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.

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 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th 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.

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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:

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