Ugam 2011

Indian classical music not losing market: Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia

Seasoned flautist with over 50 years of experience, Padma Vibhushan Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia regaled the aficionados of Indian classical music with yet another memorable performance in the city. As he signed autographs and blessed music lovers, TOI caught up with the maestro:

Q. Many veteran musicians in the country have voiced their concern over how Indian classical music is losing out to the more popular forms. What is your view?

A. I don't think Indian classical music is losing its market. It is heartening, in fact, when young children participate in such events. When I played `Vaishnav Jan' for the children in the audience, asked them to identify the song and then to sing it, I was nearly confident no one would come forward to sing. The children, however, proved me wrong. It shows little girls and boys are as appreciate of classical music as older people. They just have to be shown the way.

Q. What, in your opinion, should be done in order to promote Indian classical music?

A. When I landed in Lucknow and was driven from the airport to the hotel, it didn't feel like the old Lucknow at all. It was a pleasure to see the changed skyline of the city and how the monuments and parks had metamorphosed it into some new and grand. My request to the government is that Indian music needs to be treated in a similar manner. They need to create robust infrastructure, with trained teachers and music institutions, to promote classical music. I promise you, there will be plenty of takers.

Q. Promoting Indian classical music among the youth is a recurring concern among most practitioners of Indian music. Are reality shows on television the answer?

A. Not at all. In fact, I think television channels have used children and these shows to further their businesses. For them, these shows are little more than commercial ventures. At an age when children should receive formal training, in school or in music gurukuls, they are sitting in studios being coated in layers of makeup.

There is plenty of talent; which needs to be channelised. Participating in reality TV cannot help children take up music as a viable career option, proper training and 'riyaaz' can.

Q. With an upsurge in these shows, have more children started approaching your Vrindavan Gurukul for classical training?

A. No. The Gurukul receives a steady flow of students who are committed to learning various forms of Indian classical music. These are people who regard music as a passion.

Q. Are many students learning the art of playing the flute, as opposed to other musical instruments?

A. I am happy to say that they are. The reason is that flutes are far more affordable than most other instruments. As a result, many students choose the flute. Of course, like any other instrument, the flue too, takes years of practice to master.

Rakesh Chaurasia

A famous name attached to this musician; young Rakesh is the nephew and child prodigy of flute maestro Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia. The most accomplished of disciples of his uncle, he shows all the promise to carry the Chaurasia legacy to new heights.
Just like his legendary uncle, Rakesh possesses the right balance of strength and serenity, very critical factors for an exceptional flautist. His dexterous blowing technique coupled with his training of ‘swar’ and ‘tala’ exudes adeptly in his emotions through the hollow piece of bamboo. Rakesh has already globe trotted many times over, enthralling audiences at classical and semi-classical concerts in Japan, Australia, Europe, South Africa and USA. He is also an accomplished musician having recorded with most of the leading stalwarts of the Indian film industry. And just like his illustrious uncle, he has composed music and worked with artists such as the Spanish guitarist Marco Salaun, Indian jazz pianist Louis Banks and percussionist Taufiq Qureshi, amongst others. “VIRA”, one of his most successful and highly acclaimed albums on which he was accompanied by Talvin Singh on the tabla, is released under the Sona Rupa label. Soon after its release, he and Talvin were invited to conclude the 24 hour live music broadcast to a worldwide audience on the BBC radio celebrating Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee.

Despite his experimental work, Rakesh has never deviated from his main goal of becoming a full-fledged classical musician. The winner of “Surmani” (Mumbai) in 1998, he has regularly appeared in prominent festivals like St. Xavier’s in Mumbai, ‘Festivals of India’ in Russia, Japan and the USA. His growing maturity and status has brought him invitations to perform solo at major events within India and abroad such as the Festival of Saint-Denis in Paris with Talvin Singh, Leicester International Music Festival in England, ‘Ashirwadh Sangeet Samaroh’ in Varanasi, ‘Anubhuti’ in Mumbai where history was made when, for the first time ever, Rakesh, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt Shivkumar Sharma and his son, Rahul, all performed together on stage accompanied by the legendary Ustad Zakir Hussain. Having also appeared in Gwalior, Nagpur, Hyderabad and Bhopal, he has had the distinction of a solo performance in front of a 2000 capacity audience during the prestigious ‘Hindi Sahitya Sammelan’ in the city of Allahabad.

