्हतं. पण नोव्हेंबरअखेरीस मला फोन यायला लागले. गेल्यावर्षीसारखं यावर्षीही तुम्ही काही करणार असाल, तर आम्हाला त्यात आमची कला सादर करायला आवडेल, असं अनेक कलाकारांनी समोरूनच सांगितलं आणि त्यावर्षीही आम्ही षण्मुखानंद सभागृहात अब्बाजींची बरसी केली. तेव्हापासून सूर-तालाचा हा सिलसिला चालूच आहे.
अब्बाजींच्या बरसीचा विचार केला की, मला एक मैफल राहून राहून आठवते. ती मैफल आजही माझ्या मनात ताजीतवानी आहे. १९८३-८४च्या सुमाराची गोष्ट आहे. त्यावेळी मैफिलींना वेळेची मर्यादा नव्हती. त्यामुळे रात्रभर कलाकार आणि रसिकांचं हितगूज चालायचं. मला आठवतंय सेंट झेविअर्स महाविद्यालयात पंडित रविशंकरजींची मैफल होती. त्या मैफिलीला अब्बाजी संगत करणार होते. पण आयत्यावेळी त्यांनी मला तबल्यावर बसवलं आणि स्वत प्रेक्षकांमध्ये अगदी पुढल्या रांगेत जाऊन बसले.
रविजींनी सुरुवात केली, त्यावेळी उत्तररात्रीचे तीन वाजले होते. हळूहळू रंग भरायला सुरुवात झाली आणि पहाटेच्या सुमारास पहिला तुकडा संपवत असताना एक माणूस लगबगीने अब्बाजींजवळ गेला आणि त्याने त्यांच्या कानात काहीतरी सांगितलं. अब्बाजी आपल्या खुर्चीवर ताड्कन उडाले. त्यांनी इकडेतिकडे पाहण्यास सुरुवात केली. तो माणूस सूत्रसंचालकाच्या जवळ गेला आणि त्याने त्याच्याही कानात काहीतरी सांगितलं. सूत्रसंचालकही एकदम ‘सावधान’ झाला. मंचावरून हे सगळं पाहताना, नेमकं काय घडलं असावं, हा विचार सतत डोक्यात येत होता. पहिला तुकडा संपल्यानंतर निवेदक रविजींकडे आला आणि त्यांच्याही कानात तीच गोष्ट सांगितली. रविजींनी आपले डोळे मोठे करत एक छानसं हास्य केलं. आपल्या हातात माईक घेत त्यांनी संपूर्ण मैफिलीला ती बातमी ऐकवली. ते म्हणाले, ‘आजची वर्तमानपत्रं नुकतीच आली आहेत आणि त्यातील बातमीनुसार उस्ताद झाकीर हुसेन’, विचार करा, रविजींनी पहिल्यांदा मला उस्ताद म्हटलं होतं, ‘उस्ताद झाकीर हुसेन यांना नुकताच पद्मश्री पुरस्कार मिळाला आहे.’
मला काही सुचतच नव्हतं. मी अब्बाजींकडे पाहिलं, तेव्हा त्यांच्या डोळ्यांत पाणी होतं. अब्बाजी धावतच स्टेजवर आले आणि मला मिठी मारली. त्यांनी स्वत मला हार घालून माझा सत्कार केला. त्या मैफिलीत संगीत किंवा माझं वाजवणं तसं दुय्यमच होतं. पण ती मैफल माझ्या मनात ताजीतवानी राहिली आहे, ती अब्बाजींच्या किंवा माझ्या गुरूंच्या चेहऱ्यावरील समाधानामुळे! आपल्या शिष्याने, मुलाने आपल्याला गुरुदक्षिणाच दिली आहे, असे भाव त्यांच्या चेहऱ्यावर होते. ही मैफल, तिच्या आठवणी मी माझ्याबरोबर घेऊन जाणार आहे.
अब्बाजींच्या बरसीच्या निमित्ताने मला या मैफिलीची नेहमीच आठवण होते. हा कार्यक्रम म्हणजे माझ्या वडिलांना श्रद्धांजली अर्पण करण्यापेक्षाही आम्ही संगीतकारांनी एकत्र येऊन संगीताचे मानलेले आभार आहेत. भारतीय शास्त्रीय संगीत या एका गोष्टीशी आमची नाळ जोडलेली आहे.
खूप आधीपासूनच राजकारण आणि धर्म यावरून सतत झगडा सुरू असतो. पण हा झगडा थांबवण्यासाठी संगीतासारखे प्रभावी माध्यम नाही. तांडवच्या ‘ता’मधून आणि लास्यच्या ‘ल’मधून ताल साकारला. भगवान शंकराच्या डमरूचा आवाज श्री गणेशाने बोलात मांडला तो तबला! अब्बाजी नेहमी म्हणत की मी सरस्वतीचा पुजारी आहे. यात धर्माचा काहीच भाग नाही. धर्माचा विचार केला, तर ते सहिष्णू मुसलमान होते. पण संगीत ही त्यांची पूजा होती. आमच्यात एक रिवाज असतो. बाळाला जन्मानंतर घरी आणतात तेव्हा वडील बाळाच्या कानात अजान देतात. मला अब्बाजींनी जवळ घेऊन माझ्या कानात तबल्याचे बोल वाचले होते. माझी अम्मी नाराज झाली, त्यावेळी अब्बाजींनी तिची समजूत काढताना तिला सांगितले होते की, ‘तबल्याचे बोल हीच माझी अजान आहे.’ त्यामुळे आम्हा कलाकारांसाठी संगीतच एक धर्म आहे.
आयुष्यभर मी तबल्याचा प्रचार केला. पण प्रचार करावा, म्हणून कधीच तबला वाजवला नाही. तबल्यावर प्रेम होते म्हणूनच ते झाले. आज जगभरात एवढा मानसन्मान मिळतो तेव्हा या तबल्याचे आणि संगीताचे केवढे आभार मानावेत, हेदेखील कळत नाही. पण आज विजय घाटे, रामदास पळसुले, योगेश शमसी, सत्यजित तळवलकर, केदार पंडित, सावनी तळवलकर, आदित्य कल्याणपूर, अनुराधा पाल, प्रफुल्ल आठले, शुभंकर बॅनर्जी, अनिंदो चतर्जी, राशिद मुस्तफा, अक्रम खान असे एकापेक्षा एक सरस तबलावादक ऐकले की तरुण झाल्यासारखे वाटते. माझ्या मते भारतीय शास्त्रीय संगीताचा सुवर्णकाळ आता सुरू आहे. आपल्याकडे जयतीर्थ मेवुंडी, आरती अंकलीकर, अश्विनी भिडे, श्रुती सडोलीकर, राहुल देशपांडे, महेश काळे असे एकापेक्षा एक सरस कलाकार आहेत.
माझ्या मते, शास्त्रीय संगीताची ही बेंचस्ट्रेंथ आपल्या क्रिकेट टीमच्या बेंचस्ट्रेंथपेक्षाही चांगली आहे. पूर्वी काही मोजकीच नावे होती. पण आजच्या तरुणांमध्ये प्रचंड ऊर्जा आहे. त्याचबरोबर इंटरनेट, यू-टय़ुबमुळे संगीताच्या माहितीचे मोठे ज्ञानभांडार त्यांना खुले झाले आहे. याचा वापर ते उत्तमरीत्या करतात. त्यामुळे आजच्या १५ वर्षांच्या कलाकाराच्या जाणिवा आणि मी १५ वर्षांचा असतानाच्या माझ्या जाणिवा यात महद्अंतर आहे. त्याशिवाय त्यांच्यापैकी कोणी माझ्याबरोबर वाजवायला बसतो त्यावेळी माझा तीस वर्षांचा अनुभव हा त्यांच्या गाठीशी आधीच असतो. त्यात ते त्यांच्या अनुभवांची भर घालत असतात. संगीताचा हा नंदादीप असाच तेवत राहो..
याउपर काय बोलणार!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

