Category Archives: North

1900-1920, Performance, North

Remembering the Durlabha Bhattacharya, the Doyen of Pakhawaj Playing in Bengal

Told by Partha Pratim Choudhury
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 1st December 2016
Place SAP-LAB Department of Instrumental music. Rabindra Bharati University
About the speaker Partha Pratim Choudhury is a famed Pakhawaj player and Guest Faculty of the Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
Tags Durlabha Bhattacharya, All India Radio Music Conference, Nikhil Banga Sangeet Sammelan, Vishnupur Gharana, Lakshmi Narayan Mishra, Ggopeswara Bandyopadhyay, Pratap Narayan Mishra, Jiten Satra, Kashi, Nikhil Bharat Sangeet Sammelan, Mridanga, Pakhawaj, Subodh Chandra Dey, Harendra Nath Bhattacharya, Ghanashyam Bhattacharya, Girija Chakraborty, Radhika Prasad Goswami, Mahim Chandra Mukhopadhyay, Viswanath Rao, Amar Bhattacharya, Jogendra Nath Bandyapadhyay, Ayodhya Ram Pathak, Binay Chattapadhyay, Abinash Sanyal, Narendra Bagchi, 1904
Language Bengali

Dr. Partha Pratim Choudhury speaks:

 

 

Metadata generated by Suranjita Paul

 Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
1900-1920, Performance, North, Teaching-Learning, Before 1900

Murari Mohan Gupta—Cultivation and nurturing of Dhrupad tradition in North Kolkata

Told by Partha Pratim Choudhury
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 1st December 2016
Place SAP-LAB Department of Instrumental music. Rabindra Bharati University
About the speaker Partha Pratim Choudhury is a famed Pakhawaj player and Guest Faculty of the Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
Tags North Kolkata, Vishnupur, Dhrupad Gharana, Bagbazar, Thanthaniya, Sriram Chakraborty, Nimai Chakraborty, Murari Mohan Gupta, Pakhawaj, Mridanga, Srirampur College, Shibpur Engineering college, Shibdas Lane, Swami Vivekananda, Durlabha Bhattacharya, 1870, 1904, Lala Kebal Kishan
Language Bengali

Dr. Partha Pratim Choudhury speaks:

 

 

 

Metadata generated by Suranjita Paul

 Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
Performance, North, 1921-1947, Music Criticism, #Press Reports

All Bengal Music Conference—A Galaxy Famous Artists To Participate | Amrita Bazar Patrika December 29, 1940

The Sunday | Amrita Bazar Patrika |  December 29, 1940

All Bengal Music Conference

SITS TO-DAY

A Galaxy Famous Artists To Participate

 Ustad Mustaqu Hossain Khan of Rampur state and Ustad Bhailal Muhammad Rababi of Amritsar, two of India’s foremost classical vocal musicians will demonstrate To-day at All Bengal Music Conference which opens session this morning at  9.30 A.M. at The First Empire Theatre board. In the unavoidable absence of President of the committee, Maharaja Jogindranath Roy of Natore, owing to illness, Sir Manmotho Nath Mukherjee will preside, while Kumar Prasad Garga of Mahissadal will deliver address as Chairman of the Reception Committee. The Conference will continue for four days.

The Hony General Secretary Sj. Bhupendra Krishna Ghose will also be absent as he is physically bedridden being down with serious illness. His report will be presented by Sj. Sital Chandra Bose, one of the departmental secretaries.

Mr Radhika Mohan Moitra, the well known sworodiya and a disciple of Late Ustad Amir Khan will act as director of programme.

The conference will held two sittings daily – Morning at 9.30 A.M. and Evening at 5.30 P.M.

