Sawai Gandharva Music Festival 2009

57th Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav Schedule:

7th Jan 2010

Pramod Gaikwad

Coming from a third generation musician, Pramod Gaikwad is the grandson of renowned Shehnai Samrat Pt. Shankarraoji Gaikwad and son of Surmani Pt. Prabhashankar Gaikwad, he learnt Shehnai/Sundri from them from the early age of seven years. In his quest for excellence, Pramod is currently receiving pure "Banarasi Style Shehnai Vadan" guidance from his Guru and father in law Pt.Anant Lal ji and Pt. Dayashankar,who are Shehnai Maestros.

Nagnath Wodeyar

Pt. Nagnath Wodeyar is a well known Hindustani vocalist of Karnataka. This gem of a musician was born at Bakapur, (Dharwad District)in 1944. He was fascinated by music right from his childhood. He began his intial riyaz under the careful guidance of Lae Shri V.H. Inamdar in the year 1955-56. He passed the Sangeet Visharada Cousre at Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya with distinction. He has completed Karnatak Government's VIDVAT examination in First Class. After many years of rigorous training under his primary guruji, he was fortunate enough to get introduced by his uncle Late Shri Raghvendra Chavate a distinguished sculptor to Padmavibhushan Dr. Gangubai Hangal, the doyen of Kirana Gharana , to honing himself to the perfection under the inimitable. After another 15 years of tireless Riyaz from Dr. Gangubai Hangal his unmatchable performances began broadcasting from All India Radio from 1974. He has given Chain Booking programs in the States of Maharashtra and Goa namely, in the cities of Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Panaji and also splendid performances across the country, prominent among them are Mumbai, Hyderabad, Madras, Bangalore, etc .

Devaki Pandit

Shrimati Devaki Pandit is a maharashtrian performer of classical, semi-classical, light and devotional music India. She received her initial music training from her mother Smt. Usha Pandit. She then trained under Vasantrao Kulkarni, Kishori Amonkar, Jitendra Abhisheki. Devakitai is currently receiving instruction from Babanrao Haldankar. In light music, she counts poet-composer Sudhir Moghe among her gurus. She started performing at the age of nine and did her first recording at the age of twelve, but came into the limelight when she was given a break by Hridaynath Mangeshkar in a programme on doordarshan. A highly talented singer, she has not only given performances in India, but has undertaken concert tours all over the world at the invitation of prestigious institutions. She has also sung for various films, with renowned music directors. However, her focus remains on Hindustani classical music. She has been also being honored as one of the judges in the very famous Marathi Programme called Idea SaReGaMaPa on Zee Marathi, along with Avadhut Gupte

Tarun Bhattacharya

For Maestro Pt Tarun Bhattacharya Indian classical music was running deep in his genes as he inherited it from his father Late Pt. Robi Bhattacharya, who is not only Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya's first Guru but also has been a Guru to hundreds of students, having set up a Music Institution, one of the first in West Bengal. Pt. Tarun's late mother and two sisters, all are sitar players.Maestro Pt Tarun Bhattacharya was initiated into music at the tender ago of four by his father and later he was under the talim of Pt. Dulal Roy.

Maestro Pt Tarun Bhattacharya ultimate evolution as a musician happened when his talents were honed and nurtured by none other than the legendary music wizard Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar, under whose tutelage (since 1982) Pt Tarun's 'baaj1 (style of play) as in the Maihar Gharana attained perfection, poise and style and his technique reached its zenith.

Pt Jasraj

Jasrajji was born in Hissar, Haryana to Pandit Motiramji, a classical exponent. His family is well known for singing in the Mewati Gharana style. Jasraj was initiated into vocal music by his father. He also received training from his elder brother, Pandit Maniramji, and later from Maharaja Jaywant Singhji Waghela. He was also greatly influenced by the voice of the famous ghazal singer, Begum Akhtar, whom he used to listen to, skipping school, at a small hotel playing her songs all day. Jasrajji is blessed with a rich, soul stirring and sonorous voice, traversing effortlessly across three and a half octaves. His vocalizing is in perfect diction and clarity. He also did extensive research in Haveli Sangeet.His greatest contribution to Indian classical music is his conception of a unique and novel jugalbandi, styled on the ancient system of moorchanas, between a male and a female vocalist, each singing in their respective scales and different ragas at the same time.

