Vocal Chords

They belong to two different generations: the first one is seeped in tradition,while the other one is finding his roots. In town for the Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan,which is dedicated to the memory of Pandit Malik Arjun Mansoor,his son Rajshekhar Mansoor,Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atruali Gharana,and 21-year-old sitarist,Dhruv Bedi,represent two completely different lines of thought. Joining them for the performance are classical vocalists Dr Subhadra Desai,Mansoor’s disciple Chandrika Kamath and Dr Gurinder Harnam Singh,a disciple of Kishori Amonkar,who has a deep understanding of raga-based Gurbani.

Rajshekhar Mansoor,who is the chairman of the Department of English at Karnataka university,says he had to work harder at English than music. “I was born into music,it flows in me like blood,” says the maestro,known for singing the lesser-known ragas such as Medhavati,Bilawal prakar,Lachha,Sakh and Nat prakar. He feels that with an increasing numbers of concerts,the Indian classical form is gaining its audience and patrons back. While his son prefers to plug in his iPod and listen to the western music,Mansoor sticks to his classical roots.

On the other hand,young Bedi has given a new from to classical: fusion. Son of the illustrious sitar and surbahar artist,Jagdeep Singh Bedi,and disciple of Buhaditya Mukherjee,Bedi belongs to the Imdadkhani Gharana and has been feeding on music ever since he was all of four. For Bedi,it’s important that the young generation enjoys classical music,and so,he is keen to collaborate with various Indian and international bands.

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Like Dr Singh,Desai’s music is seeped in spiritualism,and she is known for her soul-stirring renditions. From composing Geeta ashtapadis in classical ragas to presenting the Vedas and works of women saints,to singing khayal,nirgun bhajans,tappas and sagun,and even earning a doctoral in music,Desai has had an impressive musical journey.

So,when these stalwarts come together as part of a classical event,the effect is going to be soul-stirring.