Among other famous artists who will demonstrate at the eight sittings of the conference will be  Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan of Lahore (Kheyal), Srimati Hirabai Barodekar of Bombay (Kheyal and Thumri), Pandit Onkarnath Thakur of Bombay, Srimati Menaka bai Shirodkar of Bombay (Dance and Kheyal), Master Madan of Keonthol state (Kheyal), Bilatu’s Sanai Party oh Benaras, Ustad Ziauddin Khan of Udaipur state and Prof. Mainuddin Khan son of Late Ustad Nasiruddin Khan of Indore (Dhrupad), Pt.Ramesh Ch. Thakur of Bombay (Tabla Tarang ), Prof. Ali AKBAR Khan son of Prof. Alauddin Khan (Swarode), Prof. Anokhelal of Benaras  (Tabla Lahra),  Prof. Asfaque Hussain Khan of Surgana  state (Kheyal), Prof. Sundaram Iyer of Madras University (Violin),  Prof. Ramanuj Iyengar of Madras (Veen), Pt.Maganlal of Panchgachiya Raj (Kheyal), Srimati Saraswati Bai of Bombay (Kheyal), Prof. Nagesh Rao of Bombay (Kheyal), Prof. Ameer Khan of Indore (Kheyal) etc…etc.

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME

First Sitting – Morning – 9 a.m : 1. Mangalachran – Pandit Srinath Samadhyayee 2.  Opening Song – “Bandemataram” by Bijan Bala Ghosh Dastidar: 3. Welcome Address by The Chairman of the Reception Committee; 4. Speeches; 5. Presidential Address; 6. Formal Opening of the Conference.

Demonstration – Veen – Khalifa Md Dabir Khan; Dhrupad – Gopal Chandra Banerjee; Kheyal – Girija Shankar Chakrabarty; Rudra Veen – Pramatha Nath Banerjee; Kheyal – Ustad Mustaque Hussain Khan (Rampur State); Sanai – Mian Bilatu’s Sanai Party ( Benares).

Second Sitting – Evening -5.30  P.M. – Demonstrations by Competitors.

Demonstrations by Musicians – Dhrupad Gopeswar Banerjee; Setar – Prof. Ziauddin Khan (Udaypur State); Dhrupad –  Ramchanda Bhatt( Benares); Kheyal – Jatadhari Jha (Darbhangha); Tappa – Kalipada Pathak; Dukkar – Prof. Nasir Khan (Punjab); Kheyal – Ostad Bhailal Muhammad Rababi (Amritsar); Setar – Sj. Bimala Kanto Roychowdhury; Dance – Sm. Menka Bai Shirodkar (Bombay); Sursringar – Birendra K. Roychaudhury; Dhrupad – K.C.Dey; Kheyal – Jnan Goswami; Tabla Lahra – Keramat Khan; Kheyal – Pt . Maghanlal of Panchgachia Raj; – Kheyal and Thumri – Saraswati Bai.

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION TO COMPETITORS

The prize distribution ceremony of the music conference was held on Thursday evening (Dec 25) at the University Institute Hall. The old veteran musician Sj. Gopal Chandra Banerjee presided and Kumar Deba Prasad Garga gave away the prizes in the shape of medals, certificates, running cups and trophies to 130 female and 89 male successful competitors, the total number being 219 out of 638 competitors. The competitors and those present were treated to refreshments.

After a vote of thanks moved by Mr. D. D. Khanna, Treasurer of the conference, the function came to a close.

 

Identified by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee, Research Fellow

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.

 

Performance, North, 1921-1947, Music Criticism, #Press Reports

Demonstration of Ahir Bhairav – Amrita Bazar Patrika – December 31, 1940

ambp-dec31-1940

AMRITA BAZAR PATRIKA  | 31 December 1940 |  Page 7

All Bengal Music Conference Second Day Concerts

CLASSICAL RAGAS

Demonstration of Ahir-Bhairav

One wishes a larger audience as presents as yesterday’s morning demonstration at the music conference. Now holding session on board the first empire to hear Ustad Bhallal Mahammad Rababi of Amristsar, (a direct disciple of the famous Hindu musician Pt. Bhaskar Rao), an artist of superior excellence, endowed with a high intuitive artistic sense who is able to hold big audiences in rapt attention for any length of time. Bhallal Saheb was booked to sing after 1 p.m; i.e at a time when the audience melted away for lunch. He had to sing before a very thin house, of course appreciative elements and Vidwans were all present on the stage, some of whom lavished high encomiums on the artist for his really soul-stirring performance. Bhallab Saheb commenced his repertoire with an Alap in an appropriate Rag-Ahir Bhairav, a sampooran one with Bhairav in the Poorvang and Kafi in the Uttarang. He proceeded with a Bilampat and then a Drut Kheyal and concluded with a Tarana of a same Raga.His display was characterised  by a remarkable individuality and rich imagination. Rag Chandrkaswar describes Ahir Bhairav as ‘Ati Bichitra’ and Bhallal Saheb with an (inmate) artistic consciousness did the technical elaboration of the Raga and played ‘Swaras’, scrupulously conserving the purity of his style in such a way that even the ears of a few good fastidious purists failed to be offended. Bhallal Saheb gave his first demonstration on Sunday night when he gave an Alap and kheyal in Malkoush.