8th Jan, 2010

Rajendra Kandalgaonkar

Born in 1959. Mr. Rajendra Kandalgaonkar is a well-known Vocalist of Indian classical Music. Most renowned gurus have trained Rajendra. At the young age of seven, he began his basic training in Vocal Music from Pandit Vishnu A. Ghag of Gwalior Gharana from 1967 to 1984. Since 1980, he has the good fortune of being trained by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi of Kirana Gharana. Mr. Rajendra has topped the "Sangeet Alankar" in 1978 - 79 in the Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Miraj.

Mr. Rajendra is an A Grade Artist of A.I.R. Since 1997. He has performed Various A.I.R. Stations in all over India. Mr. Rajendra has also performed on Mumbai Doordarshan.

Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, the internationally renowned exponent of the bansuri or bamboo flute, surprisingly does not come from a long lineage of flautists. His father was a famous wrestler who had aspirations of his son following in his footsteps.

The younger Chaurasia had an early love of music, however, and by the age of 15 was taking his first steps toward a lifetime as a performer by studying classical vocal with Pandit Raja Ram of Benares. Soon after, he heard a flute recital by Pandit Bholanath and was so impressed he changed his focus to studying the flute. When he was just 19, he got a job playing for All India Radio, Cuttack, Orissa, and within five years he was transferred to their headquarters in Bombay. There he got the additional exposure of performing in one of India's cultural centers and also studied with Shrimati Annapurna Devi, daughter of Ustaad Allauddin Khan of the Maihar School of Music.

Shrinivas Joshi

Blessed with being born in a home where music was breathe, Shrinivas Joshi took to music naturally. Son of Hindustani classical music maestro Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. Shrinivas drew inspiration from his parents. After completing B.Tech from IIT, Delhi his decision to make music a career was conscious one. Shrinivas started serious pursuit of music in a traditional Gurukul System under his father and mother late. Smt. Vatsalabai Joshi.

He is a highly original vocalist with the most authentic voice. In addition to his mastery over pure classical Khyal music, he also renders semi-classical Thumri, devotional compositions and other forms. Shriniva's devotion, sensitivity and integrity are clearly reflected in his music, translating it into a complete and enriching experience.

Smt. Malini Rajurkar

Smt Malini Rajurkar is one of the most well known vocalists of her generation.

Malini Rajurkar was born in 1941. She grew up in Rajasthan, finishing her Sangeet Nipun from Ajmer Music College. She studied music under the guidance of Govindrao Rajurkar and Vasantrao Rajurkar. She was influenced by musicologist K.G.Ginde, Jitendra Abhisheki and Kumar Gandharva. Thus, she is not a pure Gwalior gharana follower.

Her concert career started in 1964. Ever since then, she has been a regular on the Indian concert circuit. She also had successful tours of the US (1980) and UK (1984). Since 1970s she has settled down in Hyderabad. Malini Rajurkar sings khayal in the slow tempo, like in Kirana gharana. She is the acknowledged master of Tappa, a composition with fast phrases.

Malini Rajurkar has received several awards, including the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy awards in 2001.

9th Jan, 2010

Chandrashekhar Waze

Qualifications: Masters of Fine Arts(Music-Vocal) from the University of Mumbai.

Chandrashekhar hails from a family that literally breathes music and art. His maternal grandfather Late Shri Mama Pendse was a revered and highly respected Gurutulya Marathi Stage Artiste. His father Pt. Raghunath Vaze is a gifted Vocalist and a composer,was the first to sow the seeds of swara and laya while nurturing the musical talent so evident in the young Chandrashekhar. Initially it was Tabla that capture his attention and it was not long before his restless fingers started making rhythmic sense. An arduous grooming under Pt. B.D.Tambe and the Tabla Maestro Pt. Sadashiv Pawar soon bore fruit as young Chandrashekhar began making a mark as an accompanist as well as a soloist.