Modest Rakesh is the first to admit that he has a lot to learn, not just from his legendary uncle and maestro, but his peers too. He is indeed, destined to carve a niche for himself in the realm of Indian Classical Music with the simple yet extremely difficult to play bamboo flute, the Bansuri.

Prestigious concerts:
Festival De Saint-Denis, Paris with Talvin & Smadj
Ashirwadh Sangeet Samaroh, Varanasi
Chaturang Sangeet Utsav, Mumbai
ANUBHUTI,, Mumbai - first time ever 5 artist together, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shiv kumar Sharma, Zakir Hussain, Rakesh Chaurasia & Rahul Sharma
Fine Art Social Welfare Society – New Delhi - Inaugural Sangeet Samaroh, Millennium 2001.
Yeshwantrao Chavan Pratishthan’s Rangswar, Mumbai – “Avani” – a fusion concert in aid of the Gujarat Earthquake victims.
Milap fest – the Indian festival – Liverpool (part of BBC Music Live Program)
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, USA – Millennium festival, N.Y.
Vedic Heritage Inc. – Hempstead, USA – Dipawali celebration.
Sangeet Maha Yagna – 50 hour non-stop performance of Indian classical music by over 100 artistes on the occasion of India’s 50 years of independence.
South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur – Yuva Sangeet Nritya Mahotasav.

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia

Hariprasad Chaurasia

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Background information
Born 1 July 1938 (age 72)
Origin Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Genres Hindustani classical music
Occupations Composer, flute player
Instruments bansuri
Website hariprasadchaurasia.com
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (born 1 July 1938) is an Indian classical instrumentalist. He is a player of the bansuri, the North Indian bamboo flute. Chaurasia is a classicist who has made a conscious effort to reach out and expand the audience for classical music.

Early life and background

Hariprasad Chaurasia was born in Allahabad in a non musical family. His father was a wrestler. His mother died when he was four. Hariprasad had to learn music almost in secret, scared of the father who wanted him to become a wrestler. He did go to the Akhada and train with his father for some time, although he also started learning music in secret, and practicing in his friend's house. He has credited this wrestling training for giving him the immense stamina and lung power that are the hallmarks of his flute playing, stating that,
“ I was not any good at wrestling. I went there only to please my father. But maybe because of the strength and stamina I built up then, I'm able to play the bansuri even to this day. ”

Career

Hariprasad Chaurasia started learning vocal music from his neighbour, Pandit Rajaram at the age of 15. Later, he switched to playing the flute under the tutelage of Pandit Bholanath Prasanna of Varanasi. Much later, while working for All India Radio, he received guidance from the reclusive Annapurna Devi, (daughter of Baba Allaudin Khan).
He is considered a rare combination of innovator and traditionalist. He has expanded the expressive possibilities of the bansuri through his masterful blowing technique.
Apart from classical music, he has made a mark as a Hindi language film music director along with Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, forming a group called Shiv-Hari. He has also collaborated with various world musicians in experimental cross-cultural performances, including the fusion group Shakti.
He serves as the Artistic Director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory in the Netherlands.
He has collaborated with several western musicians, including John McLaughlin and Jan Garbarek, and has also composed music for a number of Indian films. He has performed throughout the world winning acclaim from varied audiences and fellow musicians including Yehudi Menuhin and Jean-Pierre Rampal.

Personal life

Chaurasia is married to Anuradha, a classical vocalist.

Awards

He has won a number of awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy (1984), Konark Samman (1992), Padma Bhushan (1992),Yash Bharati Sanman (1994) and Padma Vibhushan (2000). In the year 2000, he also received the Hafiz Ali Khan Award and the Dinanath Mangeshkar Award.
Panditji was honoured by the Dutch Royal family at Amsterdam,and was conferred with the title OFFICER IN THE ORDER OF ORANGE-NASSAU( “officier in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau”) and was honored by Princess Maxima herself.
In the year 2009, shortly after his birthday he was honored by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of France. He has been appointed as KNIGHT IN THE ORDER OF ARTS AND LETTER (“Ordres des Arts et Lettres”) in appreciation for the significant contribution he has made to spread culture in France and the rest of the World.
In August of 2009, Pt. Chaurasia was awarded the National Eminence award, NADA VIDYA BHARTI by Visakha Music and Dance Academy, Vizag.
On 14 September of 2009 he was bestowed the Honorary Doctorate by the North Orissa University for his unparelleled role and contribution to the world of Indian Classical Music.

