Solo banshi recital by Ustad Azizul Islam
Ustad Captain (retd) Azizul Islam on the flute. Photo: Mumit M.
A solo banshi recital by Ustad Captain (retd) Azizul Islam was held at the National Theatre Stage, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on May 10. The programme was organised by the Department of Dance and Music, BSA.
Director General of BSA, Bhuinya Shafiqul Islam; theatre exponent Sayeed Ahmed and musicologist Dr. Karunamaya Goshwami spoke at the programme.
The discussants at the programme emphasised on the history of 'banshi' as a wind instrument. They also evaluated Ustad Azizul Islam as a banshi player.
They said that once a captain of a merchant vessel, Ustad Azizul Islam has some remarkable achievements in classical banshi recital in an era when Bangladesh lacks quality musicians.
Ustad Azizul Islam played Raga Marwa -- a melancholic tune usually played in the evening -- accompanied by Pandit Bijon Chowdhury on tabla and M. Jahangir Alam on tanpura. The presentation lasted about 30 minutes. The presentation began in slow tempo and gradually picked up.
Another attraction at the programme was improvisation on popular folk tune Banshi shuney aar kaaj nai. The event wrapped up with the presentation of a dhun performed by Ustad Azizul Islam. Sunil Kumar Das played dotara as the flutist improvised on a bhatiali tune.
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