U. Srinivas




Uppalapu Shrinivas (Telugu: ఉప్పలపు శ్రీనివాస్), (born February 28, 1969) is an Indian mandolin player of the Carnatic musical tradition of Southern India. Shrinivas plays an electric mandolin and has collaborated with John McLaughlin, Michael Nyman, and Michael Brook. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1998 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2010


Early life



Shrinivas was born February 28, 1969, in Palakol in Andhra Pradesh. At the age of six he picked up his father Satyanarayana's mandolin. Upon realising the talent of his son, his father started teaching him. Soon, Satyanarayana's guru, Rudraraju Subbaraju, realized the potential of U. Shrinivas and started teaching him. Since Rudraraju Subbaraju did not know how to play the mandolin he would just sing and U. Shrinivas would play it on the mandolin. His brother U. Rajesh is also an accomplished mandolin player.


Performing career



U. Shrinivas made his first public Carnatic concert performance in 1978 in Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh, during the Thyagaraja Aradhana festival. Soon, he came to perform in the Madras Music Season in 1981 for the Indian Fine Arts Society. In 1983, he performed at the JazzFest Berlin where the audience requested him to do a repeat performance.
He continued touring the world, Australia, Southeast Asia and then Southwest Asia, followed by the United States and Canada.

Jazz tours



Shrinivas performing in Germany, 2001
In the West Berlin Jazz Festival in 1983, he pitted against Miles Davis and his All Star Band.
In 1987, U. Shrinivas became the first South Indian Carnatic music artist to perform at the Cevantino Festival in Mexico.
Olympics Arts Festival at Barcelona, 1992

Awards and achievements



U. Shrinivas runs a music school called the Shrinivas Institute of World Music (SIOWM).
Some of the awards that Mandolin U. Srinivas has received:
Padma Shree on April 12, 1998 by The President of India
Sangeeta Ratna
Sanatan Sangeet Puraskar from Sangeet Sanskriti
Titled Asthana Vidwan of Govt. of Tamil Nadu in July 1984, Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam on October 1, 1990, Pillayarpatti Temple on 27 August 1995
Raja-Lakshmi Award for 1985 from Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai
Mysore T. Chowdiah Memorial National Award
Sangeetha Bala Bhaskara by Sangeetha Kalanidhi M.S. Subbulakshmi
National Citizen's Award, 1991 by The President of India
Special TTK Award and Best Artist Award by the Madras Music Academy in 1983 and 1993 respectively
Rajiv Gandhi National Integration Award

Discography



Shrinivas has performed with Western artists such as John McLaughlin, Michael Brook, Trey Gunn, Nigel Kennedy, Nana Vasconcelos, and Michael Nyman, as well as with Hindustani music artists such as Hariprasad Chaurasia and Zakir Hussain. He has recorded a CD of Carnatic compositions by Ilaiyaraaja called Ilaiyaraaja's Classics in Mandolin. Recently, U Shrinivas also released Samjanitha featuring Debashish Bhattacharya (Lap Steel Guitar), John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, Sivamani, Vikku Vinaykram, Dominique Piazza George Brook, U Rajesh, Anil Srinivasan and others.


