USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN Born on 21st March 1916, Ustad Bismillah Khan is one of the most prized artists on the Indian classical music scene today. Taking the shehnai to its pinnacle, he transformed the listening experience from one of a concert to that of a temple ritual. Having learnt the intricacies of the instrument from his maternal uncle and teacher Ustad Ali Bux, he went on to make the instrument popular all over the world. His music has inaugurated several festivals in India and abroad and the ones that most Indians cherish would be his recital from the rampart of the Red Fort on 15th August 1947. Seeking heavenly blessings and winning audience appreciating he has also inaugurated the World Exposition in Montreal (1967), Cannes Art festival (1969), World Exposition in Osaka and many more. It is said that the sound of Ustadji’s shehnai creates a bond between men, the divine and the flowing rivers; creating a relationship that is beyond human comprehension. Indeed then it comes as a little surprise that this maestro should be honored with some of the most prestigious awards across the world. The Sangeet Natak. Academy Award (1956), the Tansen Award (1965), the Padma Vibhushan (1980), The National Sangeet Ratna (1996), the Bharat Ratna (2001) are just some of the many symbols of appreciation for the tremendous beauty of his Shehnai and contribution to Indian Music.
Dr. Soma Chakravarty Ghosh
With a voice that resonates with limitless melody, Dr. Soma Chakravarty Ghosh possesses that fine quality to captivate the listener and his imagination with her renditions. Her tutelage under Smt. Bageshwari Devi of the Benaras Gharana paved the way for her to specialize in different styles like Thumri, Tappa, Hori, Chaiti, Kajri, Dadra and Ghazal. Despite being formally trained under the traditional Benaras Gharana she has always attempted to blend the distinct expressions of the Gwalior and Senia Gharanas.
Her singing expresses the beauty of each word and brings out the emotions in a way that make her diction and modulation at par with some of the greatest legendary icons. An ‘A’ grade artist of the All India Radio, she has constantly been performing at various platforms. In her Shraddhanjali to late Smt. Nirmala Devi in 2002 and in another one to her late Guru Smt Bageshwari Devi and Ustad Allahrakkha Khan, she has performed with maestros such as Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Bismillah Khan and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Today she has reached a stage from where there is no looking back.
‘RAS BARSE’
Jugalbandi according to Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, is not a duet, but a festival celebrating the harmony and joy of two musicians. Earlier, Ustadji had done several Jugalbandis with legendary singers like Rasulanbai, Siddheshwari Devi, Badi Moti and many others but after 1942 he stopped doing Jugalbandis with singers of Benaras Gharana. In fact he had stopped wearing the Banglorie Black Topi ever since. But on hearing Dr. Soma Ghosh sing he offered the Jugalbandi himself, because of her ‘Gayaki’. His joy became very evident when he wore his Black Banglorie Topi after a gap of 60 long years.
Presents to the listeners vintage Benarasi Jugalbandi with Raga Bihag on one side and a beautiful Mirjapuri Kajari on the other side accompanied with a famous Dadra “Mohe Panghat Pe” sung by the famous Gauhar Jaan.
Is a unique gesture of Ustad Bismillah Khan where in he fulfills the serious duty of a senior musician, who does not hesitate to present very graciously, a deserving new ‘Dharohar’ or’ Torch Bearer’ of the Benaras Gharana.
SHEHNAI : Ustad Bismillah Khan VOCALS: Dr. Soma Ghosh TABLA : Nazim Hussain SHEHNAI: Nayyar HussainSHEHNAI SUR: Nanhe Hussain SHEHNAI : Mumtaz Hussain SUR PETI : Bande Ali SHEHNAI : Nasir Abbas SHEHNAI: Jamin Hussain DUKKAR: Iklaq HussainHARMONIUM: Ajay JoglekarHARMONIUM: Prakash Vagal TANPURA: Mridula Ghosh
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