Shrikant Deshpande

Shrikant Deashpande is the grandson of Late Sawai Gandharva ,who was an exponent of the Kirana Gharana and Guru of Pt Bhimsen Joshi. Shrikant was initiated into the intricacies of music by his father, Late Dr. Vasant Deshpande, also a disciple of Sawai Gandharva. Later he was under the tutelage of Mrs Sarswati Rane, Pt Bhimsen Joshi and Pt Feroze Dastur. Gifted with a mellifluous voice marked by depth and range, Shrikant has developed a distinct style of his own. He has performed at a number of prestigious concerts in India as well as in Canada, US, UK and the Far East. Shrikant organizes music festivals in different cities to promote young and talented artists. He is also associated with a number of prestigious organizations including the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, in the capacity of an advisor.

Biswajit Roy Chowdhury

Notable among today's matured generation of serious exponents of Hindusthani classical music Biswajit Roy Chowdhury stands out not only for his singular commitment to music, but also for his conscious combination of the best of his varied training and thought.. Biswajit Roy Chowdhury showcases this integration of aesthetics when he plays as varied items as a auchaar and gat in Darbari or Shyamkalyan, a khayal in Bihagda or Shahana, a bandish ki thumri in Khamaj or a tappa in Adana-bahar, on his Sarod. His aesthetics traverses the traditional trajectory of alaap-jod-gat-jhala, or it takes the form of a vilambit and drut khayal played to the accompaniment of a majestic theka on the tabla. All these are equally informed by an acute sense of rag-swara and bhava and the contours of the bandish to be elaborated within the intricate syntax of the taal. The final effect: the listener gets to hear the results of an intricate thought process, executed through superb technical mastery but above all aimed at sharing with the audience the sheer joy of music making.

Sanhita Nandi

Sanhita Nandi is an exponent of Hindustani Classical Vocal, Kirana Gharana in the Khayal and Thumri genres. After initial training, Sanhita was later groomed by Late Pandit A. Kanan, the senior most Gurus of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata. She got added exposure under Pandit Vinayak Torvi in Kirana and Gwalior traditions. This opened up the large canvas of vilambit to fast tempo tarana gayaki(style) that has been developed over the last 150 years in India by various gharana maestros. After years of practice, and greatly influenced by Gharana maestro's, she has assimilated the distinctive features of the Kirana Gharana. The central motif of her gayaki is Kirana: the slow tempo of raga development (voice culture, voice throw, and tonal application), ornamented sargams and exposition of "chota Khayal and tarana" with inimitable "taan" patterns. With practice, she has excelled in the exposition and elaboration of ragas with all the variations, modulations and split-second precision. An unmistakable feature of her presentation is blending of the two major wings of Kirana gayaki and bring out ragas in imaginative trajectories of "sur-laya-phirat." She has won several awards in state and national-level competitions including the prestigious Dover Lane Young Talent search contest in Kolkata, and performed regularly on All India Radio as a graded A.I.R. artist.She performs frequently in India and the U.S. At universities, chamber music series, music festivals and concerts. She also holds a degree in Music and a Masters degree in World History .

Pt. Ulhas Kashakar

In an age when maestros of the older generation express fear of the decadence of Indian musical traditions, Ulhas Kashalkar's voice and music stands like the Colossus, as it were, an eternal reminder of the strength of this great art.

Ulhas Kashalkar was born in a family of musicians. His father, Shri N.D.Kashalkar, a musician in his own right, initiated him into vocal music. In time, he was accepted as a disciple by such great masters of the art as Pandit Ram Marathe and Pandit Gajananbua Joshi. Thus he received training of the highest order in three distinct prominent gharanas- Gwalior, Agra and Jaipur.