Biography

On 1 July, 2008 on the occasion of his 70th Birthday, his official biography "Woodwinds of Change" by Shri Surjit Singh was released by Mr. Amitabh Bachchan.

Discography

These are major albums released by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, categorized by release dates.2


Chaurasia in 2007
1967
Call of the Valley with Shivkumar Sharma and Brij Bhushan Kabra
1978
Krishnadhwani 60
1981
Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute
1984
Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute (different set of ragas,same album name)
1987
Morning to Midnight Ragas - Morning Ragas
1988
Call of the Valley
1989
Venu
Live in Ahmedabad '89
1990
Immortal Series
1991
Megh Malhar
1992
Night Ragas
Live in Amsterdam '92
Morning to Midnight Ragas - Afternoon Ragas
All time Favorites
Live from Sawai Gandharva Music Festival - Video (VHS)
Raga-s DU Nord Et Du Sud
Immortal Series - Flute Fantasia
1993
Indian Classical Masters
Daylight Ragas
Flute - Hariprasad Chaurasia
1994
Thumri - The Music of Love
In A Mellow Mood
Possession
Immortal Series - Devine Drupad
Classic Greats1 - Ideas on Flute
1995
In Live Concert
Cascades of Hindustani Music
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Sunrise Melody
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Morning Melody
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Midday Melody
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Afternoon Melody
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Evening Melody
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Sunset Melody
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Midnight Melody
Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Late Night Melody
Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute
Malhar-Chandrika
Music 157 - Live in London
Music - Flute
Great Jugalbandis
Music from the world of OSHO - Above & Beyond
Prem Yog
Written on the Wind
Romantic Themes
Saptarishi - Live at Siri Fort
The Mystical Flute of Hari Prasad Chaurasia
Maestro's Choice
Basant Bahar
Chaurasia's Choice
1996
Hari Prasad Chaurasia & his Divine Flute
Flute Recital
Valley Recalls - In search of Peace, Love and Harmony
Krishna's Flute - Master of the Bansuri
Classical Encounters - A live Experience with Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia
Fabulous Flute
Pundit Hari Prasad Chaurasia
In Concert - Vancouver, B.C
Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute
The Bamboo Flautist of His Generation
Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - Nada in Jerusalem
1997
Classical Encounters - A Live Experience with Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia
Great Jugalbandis
The Golden Collection (Classical)
Immortal Essence
Golden Raga Collection
1998
Samarpan-VCD Special 60th Birthday Edition
The Charms Companion
Morning to Midnight - Morning to Dusk
Music for Reiki
1999
Jugalbandi
Rasdhaara
Live Inside Khajuraho
Live in New Delhi - '89
Golden Raga Collection
Musical Titans of India - Jugalbandhi Video (VHS)
Pure Joy - Positive Energy Music
2000
Music without Boundaries
Maaya - Far East
Hriday - Cuba
Caravan Spain
Live Concert at Savai Gandharva Music Festival
Gurukul - The Guru shishya Parampara
2001
Adi-Ananth
Love Divine - Parables of Passion
Power & Grace - Live at the Saptak Festival 2001
Discovery of Indian Classical Music
Flute Duet
2003
Flute Deity Hariprasad Chaurasia
The Greatest Hits of Hariprasad Chaurasia
Salvation - Instrumental Bhajans
[edit]Albums (release year unknown)
La Flute De Pundit Hariprasad Chaurasia
Hariprasad Chaurasia - The Most Celebrated Flautist of India
Sound of Silence
Charm of the Bamboo flute
Kalpana - Imagination
A Kaleidoscope of various ragas
Krishna Utsav
Kali - Classical Instrumental
Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - the Living Legend of Flute
Moon Light Moods - Flute Recital
Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - The Living Legend of Flute
Indian Music
HariDhwani
Buston Abraham - Fanar
Fusion India - Passage of India Series
Being Still
Dhammapada - Sacred teaching of Buddha
The Charms Companion
Eternity
Nothing but wind (1988) - Composed by Ilaiyaraaja
[edit]Music for Bollywood films

Along with Pandit ShivKumar Sharma he composed music for
Chandni
Darr
Lamhe
Silsila
Faasle
Vijay
Sahibaan