Melodies of joy and grace
In a befitting ambiance, the fourth Bengal Classical Music Festival, dedicated to pioneering artist Qayyum Chowdhury, was set off at Dhaka's army stadium on November 27. On the opening day, several music maestros kept the Dhaka music lovers rapt with their pristine melodies.
The penultimate performer of the night Pt. Kushal Das, styling pristine melodies on his sitar, devotedly performed Raga Hemant, created by Baba Ustad Allauddin Khan. Kushal Das aptly selected Raga Hemant in the Bangla month of Agrahayan, representing one of the six seasons, Hemanta. The artiste elaborated the alap of the raga, as music connoisseurs, in love with Jibanananda Das' poems on bucolic beauty of Bangladesh, became nostalgic as the recital evoked such fantasies. Noted tabla artiste Satyajit Talwalkar joined the Maihar maestro in his proceedings of gaut and jhala performance of high quality and an ode to the natural grace of motherland. Kushal Das later presented a melodic Pahadi dhun that generated the feelings of the onset of spring in the hills.
Vidushi Bombay Jayashri, the show-stopper for the day, earned accolades from the audience she started joyfully interacting with them rendering Raga Hamsadhvani, pertaining to Bilawal Thaat. The performance mesmerised all, thanks to the violin accompanist Srikant Venkataraman's sawal-jawab styled saat sangat. Showcasing ragam, thanam and pallavi of Carnatic music, the artiste next performed Raga Mayamalavagowla set on adi tala. Jayashri's dhrupad-styled presentation and meditative bandish “Parama Purush Shri Rama”, together with solo violin piece thoroughly enthralled all. She also inspired a taalbadya lahora where Mridangam artiste Delhi S Sairam and Ghatam artiste Krishna S took part. Elaborating the romance of Raga Shyam Kalyan, she wrapped up her performance with a Meera Bhajan “Gopal Govinda Radhe Krishna Murari”.
Celebrated artiste Kaushiki Chakrabarty started off her performance with a melancholic Raga Malkauns. Although she said her performance may not have been flawless, she showcased a versatile melodic game and shades of ragas -- Megh, Bhupali and Bheem Palashree within the Malkauns' notes. Later, she performed a Bade Ghulam Ali Khan bandish “Aye Pee Morey Mandirawa”, a dadra “Mosey Bharawe Gagariya” (originally recorded by Shipra Basu), and a medley of Rajasthani folk “Sawra Mhari Preet Nibha” and a Tagore song “Bodhu Michhe Raag Koro Na”.
Rahul Sharma played Raga Vachaspati on santoor. He beautifully presented alap, jod, jod alap, gaut, jhala and tehai of the raga. Dr. Jayaprada Ramamurthy earlier played ragas -- Hamsadhvani, Hindolam (Malkauns) and two Tagore songs including, “Esho Shyamal Sundoro” on the flute.
Artistes of Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay captivated the audience with their breathtaking performance of a Tabla Kirtan, directed by their Guru Pt. Suresh Talwalkar. The artiste presented a Delhi Gharana peshkar, a rela-ang ladi kayda, a traditional kayda, beautifully styled by Pt. Suresh Talwalkar, and another Delhi Gharana kayda and rela.
Artistes of Rajshahi University Music Department, led by their guru Dr. Asit Roy, nicely performed a dhrupad set on Raga Malkauns.
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