Hirabai was gifted with melodious voice. Besides classical Khayal singing she had mastery over light classical music such as Thumri, Bhajan and Marathi Natya Sangeet. She popularized Hindustani Classical Music among the masses.
Hirabai was also a fine stage actress. Her elegant features and her fine singing voice were her greatest assets. She was the first woman to appear on the professional Marathi stage. To Hirabai goes the credit for having introduced classical music in the place of light music in Marathi Natya Sangeet.
Hirabai acted in several movies, including ‘Suvarna Mandir’, ‘Pratibha’, ‘Janabai’ and ‘Municipality’. She also started a music school, ‘Nutan Sangeet Vidyalaya’, to teach music to girls.
She was the recipient of the Padma Bhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards. Dr. Prabha Atre, Saraswatibai Rane, Malati Pande, Janaki Iyer, Shaila Pandit and Suvarna Chandrashekharan are some of the talented women singers Hirabai left behind as her musical legacy.
About the Ragas:
This album features three full-fledged ragas and opens with an evening melody in Raga Multani followed by an evening melody in Raga Yaman. The album concludes with a night melody in Raga Bageshree from the archives of All India Radio.
‘Khayal’ is a contemporary popular form of Hindustani Classical Vocal Music to present a complete picture of the melodic scale called the ‘Raga’. Its genesis is the austere form called ‘Dhrupad’. ‘Khayal’ is a Persian word, meaning ‘Thought’. The genius of the creator of the Raga in combination with the performer’s improvisation, makes a ‘Khayal’.
There are two distinct compositions of the Khayal, also known as ‘Bandish’ in a performance. The ‘Vilambit’ Khayal or Bandish is sung in a slow rhythmic cycle. This is followed by the ‘Madhya Laya’ or ‘Drut’ Khyal or Bandish sung in a medium to fast tempo.
Bandish is divided into two parts, namely the ‘Sthai’ which is sung in the lower and middle register of the melodic scale, and the ‘Antara’ which is sung in the upper and middle register of the melodic outline.
‘Khayal’ soon gained popular acceptance because of its communicative nature. Thus encouraging performers to further experiment with its style, thereby enhancing its beauty.
About the Artiste:
Hirabai Barodekar (1905-1989) Hirabai Barodekar is one of the renowned classical artistes from Kirana gharana. Born in 1905 in Miraj, Maharashtra, Hirabai’s musical training started whilst she was still a child.
She was the daughter of legendary vocalist Ustad Abdul Karim Khan from Kirana gharana. She received her initial training from her brother Sureshbabu Mane and later trained under the doyen of Kirana Gharana, Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, who was a cousin of her father, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan.
1. Raga -Multani [1962]
Khayal Vilambit Ektaal
"Kavan Des Gaye"
Khayal Drut Teentaal
"Aisi Kahan Preet Lagai"
2. Raga -Yaman [1962]
"Sugar Bana"
"Mori Gagar Na Bharan De
3. Raga -Bageshri [1988]
"Man Mohan Lage"
Khayal Drut Ektaal
"Baar Baar Kari Kari"
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