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My Name is Gauhar Jaan! The Life and Times of a Musician - With CD

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Item Code: IHL330
Publisher: Rupa Publication Pvt. Ltd.
Author: Vikram Sampath
Edition: 2010
ISBN: 9788129120588
Pages: 338 (Illustrated Throughout In B/W & Color)
Cover: Paperback
a53_books
Other Details 9.5 Inch X 6.3 Inch
Fully insured
Fully insured
Shipped to 153 countries
Shipped to 153 countries
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
23 years in business
23 years in business
Book Description
From the Jacket

My Name is Gauhar Jaan! - the earliest recordings of Indian music are distinguished by this high – pitched and flirtatious announcement, made towards the end of the rendition. This declaration of the singer seemed to epitomize a milestone in the history of Indian classical music, one that would change forever its content, structure and style of presentation.

The musical scene in India at the turn of the 20th century witnessed tumultuous changes. The traditional custodians of the art form, the devadasis in the South and the nautch girls and tawaifs in the North, who had nurtured the art for centuries, became victims of the morality laws of the British government and the prudery of an ‘enlightened, and educated Indian elite. However, Gauhar Jaan (1873 – 1930), eminent Hindustani/North Indian classical vocalist, symbolizes the resurgent women musicians of the time.

Born as Eileen Angelina Yeoward, an Armenian Christian who later converted to Islam, Gauhar Jaan was a naturally gifted musician with a wide repertoire. One the earliest women artists who seized opportunity that came with the advent of recording technology, hers was the first Indian voice to be recorded in 1902. In her illustrious career she cut close to 600 records.

This book traces the story of her life with all its attendant myths, legends and folklore, some of which are recorded, some apocryphal; as well as the times during which she lived and made exquisite music. The socio – cultural context serves to put her contribution and the role of women like her to Hindustani music in perspective. Through her music, an attempt is made to analyse the different genres of Hindustani music that Gauhar and singers like her popularised, namely the Thumri, Dadra, and Ghazal. The book also describes briefly the evolution of the recording industry in India and its impact on Indian music, theatre and social life.

Vikram Sampath was born in Bangalore and did his early schooling there. He completed his engineering in Electronics and Masters in Mathematics from India’s prestigious institution for higher education, BITS – Pilani and subsequently did an M.B.A. in Finance from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai. He has worked in many leading multinational firms like GE Money and Citibank and currently works as a Project Manager in a leading software company in Bangalore.

His first book, Splendours of Royal Mysore: The Untold Story of the Wodeyars has been widely acclaimed across India. The book traces the 600 year long history of Mysore, its royal family and culture. It has been termed as one of the most definitive accounts on the Mysore royal family in recent times. The book was also nominated for the Crossword – Vodafone book of the year 2008 award under the non – fiction category.

Vikram publishes regularly in leading Indian dailies and magazines like The Hindu, Deccan Herald, Bangalore Mirror and Jet Wings. In addition, he is also a serious student of Carnatic Classical Vocal music and has been training under various eminent practitioners of the art form. Subjects related to history, music, art and culture are close to his heart.

 

Contents

 

  Messages: Pandit Jasraj xi
  Ustad Amjad Ali Khan xiii
  Pandit Arvind Parikh xiv
  The Journey xv
  Acknowledgements xxv
  Section 1: The Making of a Diva  
1. The Early Years 7
2. The City of Light 15
3. The Learning Years 25
4. A Star is Born 32
5. The Blossoming of Love 45
6. Rendezvous with Music 56
  Section 2: The Glory Years  
7. ‘This Should Talk’ 69
8. The Gramophone Comes to India 76
9. Indian Music and the Thumri: A Journey in Time 100
10. The Darling Songstress 116
11. On Proving one’s Parentage 127
12. The Glory Years 139
  Section 3: The Fall From Grace  
13. The Beckoning of Doom 171
14. The Anti – Nautch Campaign 183
15. Life after Abbas 191
16. Black Hole: The Death of a Star 204
17. After The End 215
  Epilogue 228
  Appendices  
Appendix 1: The Complete Discography of Gauhar Jaan 235
Appendix 2: Miscellaneous Original Documents 260
Appendix 3: Gauhar Jaan’s Famous Composition 283
Appendix 4: Selected Verses From ‘Makhzan – e – Ulfat – e – Mallika’ 284
  References and Bibliography 302
  Index 309

 

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