Among other artists of repute who demonstrated 2nd, 3rd and 4th sittings, i.e. on Sunday night and Monday morning and evening included Srimati Hirabai Barodekar, Pt. Onkar nath Thakur, Prof. P.A. Sundar(?)Iyer ( Violin), Prof Nageswar Rao, Prof Shafiullah Khan (Setar), Prof Naseer Khan (Dukkar play in Dhamar), Sj. Bimala Kanta Roy Choudhury (Sitaar in Pilu and Kafi), Sm Menaka Bal (Kheyal in Shankara, Thumri Bhajan and dance), Prof Ram Chandra Bhatt (Dhrupad), Prof. Gopeswar Banerjee ( Dhrupad in Chhayanat and Narayani), Prof. Ziauddin Khan (Dhrupad in Darbad Kanada), Sj. Jatadhar Jha (Kheyal In Purabi and Bhajan), Prof. Wazid Khan (Tabla Lehra), Sj.Krishna Ch. Dey ( Dhrupad in Darbari), Sj. Jnanendra Praosad Goswami (Kheyal in Jaijayanti), Pandit Maganlal of Panchgachia (?) (Kheyal in Vasant-Vahar), Dani Babu (Dhrupad in Bhairav and Asavari), Prof. Shafiullah Khan (Alap in Badhamsasarang and Gat in Brindabani), Prof Nageswar Rao ( Kheyal in Lalit), and Miss Bijanbala Ghose Dastidar (Lalit-Kheyal).

Comments on Sm. Hirabai’s and other artists’ performances will be published in a future issue.

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME

Morning 9-30 A.M.: – Demonstration by competitors.

Demonstration by musicians :- Prof. Ramanuj Iyangar of Madras (Veen), Nilimarani Dutt of Tatanagar (Kheyal), Sj. Hirendra Kumar Ganguly (Tabla Lehra), Prof. Asfaque Hussain Khan of Surgana (?)  State ( Kheyal), Sm. Menaka Bal of Bombay Kheyal Pt.Onkarnath Thakur (kheyal and Bhajan) an Sj.Jnanendra Pd. Goswami (Kheyal).

Evening at 5.30.P.M.:- – Demonstration by competitors.

Demonstration by musicians :- Amarnath Bhattacharya (Dhrupad), Sudhir Majumdar and Ram Kissen Misra (Kheyal), Dhirendra Chandra Mitra (Felu Babu)-Thumri, Nirmala Majumdar (Kheyal), Sachin Deb Burman ( Bengali Songs), Kalyani Debi of Benares (Dance), Prof. Ali-Ahmed Khan (Sitar), Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan of Lahore (Kheyal) and Prof. Hiralal of Jaipur (Dance).

After an interval of 15 minutes the following artists will demonstrate:-

Lalit Mohan Mukherjee (Dhrupad), Master Madan of Kutlehar (?) State (Kheyal), Mustaque Hussain Khan of Rampur (Kheyal), and Pt. Maganlal (Kheyal).

Source:

“Amrita Bazar Patrika [Daily]. Vol: 72; Issue:361 (31 December 1940).” Accessed November 23, 2016. http://eap.bl.uk/database/large_image.a4d?digrec=4266682;catid=226953;r=26962.

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Identified by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee, Research Fellow

Special support – Dr. Suranjita Paul

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.


