Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 27: SaMaPa in its 4th week of SaMaPa Digital Baithak Series featured Tabla Solo recitals by two generations of Farrukhabad Gharana and vocal recital representing Kirana Gharana.
Renowned Tabla player Ustad Akhtar Hasan and his son and disciple Zakir Akhtar Hussain are carrying forward the legacy of Ustad Mehdi Hussain Khan, a renowned Tabla exponent of the country of his time from Farrukhabad Gharana, one of the six Gharanas of Tabla. Zakir is an ‘A’ grade artist and Ustad Akhtar Hasan is a ‘Top’ grade artist of All India Radio.
Both father and son presented rarely heard Taals which have been developed in the latter half of 20th century. Zakir presented 7½ beats and Ustad Akhtar Hasan presented 5½ beats. The introduction to the recital was presented by Dr Manoj Mishra, a well-known Tabla player of Banaras Gharana & Head, Department of Tabla, Bhatkhande Sangeet Sansthan, Deemed University, Lucknow.
The other programme featured vocal recital by Arnab Chatterjee, a well-known vocalist from Kolkata from Kirana Gharana. An ‘A’ Grade artist of All India Radio, Arnab presented Raga Bhatiyar, an early morning raga. Arnab Chatterjee presented Raga Bhatiyar in Marwa Thaat with Bandish in Vilambit Ektaal “Barani Na Jaye Mose Tihari” followed by Bandish in Drut Teentaal “Piya Milan Ki Aas Sakhiri Ab”. The introduction to the recital was presented by his Guru and eminent vocalist of the country and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan. The SaMaPa Digital Baithaks were compered by acclaimed broadcaster and anchor Sadhna Shrivastav.
Music Legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori also introduced the new initiative of SaMaPa called ‘Samiksha’, the first of its kind in Indian classical music, which will present visual music and dance reviews by learned, qualified & honest musicologists & critics of India. This virtual review system shall feature music reviews every Wednesday on SaMaPa YouTube Channel.
SaMaPa (Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts) has taken the initiative of introducing Digital Baithak series keeping in mind the present circumstances in which public concerts cannot be held due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The first season of SaMaPa Digital Baithak is being held on the weekends on Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm and Sunday mornings at 10:00 am exclusively on the SaMaPa Official YouTube Channel.
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