With a blessed voice and the gifted ability to blend the three gayakees with authenticity and aesthetic excellence, he soon emerged to be one of the most formidable vocalists of the country. While his music remains well within the confines of tradition, the listener revels in an experience of listening to a seemingly new gayakee

10th Jan, 2010, Morning Session

Pt. Raja Kale

Endowed with a rich heritage of music. Pt. Rajaram aka Raja Kale has developed it further to a class of his own. Initiated by is father Prabhakarrao Kale, he was under the able tutelage of the legendary Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki, a veteran vocalist and a great composer of classical and semi-classical forms. He also received valuable guidance from Pt. C. P. Rele and Pt. Balasaheb Poonchwle of Gwalior Gharana.

Pt. Raja Kale is known as a senior disciple of the versatile Pt. Jitendra Abhishekhi whose complex individulized style arose from a blend of various aspects of the Agra, Jaiupur and Gwalior traditions apart from the obvious influence of his own Guru Pt. Raja Kale has made a studiously analytical and interpretive study of older and contemporary Hindustani composers like Great Ptl S. N. Ratanjankar “Sujaan” Pt. C. R. Vyas and others, all of whose compositions he renders in a manner true to his own imagination and personality while remaining faithful to their original content.

Ustad Shahid Parvez

Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan is one of the finest sitar players alive today. His dazzling virtuosity and innovative genius have earned him a legacy as a giant of the sitar. Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan learned his craft from his father, Ustad Aziz Khan, and enjoys an impeccable pedigree. He is a seventh generation heir to the sitar's first family, the Etawah Gharana. Ustadji's global reputation as an awe inspiring performer is complemented by another rare gift - his ability to spread his music as a dedicated and loving guru. Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan sums up his mastery of this most intricate art form with a profoundly simple philosophy: "Music is my life"

Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan (b. 14 October, 1955) is a Sitar player of Hindustani Classical Music. He carries on a legacy of sitar playing that goes back seven generations in his family. He is one of India’s more celebrated younger musicians, prized especially for the vocalistic phrasing of his raga improvisations.

Smt. Girija Devi

A star, Smt Girija Devi was born on 8th May 1929 in Varanasi. From her childhood she was devoted to music. At the age of Five she started learning music from Late Pt. Sarju Prasad Misra and from Late Sri Chan Misra. She learnt both Shastriya and Upshastriya Sangeet. Two melodies traditiojnal gayaki ang, Saniya Gharana and Benaras Gharana can be found in her gayaki. In Shatriya sangeet, she sings Dhrupad, Kheyal, Tappa, Tarana, Sadara, Thumri and many others. She did specify research in Thumri. In this she pays similar attention to literature and music. In traditional folk music, holi, chaiti, jhula, dadra, kajri, bhajan,etc. makes her music unique and attractive.

In 1949 she sang for All India Radio, Allahbad for the first time. And from 1951, she started giving vocals recitals in many sangeet sammelans.

10th Jan, 2010, Evening Session

Raja Miyan

Ghulam Husnain Khan, popularly known as Raja Miyan was born in an illustrious family of tradition musicians of the Agra Gharana, which has given India such doyens as Aftab-e-Mausiqui Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan, Ustad Khadim Hussain Khanand many others. Son of Late Ustad Anwar Hussain Khan, another famous ustad of the gharana who was well known for his skillful rendering of rare ragas, Raja Miyan inherited a remarkable understanding of music. After the untimely demise of his father, Raja Miyan started his formal training with his uncle, Padmabhushan Ustad Khadim Hussain Khan, a deeply respected guru of the Agra Gharana who was well known for his phenomenal knowledge and erudition. Raja Miyan was intensely groomed by Ustad Khadim Hussain Khan Saheb for over a decade till his demise. Raja Miyan is also fortunate to receive taalim from another great guru of his gharana, Ustad yunus Hussain Khan, the Khalifa of Agra Gharana.

