A boost to classical music

Artistes perform at the soiree.

Bengal foundation organised an evening of classical music titled Dhrupadshaili at Bengal Shilpalaya, Dhanmondi in the capital on August 23.

The soiree featured performances of several classical genres – dhrupad, probondho gaan, kheyal, dhamar, thumri and dadra – by noted and promising artistes of Surdhuni Sangeet Bidyalaya, Jessore. Students of the music school -- Swarnali Dey, Maimuna Nasreen, Moumita Baral and Monika Debnath, along with their teacher Ardhendu Prasad Bandopadhyay set off the event with a dhrupad recital set on raga Bageshree.

The second performance was probondho gaan by Swarnali Dey. The artiste rendered a medley of melodies comprising seven ragas – Sarang, Madhumadhabi Sarang, Borohangsho Sarang, Samanta Sarang, Brindabani Sarang, Mian Ki Sarang and Lankadohon Sarang –that earned her applause.

Later, Moumita Baral presented a dhamar set on a romantic raga Bahar while Maimuna Nasreen performed a kheyal on monsoon-themed raga Mian Ki Malhar. Noted artist Ardhendu Prasad Bandopadhyay also performed a kheyal based on raga Desh. Monika Debnath was the last but not the least performer of the evening. She first rendered a Desh thumri “Mora Saiyan Bulabe Aandhiraat Ko”, recorded by Ustad Rashid Khan and a dadra themed on Radha's abhisar (escapade).

The glory and contributions of Jessore district in popularising Bengal's folk literature are immense. Several folk song genres – baul, jari, gazir gaan, manik peerer gaan originated in this part of the world. Jessore is the breeding ground of shiver geet, balaki, barase and other light songs. Madhusudan Kinnar, is one of the legends popularising padabali kirttan across Bangladesh.