Kadri Gopalnath

Kadri Gopalnath


Dr. Kadri Gopalnath (Tulu: ಕದ್ರಿ ಗೋಪಾಲನಾಥ್) (born 11 December 1949) is an Indian saxophonist and one of the pioneers of Carnatic music on the saxophone.


Early life



Kadri Gopalnath was born in 1950 in the city of Mangalore to Thaniappa and Gangamma.He acquired a taste for music from his father Thaniappa, a nadaswaram vidwan. As a child, Gopalnath once saw the saxophone being played in the Mysore palace band set. Upon hearing the vibrant tone of the saxophone, Gopalnath decided to master it. It took him nearly 20 years to conquer the complex western wind instrument, and he was eventually crowned as the "Saxophone Chakravarthy".


Career



Gopalnath had to make certain modifications to the conventional alto saxophone to play Carnatic music. So successful has this adaptation been that the great musician Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, the doyen of Carnatic music, has acknowledged Kadri Gopalnath as a true Carnatic music genius.
Gopalnath learned to play the instrument under Gopalkrishna Iyer of Kalaniketana, Mangalore. In Madras, Gopalnath came in contact with the mridangist T.V. Gopalkrishnan, who identified the youngster's potential and tutored him.
His maiden performance was for the Chembai Memorial Trust. The 1980 Bombay Jazz Festival was a turning point for Gopalnath. John Handy, a jazz musician from California was present at the festival. Hearing Gopalnath play, Handy asked if he could go on stage and perform alongside with him. So well did the two mesh, Handy in the jazz style and Gopalnath in the Carnatic style, that it became an instant hit with the audience. Gopalnath has participated in the Jazz Festival in Prague, the Berlin Jazz Festival, the International Cervantino Festival in Mexico, the Music Hall Festival in Paris, the BBC Promenade concert in 1994 at London, and has toured all over the world.
He has cut many albums and has recorded a number of cassettes and CDs. Together with jazz flautist James Newton, he recorded Southern Brothers. His production called 'East-West' is an audio-video presentation that, as the title suggests, is a fusion of Western and Indian music. This album took 6 months to produce and has compositions from Saint Tyagaraja, Beethoven and the likes.
Film director K. Balachander used Gopalnath's services in his Tamil film Duet. The film had music composed by A.R. Rahman and all the songs had saxophonic instrumentation by Gopalnath, mostly in raga Kalyana Vasantam. He once said about this album: : "I played some 30 ragas for Rahman. He wasn't satisfied. Finally I played Kalyana Vasantam, and he said, "Thats it!". After that movie I became known. I was in all the papers. It became difficult to travel in buses and trains. Of course I enjoyed the mass appeal."
In 2005, Gopalnath began a collaboration with American saxophonist and composer Rudresh Mahanthappa, which resulted in the 2008 album Kinsmen (Pi Recordings) and supporting US tour.

Awards, titles and tributes



Titles and honors have come his way, the most cherished being the Asthana Vidwan of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pettam, Sri Sringeri Sharadha Peetam, Sri Ahobila Mutt and Sri Pillayapatti Temple. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2004.
Gopalnath has the distinction of being the first Carnatic musician to be invited in the BBC Promenade concert in 1994, in the Royal Albert Hall at London. The Asian Music Circuit, U.K, sponsored his recital.
Among his other distinctions are: Saxophone Charkravarthy, Saxophone Samrat, Ganakala Shree, Nadapasana Brahma, Sunada Prakashika, Nada Kalarathna, Nada Kalanidhi, Sangeetha Vadya Rathna, Karnataka Kalashree in 1996, Vocational Excellency Award from the Rotary of Madras, Tamil Nadu State Award "Kalaimamani" and Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 1998.
He received an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University in 2004.

The 2008 album Blue Rhizome by the New Quartet features a tribute to the saxophonist called "Gopalnath" (composed by Karl E. H. Seigfried).


Website : http://www.kadrigopalnath.com


Endaro Mahanubavulu Kadari Gopalnath Carnatic Fusion



Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Godfather of Indian Classical Music: Allauddin Khan

It was a noon time. A poor man was trying to sell his sub standard music drums called as Dafli which are played with the help of hands. He was merely successful in doing go. Along with him were sitting his poor children waiting for a customer; if he buys the drum they are going to get the food. Suddenly a man comes to the man. Not bearing the pain of the poor condition, he just lifts up one of those drums and starts playing them. Within a moment, the whole crowd is enchanted by that magical rhythm played on those very ordinary drums. For the entire time, people are out of their senses. The performance is over. People within a moment, hypnotized by that divine music, take out whatever they find in their pockets and put it in front of the man. That man collects all that money, hands it over to the owner of the drums and without speaking a single word, leaves the place.

This soft hearted and India’s most loved and most respected musician was,Ustad Allauddin Khan. What we call as divine music is the music of Allauddin Khan. Allauddin Khan with a lot of efforts was accepted as a disciple by famous Veena player Ustaad Wazir Khan of Rampur. He was court musician to the Maharaja Of Maihar Estate.

