The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Dharwad Music Ustav to be held on Thursday

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 28, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Dharwad Music Ustav to be held on Thursday

Staff Reporter

The event, now in its sixth edition, will be conducted at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan from 5.30 p.m.

Event dedicated to Shripati Padigar, Ustad Bale Khan
They are renowned musicians from Dharwad

Ustad Bale Khan (left) and Shripati Padigar

BANGALORE: For the passionate listeners of classical music, the sixth annual ‘Dharwad Utsav’ on Thursday promises to bring some of the best contemporary Hindustani musicians on stage.

Now in its sixth edition, the Dharwad Utsav portrays the rich music tradition of Dharwad, and will be held at Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan from 5.30 p.m.

The festival, this year, has been dedicated to two musicians – vocalist Shripati Padigar, and sitar exponent Ustad Bale Khan – who passed away recently. Both Padigar and Khan are among the renowned musicians from Dharwad, and follow the Kirana gharana, which has produced legendary Gangubai Hangal and Bhimsen Joshi.

The festival will commence with a recital by Jayatheerth Mevundi, a disciple of Sripati Padigar. This young singer came under the tutelage of Padigar after completing his initial training under the late Pandit Arjunsa Nakod of the Gwalior gharana. It will be followed by a sitar concert by Chhote Rahimat Khan, brother of the late Ustad Bale Khan. The concert has been organised by Gururao Deshpande Sangeet Sabha, which is managed by singer Pandit Vinayak Torvi, who hails from Dharwad.

Sangeet mehfils

The Sabha is known for its all-night sangeet mehfils. It also holds the Malhar Utsav to celebrate the monsoon, where artistes interpret different varieties of Raag Malhar that depicts the beauty of the rainy season.

Pandit Torvi said the purpose behind conducting the Dharwad Utsav was to convey that quality music continued to flow through the guru-shishya parampara even today. As for the phenomenon of Dharwad producing outstanding talent in the arts, he said:

“This region possesses a magnetic force that makes musicians and literary people gravitate towards it.” Entry to the Dharwad Utsav is free.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka