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.
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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