Ustaad Allauddin Khan unlike other musicians, never practiced music as an profession. He was completely absorbed in music or rather music had absorbed him completely. He had reached the highest peaks and also the deepest and most subtle roots of the music. Allauddin Khan was a Sarod player, but he could play any instrument with so much mastery that anybody would think that this man must have wasted his whole life in playing that instrument. He could play all sort of instruments with equal ease and equal command.

As a musician he was the most successful; but as a Guru or Music master also, no one will deny the fact that he was most successful. He was father and Guru of world famous Sarod player and one of the finest musician of this country, Ustaad Ali Akbar Khan and very divine SurBahar player, Shrimati Annapurna Devi (Pt.Hariprasad Chaurasia is a pupil of Annapurna Ji). Many of the most successful musicians like Sitar player Pt. Ravishankar, Sarod player Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, flautist Pt. Pannalal Ghosh were his disciples. If we consider producing a chain of worthy disciples as a success, no one is as successful as Ustaad Allauddin Khan.

Another big contribution of Ustaad Allauddin Khan to the world of music is world famous Maihar Band. This band was Started By Allauddin Khan by training orphan and disabled people.He himself taught them various instruments and took the band to very high reputes.

Along with the musician, Allauddin khan was a very spiritual person. Greatest musicians of those times and also today’s music lovers, with love and respect call him Baba, which means father. He was also one of those rare musicians who explored themselves through music. He was equally in love of all religions and also always absorbed in the godliness. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, also known as Osho was very much interested in Baba Allauddin Khan and used to visit him frequently. When Osho was asked that if he knew any musician who had attained enlightenment through music, Osho answered that it was only Baba who had realized the self through his music. As Osho says, while playing the Saord, Baba got his enlightenment. As at that time Allauddin Khan was above 100 years old, his delicate and fragile body could not bear that load, and Allauddin Khan left his body at the very moment.

This essence of his divine search can be felt in the music of Baba Allauddin Khan and it is a real mystical experience to listen to his music.


This article by Mandar Karanjkar

Allauddin Khan

Allauddin Khan


Allauddin Khan (Urdu: علا الدین خان Bangla: ওস্তাদ আলাউদ্দীন খ়ান, also known as Baba Allauddin Khan) (ca. 1881 – 6 September 1972), was a Bengali sarodiya and multi-instrumentalist, composer and one of the most renowned music teachers of the 20th Century in Indian classical music.

In 1935, he toured Europe, along with Uday Shankar's ballet troupe, and later also worked at his institute, 'Uday Shankar India Culture Centre' at Almora for a while.[5] During his lifetime, he composed several ragas and laid the foundation of a modern Maihar gharana. Amongst his recording which are rare, the most important ones are those he recorded with the All India Radio in 1959-60.

He was the father of sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan and Annapurna Devi, and the uncle of Raja Hossain Khan, as well as the guru of Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee, Vasant Rai, Pannalal Ghosh, Bahadur Khan, Sharan Rani and other influential musicians. He himself was a disciple of many great musicians, including Gopal Chandra Banerjee, Lobo, Munne Khan, and most importantly after a lot of struggle managed to become a shagird of the legendary Veena player, Wazir Khan of Rampur.

He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour in 1971, and prior to that in 1954, the Sangeet Natak Akademi awarded him with its highest honour, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship for lifetime contribution to Indian music.


Early life and background



Allauddin Khan was born in Shibpur village in greater Comilla (now in Bangladesh), the son of Sabdar Hossain Khan, also known as Sadhu Khan. Allauddin's elder brother, Fakir Aftabuddin, first taught him the basics of music at home.
At the age of ten, Allauddin ran away from home to join a jatra band, a traditional Bengali form of theater. This experience exposed him to the rich folk tradition of Bengal. After some time, he went to Kolkata, and was accepted as a student by singer Gopal Krishna Bhattacharya, alias Nulo Gopal. Allauddin committed to a 12-year practice program; However, Nulo Gopal died of plague after the seventh year. Khan then became a disciple of Amritalal Dutt, a close relative of Swami Vivekananda and music director at Kolkata's Star Theatre, with the goal of becoming an instrumentalist. At this time, he also took lessons in European classical violin from Lobo, a bandmaster from Goa.

Sarod career



Khan got interested in sarod after a concert at Jagat Kishore Acharya's, zamindar of Muktagachha, where he listened to Ahmed Ali Khan, a student of Asghar Ali Khan (Amjad Ali Khan's granduncle). Alauddin became his student, and studied the sarod under him for five years. His next step was to go to Rampur for lessons from Wazir Khan Beenkar, court musician of the Nawab there, and one of the last direct descendants of the legendary Tansen. Through him, Alauddin was given access to the Senia gharana (Tansen school of music). He later became the court musician of Brijnath Singh Maharaja of Maihar Estate in Central Province.