North, 1921-1947, Teaching-Learning

Association of some famous musicians with Rassogolla Bhavan: Dhirendra Nath Das recollects

Told by Dhirendra Nath Das
Obtained by Suranjita Paul & Mousumi Das Maiti
Date 9th  November 2016
Place 532, Rabindra Sarani. Kolkata- 700003
About the speaker Dhirendra Nath Das is the son of Krishna Chandra Das who was a well known confectioner, entrepreneur, businessman and Bengali cultural icon of the early 20th century. Dhirendra Nath Das is an Indian classical Music connoisseur and patroniser. He was also a committee member of Tansen Sangeet Sammelan and Sadaranga Sangeet Sammelan.
Tags Anath Nath Bose, 1940’, Dhirendra Chandra Mitra, Manjulika Das, teacher, Rassogolla Bhavan
Language Bengali

Dhirendra Nath Das speaks:

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
Performance, North, 1921-1947, Listening

Good music and listening to music sitting over tram lines

Told by Dhirendra Nath Das
Obtained by Suranjita Paul & Mousumi Das Maiti
Date 9th  November 2016
Place 532, Rabindra Sarani. Kolkata- 700003
About the speaker Dhirendra Nath Das is the son of Krishna Chandra Das who was a well known confectioner, entrepreneur, businessman and Bengali cultural icon of the early 20th century. Dhirendra Nath Das is an Indian classical Music connoisseur and patroniser. He was also a committee member of Tansen Sangeet Sammelan and Sadaranga Sangeet Sammelan.
Tags Rangamahal, Natya Mancha, 1940’s, Ali Akbar Khan, Allauddin Khan, Ravi Shankar, All Bengal Music Conference, Bhupendra Krishna Ghosh
Language Bengali

Dhirendra Nath Das speaks:

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.

 

Performance, North, 1921-1947, Music Criticism, #Press Reports

A Musical Soiree—Amrita Bazar Patrika, 03 December, 1940

soiree_03dec1940_ambp——————————————

Amrita Bazar Patrika | 03 December, 1940 | Page 10

A MUSICAL SOIREE

On Sunday evening, a pleasant musical soiree was held at the residence of Sj. Sailendra Nath Dass at 3-1, Kali Charan Ghosh Road,  Sinthee . When some distinguished artists of the city gave demonstration of both vocal and instrumental music.

The function commenced with a Kheyal in “Puria” sang by Prof. Sailendra Nath Dass, a worthy disciple  of Ostad Khadem Hussain followed by a “DuniKheyal”. SailenBabu was quite at home both in “tana” and “laya” and his repertoire reached theacme of classical music. Sj. Nityananda Sen Gupta’s (Nitai Babu) high class Dhrupad songs together with Sj. Amiya Prasad Sen Gupta’s skillful harmonium accompaniment was really a good treat. Last of all Sj. Nitai Charan Adhikary gave an exquisite demonstration of Sitar in Ragas like Bhupali, Bagesri etc. His masterly control over some subtle and intricate tanas etc. was highly appreciated, while Sj. Debendra Nath Ghose’s tabla accompaniment was an additional charm.

Mr. Das was all attention to his guests.

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Source:

“Amrita Bazar Patrika [Daily]. Vol: 72; Issue:333 (03 December 1940).” Accessed November 17, 2016. http://eap.bl.uk/database/large_image.a4d?digrec=4266291;catid=226925;r=28145.

 

Identified by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee, Research Fellow

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
North, Performance, 1961-1974, 1975-2000

Music Stalwarts In Baithak

Told by Ms Mita Nag
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 27th October,2016
Place S.A.P. Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University, B.T. Road Campus.
About the speaker Renowned Sitar Player and Torchbearer of Bishnupur  Gharana.
Tags House Concerts, Manilal Nag, 1960, 1970, 1980, Musicians, Performance, Bagbazar, Naina Devi, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Keramatullah Khan, Meera Bandopadhyay, Prasun Bandopadhyay, Gokul Nag, V.G. Jog
Language English

Ms Mita Nag Speaks:

Text Version:

When I was growing up in my family, I remember in my childhood, I have seen many house concerts taking place and at that time, my baba Pt Manilal Nag, it was his prime time, that was in sixties, and seventies,  into late seventies and even in late eighties and I used to see once or twice in a year, like when there were major concerts, in winter,in or around  Kolkata, many musicians from the city and from other cities, they used to come over to the town for their performances, and with such musicians with whom my baba had very cordial relations, because he got familiar with them while travelling everywhere around the countries for many years, so they just used to you know, gossip together, and they used to go to concerts together, and sometimes travelling together so, like it was a kind of a kind of ‘Adda’, musical ‘Adda’.