Pt. Ram Narayan & Harsh Narayan

Ram Narayan's name is synonymous with that of the sarangi. Its practitioners found an easy way out simply exchanged it for vocal chords and even become extremely successful vocalists some of whom are Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali, Ustad Amir Khan, etc. In the hierarchy of instruments it remained at the bottom because of the secondary role it played in a vocal presentation. This situation did nothing to attract enterprising players they were generally content with their lot, did not expect to do any better and made no effort to study and improve their art.

Ram Narayan began his professional career in Lahore in 1944 and continued in Delhi and Bombay emerging as the most sought after accompanist. Throughout this period, he was learning, researching and experimenting with his instrument. His efforts received encouragement and praise from singers like Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Pandit Krishna Rao Shankar Pandit and many others. His command over the technique of playing the sarangi reached a point when he felt his role as an accompanist was too constructive as he had far too much to offer in music than his role allowed. He then launched a solitary one man effort to enhance the status of the sarangi on the concert platform. As any pioneering enterprise, the initial response is always disheartening.

Pt. Satysheel Deshpande

Born in Bombay, India in 1951, Satyasheelji possessed from the beginning the capacity to reproduce the music of the great masters. The great masters of the time frequented his house to confer with his father, the eminent musicologist Pandit Vamanrao Deshpande. Satyasheelji thus grew up surrounded by stalwarts like Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Padmabhushan Mogubai Kurdikar, Pandit Vasantrao Deshpande and most importantly Pandit Kumar Gandharva , who was later to become his chief guru and mentor. His boyhood days were spent listening to and absorbing the music of his father, Kumarji and the many other stalwarts to whom Vamanraoji was a constant source of encouragement, appreciation and intellectual stimulus.

Satyasheelji performed at the India International Center in New Delhi in 1989, where he presented a captivating demonstration of a raga as approached by different gharanas. He demonstrated each approach to the same raga complete with that gharana 's particular aesthetic, it's treatment of rhythm and structure, with every particular quirk and eccentricity of pronunciation, attitude and even voice-culture unique to eachgharana . A programme officer of the Ford Foundation, USA who happened to be present in the audience was so enthralled by this scholarly performance that he offered Satyasheelji a grant under the Ford Foundation's 'Preservation and Education' programme. The Idea was to document and archive the rare and dying traditions of North Indian Classical Vocal Music.

Dr. Mallika Sarabhai

Mallika Sarabhai is a Gujarat-based activist, development worker, social entrepreneur and performer working to bring forth ideas, issues and concerns to affect change. A multifaceted individual, she celebrates positive reaffirmation of images of womanhood. She has used every medium-dance, theatre, television, film, writing and publishing-for her work, winning recognition in India and abroad.

Mallika was educated as an economist and a business manager from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad and obtained a PhD from the Gujarat University for her thesis in the area of Organizational Behaviour. She is known as one of India's best-known Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi dancers who has taken her work and that of her company Darpana to over ninety countries of the world.

Smt . Prabha Atre

An eminent personality in the field of music, Dr. Prabha Atre has earned for herself a place of distinction as a brilliant thinker, performer, composer and teacher of music. She is one of the senior most front ranking female vocalists in the country representing the Kirana Gharana, today.

A Science and Law graduate, she also holds a Doctorate in music. A former Assistant Producer with the All India Radio, former Professor and Head of the Department of Music, SNDT Women's University, Mumbai, and former Producer Director of the recording company "Swarashree", displayed constant innovation and creative endeavour which has distinguished her from other vocalists, both in classical and light classical idioms.

Dr. Atre is an acclaimed Guru both in performance and research. Quite a few of her students are already well known stage and mass media performers. Dr. Atre has also been teaching at foreign universities as a visiting professor. Her public concerts, radio and TV programmes and lecture - demonstrations in India and abroad to audiences of varying tastes have always been highly appreciated. She was honoured with the National Award 'Padmashree' in 1990 and the 'SANGEET NATAK ACADEMY' Award in 1991 as the Indian Government's appreciation for her outstanding role in enriching, preserving and popularising the Indian art music