Maihar Gharana



During his time as a court musician, Khan completely reshaped the Maihar gharana of Indian classical music. The Maihar gharana was established in the 19th Century, but Khan's contribution was so fundamental that he is often thought to be its creator. This was a period of rapid change for Hindustani instrumental music, thanks not least to Khan, who infused the beenbaj and dhrupad ang, previously known from the been, surbahar (bass sitar) and sur-sringar (bass sarod), into the playing of many classical instruments.
For though he gave concerts on the sarod, Allauddin played many instruments, something that shaped his pedagogy. He put together an orchestra with Indian instruments, the String Band now known as Maihar Band, and while his son, Ali Akbar Khan, was taught the sarod, his daughter Annapurna Devi (Roshanara Khan) learned the surbahar, students such as Ravi Shankar and Nikhil Banerjee played the sitar, Rabin Ghosh played on violin and Baijnath Singh and Pannalal Ghosh the bansuri bamboo flute. Baijnath Singh was first and Vasant Rai was Allauddin Khans last student. Of course Ravi and Ali Akbar Khan were to be very famous and spread this gharana over the world – something that Allauddin himself had started when, in 1935–1936, he went on an international tour with Uday Shankar's dance troupe.
Allauddin stayed at Maihar from 1918 to his death. In 1955, he established a Maihar College of Music. He was given the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1952, and the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan – India's third and second highest civilian decorations – in 1958 and 1971, respectively.
Personal life

Anecdotes about Khan range from throwing a tabla tuning hammer at the Maharaja himself to taking care of disabled beggars. (Nikhil Banerjee said that the tough image was "deliberately projected in order not to allow any liberty to the disciple. He always had the tension that soft treatment on his part would only spoil them".)

A few years before the turn of the century, he married Madanmanjari Devi (1888–?). He had one son and sarod heir, Ali Akbar Khan, and three daughters, Sharija, Jehanara and Annapurna who grew up as Roshanara Khan. Sharija died an early death suffering from diseases in her childhood and when Jahanara got married and a jealous mother-in-law burnt her tanpura, a shocked Alauddin Khan decided not to train his only remaining daughter. One day, however, he came home to discover Annapurna teaching her brother Ali Akbar Khan, and her talent made the emotional father change his mind. Annapurna learned classical vocal music, Sitar, and Surbahar from her father. She later married and divorced Ravi Shankar.

Ragas created by Allauddin Khan



Khan was fond of sankeerna (compound) ragas, and created many ragas of his own, including Arjun, Bhagabati, Bhim, Bhuvaneshvari, Chandika, Dhabalashri, Dhankosh, Dipika, Durgeshvari, Gandhi, Gandhi Bilawal, Haimanti, Hem-Behag, Hemant, Hemant Bhairav, Imni Manjh, Jaunpuri Todi, Kedar Manjh, Komal Bhimpalasi, Komal Marwa, Madanmanjari, Madhabsri, Madhavgiri, Malaya, Manjh Khamaj, Meghbahar, Muhammed, Nat-Khamaj, Prabhakali, Raj Bijoy, Rajeshri, Shobhavati, Subhabati, Sugandha and Surasati. Many of these have not become common Maihar repertoire; Manjh Khamaj is perhaps the best known. Some of Allauddin's recordings have been released on CD, on the Great Garanas: Maihar compilation in RPG/EMI's Chairman's Choice series.

Films



Raga (1971). Directed by Howard Worth.


BABA ALLAUDDIN KHAN-raag jaijaiwanti on sarod







BABA - documentary

Pandit Ramarao Naik

Pandit Ramarao Naik




Pandit Ramarao Naik, disciple of Ustad Faiyaz Khan, was an uncompromising exponent of the aggressive Agra gharana. He lived in old-worldly grace, singing and teaching in Bangalore.


Ramarao's father, a self-taught violinist, hailed from Neeralgi in Dharwad district. Sometime in the 1920s, he moved to Mysore and became a clerk in the maharaja's army. There the young Rama Rao happened to hear Hindustani music, thanks to the tastes of the Rajput, Maratha and Muslim soldiers. He spent long hours listening to gramophone records when other boys his age were mugging up their lessons in school.

Venkaji Rao learnt about his son's love of music, and found a teacher for him in B H Srinivasa Rao. Rama Rao learnt Karnatak music from him, and became a teacher himself. He charged Rs 5 a month. In 1993, when I met him at his house in Bangalore's brahmin-dominated Chamarajpet, he said, "Purandaradasa's songs bring the Lord before your very eyes. Many of his compositions should be sung only in the grand Karnatak ragas."

Theatre beckoned him too. For some time, Ramarao played the role of the thief in Sadarame, produced by the famous Gubbi Drama Company. When the company closed down, Rama Rao arrived in Bangalore looking for a job. He found one as a daily-wage worker at Binny Mills.

Around this time he started learning Hindustani music from Govind Vittal Bhave. Swami Vallabhdas, a prominent disciple of Ustad Faiyaz Khan, visited Mysore in 1930. Ramarao accompanied him on the harmonium, an instrument he had taught himself. Swami Vallabhdas invited him to Baroda to learn under his guru.

Faiyaz Khan was the court musician at Baroda. The master of the Agra gharana was a star attraction everywhere, and had little patience to teach. But he allowed his disciples to sit with him on the concert stage and sing along. Ramarao caught his attention, and was soon accompanying him on the tanpura and the harmonium.

Faiyaz Khan's brother-in-law Ata Hussain Khan and Swami Vallabhdas took Ramarao under their wings and taught him the complex Agra style. He spent 10 years in that city, eating fruits, and the pulses his guru got cooked in a separate kitchen.

Many critics say Ramarao was the most faithful exponent of the aggressive Agra style. In Bangalore he taught several students. Mohan Nadkarni, the well-known music critic, feels he was not known widely in other parts of India as his rituals and fasting did not allow him to travel easily. Ramarao was also caught up in domestic troubles.

Ramarao spoke excellent Kannada and Hindi. He wrote occasionally in Kannada, and composed in Hindi. He had no connection with the market-savvy English-speaking world; he lived in old-worldly grace, chatting, taking joy rides on the pillion of Sumati's TVS Scooty, attending to the concerns of his extended family, singing bhajans at the neighbouring math, and teaching. All his students vouch for his greatness as a teacher, especially his ability to explain abstract musical ideas with clarity and to spark in them a passion for musical exploration.

