MUMBAI: Indian music with its rich legacy of over three millennia, has always had a place of pride in the realms of art and culture. The NCPA embraces the diversity of Indian music and continues to feature a wide spectrum of artistes ranging from emerging to established performers. The consciously curated programming includes classical, and semi-classical to devotional, light, regional, folk and cross-over music. The unique thematic element associated with each property makes it exclusive. Over the past decade, the NCPA’s Indian music festivals have been appreciated by artistes as well as audiences worldwide.
Upcoming Events in May 2024
Baul Robi: An exploration of folk music-based melodies of Tagore
In association with Shahana, Tagore Centre for Indian Music and Culture
When: Friday, May 3 - 6.30 pm
Where: Experimental Theatre
Duration: 1 hr 15 mins (Approx)
About the show: This event is presented on the 163rd birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore (1861 –1941), the legendary Nobel laureate, poet, novelist, painter and composer, who has had far-reaching impact not only on Indian literature but on music as well. His spiritual approach and a natural connection with the divine is evident through all his creations; making him unique in the annals of world literature. Tagore was deeply influenced by the folk music of Bengal, particularly the songs of bauls, the wandering minstrels. These songs are simple in their language and expressions but carry deep esoteric meanings about the futility of material existence and the need to lead a spiritual life.
Baul Robi is presented by Shahana Shilpi Sangha, the performing group of Shahana Tagore Centre for Indian Music and Culture. It is a multimedia exploration of music accompanied by visuals, illustrating how Tagore was inspired by the local traditions, that ultimately led to development of an idiom that was his own, both in terms of language and music. Songs selected for this presentation also include a few that were written for his esoteric plays. Musically, influence of renditions of bauls and boatmen is palpable with an undercurrent of some raga based melodies. In addition, the musical arrangements also reveal element of innovation based on choral format of singing, and the use of percussive instruments such as dotara, khol, manjira etc. highlight the folk flavour of Bengal.
NCPA Citi Music Workshop
Dhrupad with special focus on Dagar bani - A free workshop on zoom by Dr. Ritwik Sanyal
Supported by Citi
When: Saturday, May 11 - 11.30 am
Duration: 60 mins followed by a Q-A session
Free registration details: Free registration, is now open.
Please note: Upon completing your registration, the Zoom link will be emailed to you.
About the workshop: Dhrupad is one of the three main genres of Hindustani (North Indian music) today. The history of this medieval genre goes back to the reign of Raja Mansingh Tomar of Gwalior (1486- 1514). It is considered to be the most disciplined in terms of purity of raga and rigidity of composition. Therefore, an in-depth study of these aspects seems to be of immense value to not only the practitioners of dhrupad, but also to performers of other genres of Hindustani music like khayal, instrumental music etc.
Historically, four vani /bani (distinct styles) of dhrupad have been identified based on the tempo of rendition and use of embellishments: Gauhar, Dagar, Nauhar and Khandhar. Dagar bani is believed to be the oldest surviving tradition that can be traced back to Swami Haridas (15th century). For some generations, its members were associated with courts of Jaipur, Udaipur and Mewar. The main feature of this style is the rigorous yet subtle, sophisticated and serene exposition of raga with great attention paid to microtonal inflections (shruti).
The session will focus on peculiarities of the four bani in general and characteristics (lakshana) of the Dagar tradition in particular. In addition to the overall aesthetics and philosophy of this particular style, special features related to dhrupad-dhamar performance such as alap, rendering of the song-text, layakari etc., will be explained with ample demonstrations in specific context of Dagar bani.
About Ritwik Sanyal: He is an internationally acclaimed exponent of dhrupad. Trained in Dagar style under maestros Zia Mohiuddin and Zia Fariduddin Dagar, he received Ph.D. in musicology, and went on to hold high office at the Banaras Hindu University, besides teaching, researching and composing for over four decades. He has been decorated with several top awards and accolades.
NCPA Citi Urja – Presenting young talent
Supported by Citi
When: Friday, 31st May - 6.30 pm,
Where: Godrej Dance Theatre
Duration: 1 hr 30 mins
Performers: Farooque Latif Khan (Sarangi), Krishna Bongane (Khayal)
Registration: BookMyShow (Coming Soon)
Entry: on a first-come-first-served basis.
About the Performers: Farooque Latif Khan is one of the most promising sarangi players in the country. Born in Bhopal, he represents the fifth generation of distinguished sarangi players from Madhya Pradesh which include his father Abdul Latif Khan. The lineage can be traced back to Fazal Khan, father of Ghansi Khan, famous for his intricate tappa style. Khan has provided accompaniment to Dinkar Kaikini, Rashid Khan, Shubha Mudgal, Ashwini Bhide Deshpande and Kaushiki Chakraborty, among others. He has performed at prestigious music festivals in South Africa, Taiwan, France and Dubai and has also played the sarangi at fusion concerts in India and abroad. He is a ‘Top’ Grade Artiste at All India Radio.
Krishna Bongane started learning the tabla at age seven and vocal music when he was 12 years old. He initially trained with Kacheshwar Bongane and Nathrao Neralkar before he began studying with Rashid Khan under the gurukul system in Kolkata. Bongane is a Sangeet Visharad from Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. He has received several scholarships over the years and has, on occasion, provided vocal support to Rashid Khan and performed across the country and in the UK, US, Singapore, Australia and Dubai.