PRIYAANKAA MATHUR
"8 PRAHAR CONCERT"...
TRULY A LISTENER’S DELIGHT!
Those sounds still vibrate in my ears, after attending 23 hrs
of non- stop live performances, what an experience listening
to some of the most rarely heard Indian classical music ragas
by a galaxy of Indian classical music stars, who left their
audiences spell bound, astounded and yet refreshed, after the all
night long concert '8 Prahar'...that's the effect of Indian classical
music, one just needs to experience it!
The Longest Concert of the World "8 Prahar” is based on the
time theory and its correlation with Hindustani Classical Ragas
sung across the various spheres of the day (Prahars).Durga
Jasraj, who conceptualized the concert, felt restless as she
missed listening to some of the exotic ragas that were getting
obscured over time.She was inspired to take the initiative by
Bapuji...her father the legendary Indian Classical Vocalist
Pt.Jasrajji and thus in collaboration with the music affectionate
Shashi Vyas, "8 Prahar" came into being. The event presented 17
leading musicians performing back to back, starting from 11th
November 6.30 am to 5:30 am 12th November, presenting
different Ragas of the respective ‘Prahars’.
Gundecha Brothers made the auspicious beginning of the
1st Prahar of the festival with a Dhrupad in raga 'Bhatiyar'
invocating 'Shi Shiv Shankar Shambhu Mahadev' with elaborate
nom tom Alaapchari followed by breathtaking layakari, that
portrayed the very grandeur, poise and grace of Dhrupad as a
form, that is so serene yet majestic.
The Violin Diva Dr. N. Rajam presented the sublime raga
'Bairagi' accompanied by fabulous Ojas Adhiya on Tabla, while
her talented granddaughter Nandini Shankar added sparks
with her articulate technique to compliment Ramjam's in-depth
Alaaps with scintillating Taans and beautiful short phrases
pertinent to the raga.
The 2nd Prahar of the festival was indeed a treat to the ears,
as Pt. Venkatesh Kumar presented the not much heard 'Komal
Rishabh Asavari' and 'Hindol', with excellent command, that
was followed by a flute recital by Pt.Ronu Majumdar who
mesmerized the audiences with 'Bhopal Thodi', which is indeed
a tough raga to master.
Sangeet Marthand Pt.Jasraji ( Bapuji) took the audience to
experience the divine ecstasy with the afternoon melodies in
the 3rd Prahar with' 'Jao ji jao shyam chaliya' in Shudha Sarang'
followed by a very rare raga 'Hori Sarang' that is part of the
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Haveli Sangeet repertoire "Mai mero man mohiyo, ghar angana
na suhai,aeri man mohan ati sohan" the bandish depicts the
Bhakti Shringar rasa, as the nayika tells her mates, how she
feels restless without Mohan, but who's pleasant grin takes her
heart away...
The 4th Prahar indeed bought the young beat to the festival
with the Sarangi solo by Sabir Khan who’s embellished
‘Madhamad Sarang’ with enchanting meends (Glides) and subtle
intricacies followed by a thumri 'Kate nahin raat with excellent
accompaniment by Aditya Kalyanpur on the tabla. Devaki
Pandit elaborated raga 'Bhimpalasi', showcasing intricate yet
elaborate Alaapi, exquisite permutations and combinations and
complex (wakr) taanas, that truly defines key elements of the
Jaipur gayaki.
Sanjeev Abhayankar with his sonorous voice displayed
exquisite artistry performed 'Poorvi and Shankara' as his slow
paced vilambit alap, bol-alap,and intricate sargams, while
Rahul Sharma's Santoor reverberated the venue with his exotic
renditions of 'Jinjhoti' followed by 'Pahadi' taking the listeners
to the realm of the hilly terrains, in the 5th Prahar. Pt.Uday
Bhawalkar's Dhrupad recital followed by Rakesh Chaurasiya's
'Raga Bihag' an evening melody brought serene tranquility to
the 6th Prahar.
Jayateerth Mevandi’s 'Darbari' stood like a king himself, that
was deep, sonorous and powerful, with complex Merukhand
Taans and Sargam patterns sung effortlessly amalgamating with
his distinct Kirana repertoire, while 'Rageshwari' found her way
through the delicate yet fine strokes melodiously produced on
the Sarod by Amaan and Ayaan Ali khan who concluded the 7th
Prahar.
Kaushiki Chakroborty, embellished the midnight melody raga
'Abhogi'with exquisite craftsmanship with her mature vistaar
in Khyal and supersonic taans and sargams characteristic of
Patiyala Gharana,as she sang the first half of the 8th Prahar.
Sitar recital by Niladri Kumar concluded the '8 Prahar' finale at
5.30 am next morning, with his scintillating performance of the
raga 'Kaunsi Kanhra' exploring every note with sharp precision
gently creating the Meends( glides) followed by gradual rise in
tempo reaching the high speed Jhala. Accompanied by Vijay
Ghate on tabla who countered him with exact brilliance, and
pinches of humor, as they approached the Amad, that was
indeed pleasant to watch!