Padmavati Gokhale Shaligram

Padmavati Gokhale Shaligram


Padmavati Shaligram (Gokhale) – Hindustani Classical

Padmavati Shaligram – a Hindustani Vocalist who had spent more than 75 Years on Stage.

Born in 1918 in Kolhapur, Padmavati Shaligram (Gokhale) is one of the senior most vocalists of Hindustani music. She was groomed in the Jaipur – Atrauli tradition by her father and uncle who were students of the legendary Alladiya Khan, the founder of the gharana. She has been performing in public since she was thirteen and climbed to the height of success and glory very early in life. She has been a top ranked performer with the All India Radio, besides featuring in numerous concerts in both the northern and southern states of the country.

At its 13th Sangeet Sammelan (November 11-13, 2005) ITC SRA rediscovered Padmavati Shaligram for the Kolkata audience after decades, on the platinum jubilee year of her singing career. The sprightly Padmavati came, saw and conquered with her stupendous taans. This apparently frail and petite 86-year-old lady had to be helped on to stage. But all fears for her frailty vanished within the first 2 crystal clear notes that she sang. Her simple and direct approach had an old-world charm.Yet it was scintillating and full of vitality. (I have uploaded both the songs..)

Endless taan patterns at an electrifying speed used to be her forte in her prime. The mesmerized Kolkata listeners witnessed that the same was just as true now. She sang with passion and a rare rustic appeal and left the stage to a standing ovation


She has recieved:

"Sangeet Natak Academy Award" - 1988; Awarded by Govt. of India, Highest award for arts in India.
Kalidas Award - 1994-95
Award from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal
She has performed all over Hindustan (India and Pakistan) before partition. Ustad Alar Khan used to accompany her. She acted in at least 4 Hindi, Marathi and Telugu moviles.


Tracks

Rag Nand – Sung @ Calcutta at her 86th year….
Kausi Kanhara – Sung @ Calcutta at her 86th year
Kamod
Jaijaiwanthi
Todi
Poorvi




Dr. Sharayu Kalekar

Sharayu Kalekar



Sharayu Kalekar, was a leading torch-bearer of the Rampur Sadarang tradition of Hindustani classical music. Dedicated all her live to classical music, the music icon was a brilliant exponent, musicologist and Principal of Government College, Chandigarh.

Dr. Kalekar has participated in various seminars, workshops, and refresher courses of national and international level, sponsored by different universities, Sangeet Natak Academy, Lucknow (UP), Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi and I.C.C.R. Delhi. She was nominated as the representative of the State Government (Chandigarh) U.T. for the general council of Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi. She was the member of Executive Board and General Council of Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi for five years nominated by the Govt. Of India. During her long splendid career, Dr Kalekar was associated with many institutions, Boards and prestigious Universities for Research Guidance and valuation of Ph.D thesis.
She visited Mauritius, Kenya and Bangladesh as a music performer, teacher and an expert sponsored by the Govt. Of  India. Dr. Kalekar has been honoured with numerous musical awards. She received Sangeet Sewa  Puruskar from Harvallabh Sangeet Samiti, Jallandhar in 1977, honoured by Prachin Kala Kendra, Chandigarh in 1998 and received the prestigious State Award for Indian Classical Vocal Music from Sangeet Natak Academy Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow for the year 1996 for her services in the field of music.

Shruti Sadolikar

Shruti Sadolikar




Shruti Sadolikar Katkar (born 1951) is an Indian classical singer of the khyal style in the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Hindustani vocal music for 2011.


Early life and career

Sadolikar was born 1951 into a family from Kolhapur which was known for its musical tradition and owning sugar mills. She received training in Indian classical music from childhood. Her initial training was given by her father, Wamanrao Sadolikar, who was taught by the founder of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, Alladiya Khan, and his son Bhurji Khan. Following her studies with her father, Sadolikar learnt music for twelve years from Gulubhai Jasdanwala, who was known for his large collection of raga compositions, including compositions in rare ragas. Sadolikar earned a master's degree from SNDT Women's University in Mumbai and wrote a thesis on Haveli Sangeet, a type of temple music.

Sadolikar performs all forms of Indian classical and semi-classical music, including thumri, tappa, and natya sangeet, and has performed in India, Canada, the United States, France, Switzerland, Germany, and the West Asian countries.[5] She had several musical and educational recordings published and holds the Homi Bhabha Fellowship of the National Centre for the Performing Arts. In 1999, Sadolikar produced a play named "Sangeet Tulsidas" for which she set the music, and she performed for SPIC MACAY to interest young Indians in Indian classical music. Sadolikar has regularly performed playback for Indian movies. She had Katkar added to her name after marriage and is a student of Azizuddin Khan, son of Burji Khan. Sadolikar works as Vice Chancellor of the Bhatkhande Music Institute University in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.


Shruti Sadolikar - Raag Maru Bihag

Pandit Yashpaul





Pandit Yashpaul (born 22 March 1937) is a performing artiste of the Agra gharana of Hindustani Classical Music. He has made significant contributions towards the preservation of the heritage of the classical vocal music of India’s north western region. He received his music training under the gurus Pt. Kasturi Lal Ji Jasara (Qasoor Gharana), Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan Saheb and Ustad Yunus Hussain Khan Saheb, the virtuosos of the Agra gharana of Nohar Bani. He also bears the influence of the inspirations of the Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb and Pt. Malikarjun Mansoor Ji.
He is a composer, educationist and musicologist. He has composed many compositions in common and rare ragas with his nom de plume Sagun Piya. He has received many awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 2011.


Early life



Pandit Yashpaul was born in Gujranwala in 1937. After the partition his parents migrated to India and settled in Jalandhar, where he was initiated into music under the care and training of Guru Pt. Kasturilal ji ‘Jassra’, who himself was the disciple of Late Ustad Chhotte Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb of Lahore.

Teaching Methodology



Pandit Yashpaul believes in the guru - shishya parampara under which the student is taught the core techniques of the gharana. He puts emphasis on swar-sadhna and the purity of the raga. His teaching methodology involves instilling a unique aesthetic sense in individuals. He teaches only one student per class as he believes that education must take place by one-on-one interaction.

Career



Pandit Yashpaul first performed when he was 11 years old at the "Hariwallabh sangeet samelan". He is the oldest alumni of Swami Harballabh Sangeet Akademi Jalandhar. He has been performing from the All India Radio since 1952. At present he is a performing artiste of All India Radio (Akashvani & Doordarshan). So far he has performed in many nationally-broadcast programmes of music, as well as annual Akashvani Sangeet Sammelans.

Awards and honors



Awards received by Pandit Yashpaul include:

National Sangeet Natak Academy Award
Award of National Scholarship,1962 (Ministry of Education Govt. of India)
Punjab State award
Punjab Sangeet Natak Academi award
Dedicated Educationist award
Sangeet Sumeru award
Sangeet Shiromani award
The Music Monarch of India’s north western region (the life time award by FFF)
Honored by Senior Citizens Association of Chandigarh
Received Pb. University Colour in 1958
He is the founder and former Chairman of Deptts. of Music i.e., M.C.M. D.A.V. College for Women and Punjab University Chandigarh respectively




Noted maestro of Agra Gharana Pandit Yash Paul. Pt. Yash Paul is a traditional and eminent performing artiste, in the field of Hindustani classical vocal music. He was awarded The Top Grade by the directorate general All India Radio Ministry of I&B Govt. of India New Delhi. He is an affectionately respected adored senior most, performing artiste from this region. He is an artiste of par excellence and a restless innovatory genius. He is a dedicated educationist as well. He has made a signal contribution to the training of young vocalists, many of whom have achieved high distinction in this part of the country. He has innovated special features of his system of training to benefit the learners. He established his reputation as a popular performing artiste, composer and teacher.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Chhannulal Mishra

Chhannulal Mishra



Pandit Chhannulal Mishra (Hindi: पंडित छन्नूलाल मिश्रा) (born 3 August 1936) is a Hindustani classical singer from Banaras, a noted exponent of the Kirana gharana (school) of the Hindustani classical music and especially the Khayal and the 'Purab Ang' - Thumri.
He has been awarded the 'Shiromani Award' of Sur Singar Sansad, Bombay; Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award; Naushad Award of U.P. Govt., and the Bihar Sangeet Shiromani Award. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honor, in 2010.


Biography



Mishra was born on 3 August 1936 in Hariharpur, Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, in the home of Badri Prasad Mishra. His grandfather, “Gudai Maharaj” Shanta Prasad was a noted tabla player. Pandit mishra was conferred the Padmabhusan award by the Government oF India on the 25th Janauray, 2010.
He first learnt music with his father, Badri Prasad Mishra and was then was educated by 'Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan' of the Kirana gharana. He was trained thereafter by Thakur Jaidev Singh.
Today, he is considered one of Indian finest exponents of Hindustaani classical music because of his unique blend of the Banaras Gayaki and the Punjab Gayaki, in his khyal, dadra, thumri, chaiti, kajri, hori and bhajans.


Discography



Audio releases


Anjali (Hindi: अंजलि, literally Offering) – Audio CD with 10 tracks which include four Stutis, two Shlokas, two Chalisas, one Stotra and one Vandana dedicated to various aspects of Shakti - Durga, Mahakali, Kali, Saraswati, Vindhyeshwari, Sitala, Ganga, Bhavani.
Echoes of Benaras Volume 3 – Audio CD with three Thumris, one Sawani and one Chaiti.
Holi Ke Rang - Tesu Ke Phool (Hindi: होली के रंग - टेसू के फूल, literally The colours of Holi, the flowers of Tesu) – Audio CD with eight songs on Holi, seven describing the Holi of Radha and Krishna and one describing the Holi of Parvati and Shiva .
Kabir (Hindi: कबीर) – A set of two audio CDs with 12 Bhajans authored by Kabir, a middle-age mystic from Benares.
Krishna Madhav (Hindi: कृष्ण माधव) – A set of two audio CDs with 12 Bhajans dedicated to Krishna.
Purvaiya - Chaiti (Hindi: पुरवइया - चैती, literally From the Orient - Songs of Chaitra) – Audio CD with nine songs of the Chaiti genre which are traditionally sung in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April) which falls during spring.
Purvaiya - Kajari (Hindi: पुरवइया - कजरी, literally From the Orient - Songs of Rain) – Audio CD with eight songs of the Kajari genre which are traditionally sung during the rainy season.
Rama Raga (Hindi: राम राग, literally The Raga of Rama) – Audio CD with a one-hour rendition of the three words Raja (King), Rama and Raga in various Ragas.
Tulsidas - Ramcharitmanas (Hindi: तुलसीदास - रामचरितमानस) – Audio CD with five excerpts from the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas in different Ragas.
Shiv Vivah (Hindi: शिव विवाह, literally The marriage of Shiva) - Audio CD with the marriage of Parvati and Shiva from the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas sung in eleven different Ragas, along with four Bhajans dedicated to Shiva.
Spirit Of Benares – Audio CD with two Khayals, two Thumris and two Dadaras.
Krishna - From The Heart Of Benaras – Audio CD with nine songs dedicated to Krishna.
Sundar Kand (Hindi: सुन्दरकाण्ड) - A set of four audio CDs with the entire Sundar Kand of the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas sung in different Ragas, along with two Bhajans dedicated to Hanuman.