Naina Devi

My baba just asked some senior musicians and junior musicians and they used to come to our home at Bagbazar, and rendered their performances, so in my childhood like in seventies I remember, Smt Naina Devi ji, I also remember buddhajethu, that Pt. Buddhadeb Dasgupta, but that was off course much later, early eighties. even  remember Ustad Keramatullah Khan, and they all came to our houses, I mean our home and the adjacent home where there was a big hall, or hall room on the first floor, so the concerts, when like there was some very very renowned musicians coming, then we used to shift the concerts to that place so that more people can be accommodated, so they came and I also remember that I used to call her ‘Pishima’ meere pishima, that is Bidushi Meera Banerjee, and Pt Prasun Banerjee, Prasun Pishemoshai, like they all had used to have a very cordial and friendly relation with my grand father and my father, and beside that we also used to have house concerts, sometimes the concerts were nightlong concerts, Pt V.G.Jog performed duet  in our house concert with baba. So these were really interesting time, may be I don’t remember the music with that in details, because I was too young to remember, but I can recall the atmosphere in the house, and my mom used to be in the kitchen, she was cooking with the other women at the house, and sometimes our lady students, like they were cooking dinner for these artists, sometimes they were arranging, like for their rest, like some artists after concerts used to come to the concerts and relax in one of our bedrooms,

Pt. Gokul Nag

so this was the atmosphere which I have seen in my family and I grew up like this, Other thing that I should mention that these musicians like they really built a ‘Adda’ that was that when they came, they didn’t take any honorarium for their performances. They came as a sort of friendly gesture and off course they had a great respect for my ‘Dadu’ Sangeetacharya Gokul Nag, and they knew my father so well, at most they just had dinner in our house, or we arranged for their transport, so those were really good times and we enjoyed a lot.

Verbatim by: Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

Picture Courtesy: Google

 http://www.mitanag.com/adver/106803foundation.html

https://www.google.co.in/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enIN769IN769&biw=1440&bih=826&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=Ua0WW4zfHcPVvgSBioiwAw&q=+Naina+Devi+singer&oq=+Naina+Devi+singer&gs_l=img.3..0.6605.13158.0.14131.8.5.0.3.3.0.263.943.0j4j1.5.0….0…1c.1.64.img..0.8.949…0i67k1j0i8i30k1j0i24k1.0.0hC98urY8Sw#imgrc=6TL10eQFmbZgUM:

Edited & Designed: Ms. Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
North, Teaching-Learning, Accompaniment, Central, 1975-2000

Remembering Pt. Sohanlal Sharma, the exceptional Harmonium Player

Told by Sri Debaprosad Dey
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 28th October,2016
Place S.A.P. Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University, B.T. Road Campus.
About the speaker Renowned Harmonium Player who accompanied many music stalwarts in various Classical Music Conferences.
Tags Amiya Ranjan Bandopadhyay, A.T. Kanan, Harmonium, Rabindra Bharati University, Sohanlal Sharma, Chatu Babu, Latu Babu, Jagdish Prasad, Sandip Deb, Tabla, Accompaniment, Surmandal, Tanpura, 1975, Kalamandir, Ali Akbar Khan, Chandranandan, Masjid Bari Street, Sovabajar,  Learning, Bhabshishya, Shishya
Language Bengali

Sri Debaprosad Dey speaks:

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
North, Performance, 1961-1974

Stepping Into The World of Harmonium Accompaniment—Debaprosad Dey speaks

Told by Sri Debaprosad Dey
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 28th October,2016
Place S.A.P. Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University, B.T. Road Campus.
About the speaker Renowned Harmonium Player who accompanied many music stalwarts in various Classical Music Conferences.
Tags Harmonium, Rabindra Bharati University, Non Scale Changer, Jorasnako, 1973, Scale Changer,  Amiya Ranjan Bandopadhyay, Tanpura, Dilip Patra, Vocalist, Shudhendu Karmakar, Tabla, Accompaniment, Sumitra Raju, A.T. Kanan
Language Bengali

Sri Debaprosad Dey speaks:

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.