The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : It's a treat for music lovers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 10, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

It's a treat for music lovers

Special Correspondent

Audience enjoyed the `jugalbandi' featuring Jasraj and Hariprasad Chaurasia

Bangalore: True to its multi-cultural character, Bangalore Habba was a cultural fusion on Friday, ushering in the weekend to come.

For lovers of music, there were two great events in store, both at different stages on the sprawling Palace Grounds which has become a large carnival for the duration.

The vocal and flute `jugalbandi' featuring Pandit Jasraj and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, was an event the city had been looking forward.

The two veteran musicians did not disappoint. They played and sang, in tandem and with the right spirit of competitive harmony some rare and some popular `ragas' to a very appreciative audience.

Others who followed were equally well known names in Hindustani music: Pandit Vijay Ghate and Pandit Ratan Mohan Sharma.

Folk music

Some distance away, fans of folk music of the kind for which this region is home, had rapturous moments listening to the Rangageethe ensemble featuring Jayashree and other musicians. Some of their songs were from traditional Kannada theatre.

For those looking for something really different, there was the drum ensemble from the U.K., The Dhol Foundation.

They have performed at world music festivals such as the World of Music, Arts and Dance in Sri Lanka in September.

Easy to reach

Their repertoire includes traditional Punjabi rhythms with a touch of modern world music. The range of artists performing at Palace Grounds not only reflects an attempt to appeal to as many people as possible but also to give Bangaloreans a chance to see performances by some of the country's most talented artists they usually might not have access to.

Late in the evening Layatharanga, a percussion ensemble, played some feet-tapping music.

The Artists Walkway along Mahatma Gandhi Road had another attraction: a percussion performance by a talented young local musician Ganesh.

Kannan Balakrishna's Carnatic concert rounded up the events at Palace Grounds.

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