Bollywood Song


Aarakshan (Hindi: आरक्षण) (2011) – Two songs Kaun Si Dor with Shreya Ghoshal and Saans Albeli.


khelain masane me hori chhannulal mishra

Vasundhara Komkali

Vasundhara Komkali



Vasundhara Komkali is a vocalist of Hindustani music genre. She is the wife of the music maestro late Kumar Gandharva & Mother of Kalapini.

Vasundhara Komkali is well-known name in the arena of Indian Classical music. She has created a niche for herself in the hearts of millions by her unique style of singing.


Vasundhara Komkali has been regarded as one of the prominent Indian classical vocalists. Her rise as the classical vocalist took place in the very recent years. Vasundhara Komkali under the expert tutelage of Pt. Kumar Gandharva has received training in Indian classical music. She was also being trained in classical music under Dr B R Deodhar, `a doyen of Gwalior Gharana and a disciple of Pt. Paluskar`. Today she has earned a prominent place in the arena of Indian classical music for herself.

Early Life of Vasundhara Komkali


In the year of 1931, Vasundhara Komkali was born in Kolkata. She was brought up in an environment where she was always encouraged to learn music. Her musical career started taking its proper shape when she came to Mumbai in the year 1946. Vasundhara Komkali is the student of the Gwalior gharana. There she underwent training under Dr B R Deodhar. She got married to her guru Kumar Gandharva at the time of her training under him. As the disciple of Kumar Gandharva she started companioning him at the time of his executions. She started executing as the `supporting vocalist` to Kumar Gandharva. In ameliorating her talent, this experience helped her.

Career of Vasundhara Komkali


Vasundhara Komkali used to help Kumar Gandharva in preconceiving as well as executing many themes such as Geet-Varsha, Geet-Hemant, Geet-Vasant, Rituraj-Mehfil, Triveni, Surdas, Tulsidas-Darshan, and Mala-Umajlela-Balgandharva. Audience have always been mesmerized with her extremely melodious and potent voice. She has also executed khayal, bhajan and lokgeet espousing the footsteps of her guru Kumar Gandharva. This noted Indian classical vocalist to her credit has been a regular broadcaster of AIR and Doordarshan. There are many released solo cassettes in her name.

Awards won by Vasundhara Komkali


In the domain of Classical music Vasundhara Komkali is being honoured as the `Sangeet Praveen`. As the performing artist, she has travelled in an extensive manner and simultaneously performed in many highly esteemed music festivals. She has executed her `gayaki` as a solo-artist as well as a concomitant vocalist to the celebrated Kumar Gandharva. To her credit, the first and second volumes of the Anoop Raag Vilas series she has published as a reprint.


Vasundhara Komkali and daughter Kalapini Komkali's



Abdul Rashid Khan

Abdul Rashid Khan




Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan (born November 1908) is a vocalist of Hindustani music genre. His sings in the tradition of Mian Tansen. Apart from khayal, he sings dhrupad, dhamar and thumri with equal versatility.


Early life



Khan was born in a family of musicians tracing back to Behram Khan, who was a singer of traditional Gwalior gharana gayaki. His father's elder brother Bade Yusuf Khan and his father initially trained him. This was followed with extensive taleem from his family elders, like Chand Khan, Barkhudar Khan, Mahtab Khan who had imbibed the Gwalior Gayaki. He further developed this style suiting his own artistic sensitivity.

Career



Khan's traditional compositions have been recorded by the BBC and Iraq Radio. Organizations like Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academi, Lucknow and ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata have recorded and preserved more than 1500 compositions. During the past several decades, he has been a regular performer on Akashvani and Doordarshan Lucknow. Khan has participated in many national and regional conferences like Sadarang Conference, Godrej Conference, Lucknow Mahotsav, Dover Lance Conference, ITC Sangeet Sammelan, Prayag Sangeet Samiti Sangeet Sammelan all over India and has been felicited by Critics, fellow artists and many reputed recognized institutions like Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy, (1981), Banaras Hindu University (1993), Eastern Zone cultural center and Press club Kolkata.
Khan has composed more than two thousand compositions and is also a prolific writer and poet under the pseudonym "Rasan Piya". Many compositions (bandish) that he sings are his own creations. He has trained numerous students in his lifetime. He is now a "guru" at ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.

Awards



ITC award (1994)
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2009)
Kashi Swar Ganga Award (2003)
Ras Sagar (titlle) Award 2004

He has been a member of the All India Radio Audition Committee, New Delhi and has been awarded with many titles by the different reputed organizations like 'Sangeet Maharishi', 'Sangeet Sartaz', 'Rassagar', 'Bandish Samarat'.


Ustaad Abdul Rashid Khan: Performing at the age of 102 years-Part 1