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Top5Ultimate Percussionists in Indian Classical Music
Rhythm is omnipresent . Right from the heart beat to the pace of speech of singing and moving of a vehicle , rhythm defines our life . In the same way rhythm is crucial in classical music and a Sanskrit saying says “ Shrutih Maatha- Layah Pita ” which literally means , Shruti is the life of the music and Layah is like the father who keeps the discipline intact without carrying away with unnecessary tempo issues . Laya is the core of classical dance as well and every art form such as painting as well . In short , there is no music without percussion . We bring you the list of top ultimate percussionists who mastered the concept of percussion :
Vikku Vinayakaram- Ghatam : The majestic performer gets more active with age and no two concerts of his are the same . It shows the innovative and original thinking of the artist . He plays around with the ghatam with a bright smile on his face which shows how much he enjoys playing the rhythm .
Ustad Zakir Hussain- Tabla : An inspiration for generations to take up table as a full-time career , Zakir is a legend . His tremendous grip over the instrument shows the hard work and effort he puts in to master the instrument . A prodigy , he was taught Pakhwaaj by the legendary Ustaad Alla Rakha when he was aged 3 . This gentleman dedicated his life to Tabla and has been performing across the globe from the tender age of 7 .
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Ramnad . Raghavan- Mridangam : A must- have instrument in every Carnatic concert , Rammad hails from the temple town Madurai in Tamil Nadu . His grip over mridangam is something to be learnt by every budding percussionist . Experimenting rhythms right on stage shows his spontaneity towards mridangam and how magically he mastered the challenging instrument .
Taufiq Quershi- He is a composer and percussionist and brother of Ustaad Zakir Hussan and son of Ustad Alla Rakha . He has an own music band named Surya and featured as a performing artist in 2009 Grammy Award Winning Project named Global Drum Project . His approach towards drumming is quite unique and the tabla influence is definitely present as he grew up in a family with Tabla legends .
Palghat Mani Iyer : The frontrunner of Carnatic Classical Music in mridangam . Along with his contemporaries Pazhani Subramaniam Pillai and C . S . Murugabhoopathy were admired as the Holy Trinity of Mridangam . Palghat Mani Iyer is the first mridangist to be awarded Sangeetha Kalanidhi award in the year 1966 . He has many awards and accolades such as the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academi Award in the year 1956 . His speciality in playing the mridangam is to blend with the lead singer by understanding through the language of music !
Melody can be melody . But at times , listening to rhythm is like cleansing the ears and give a pristine experience to the mind and soul .