Dedicated to legendary Sitar Wizard, Dr. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh, Darshanam has announced extension of Dr. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh Music Academy to benefit pupils desirous of learning Sitar from experts in India.

The first workshop being held at Pune offers intense courses to basic and advanced learners. The four-day Basic workshop beginning 1st April 2012 shall be conducted by Misrabani practitioner Dr. Santosh Pathak. For Advanced workshop on 6th, 7th and 8th April, Dr. Ragini Trivedi has been invited. She is known for expertise in performance, preservation, critique as well as her innovations in Indian Classical Music.

Registrations from eager students from Japan, U.K. and India have been received for these courses. The workshop shall be conducted using Ome Swarlipi – the symbol-based, digital notation system created by Dr. Ragini Trivedi. Exponent of Misrabani, a style created to enhance range of string instrument by father Dr. Lalmani Misra, she has been hailed both as teacher and performer of Jal Tarang, Sitar and Vichitra Veena. Working for Safeguarding of ICH practices in the area of ICM, she is nonpareil when it comes to knowledge of form and content. She plays rare Raga-s on a rare instrument, Vichitra Veena.

Dr. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh had studied Sama Veda and other Vedic literature apart from Ayurveda and directed his knowledge in innovating ways to use music for providing succor to patients suffering from life-style diseases. A number of students who studied with him in Japan & Australia have contributed to popularity of Sitar in their countries. Dr. Pooja Sardeshmukh invited experts in Misrabani tradition to conduct workshop, as child-prodigy and sole student of both Vidushi Annapurna Devi and Pandit Ravishankar ji, Dr. Chandrakant was inspired by Dr. Lalmani Misra’s work on Vedic music and elucidation of Bharat Chatuh Sarana.

Performances by various artistes during Omenad Conference on 31st December, 1st January and 2nd January 2011 left a lasting impression on aficionados of Bhopal. Music lovers, scholars and enthusiasts travelled from across country to attend conference and concerts during three-day event organized by Madhukali in collaboration with Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya. Several well-wishers and music-lovers had expressed for another such event and at cities other than Bhopal.

In keeping with its philosophy to collaborate with like-minded bodies, Madhukali consented to cooperate with an upcoming cultural institution from Indore, Swar-Setu to present rare performances once again in both, Bhopal and Indore. Ethnomusicologist from Sonoma State University, Professor Laxmi Ganesh Tewari shall travel to India to perform in both cities. Madhukali, in all previous Omenad Annual Conferences had emphasized on the urgent need of safeguarding medieval and ancient Veena-s that over the past few decades have fast fallen into near obsolescence. The two forms of Veena that reached 20th century –  Rudra Veena and Vichitra Veena – have almost disappeared in 21st. Generational scions alone may find motivation to master these challenging ancient instruments.

Vichitra Veena was almost in oblivion when Dr. Lalmani Misra took it up and crafted a complete style for string instruments — Misrabani. Misrabani grants the instrument a unique identity. The string is freed from following human voiceand brings out unique elements beyond vocal cords. After his death in 1979, son Gopal Shankar taught himself and perfected the art of Vichitra Veena. Ragini Trivedi moved by the silenced Veena after sad demise of brother Gopal in 1999, vowed to regain its voice and trained herself to play Vichitra Veena in Misrabani style. Baha’ud’din Mohiuddin Dagar  son of famous musician Zia Mohiuddin Dagar was ingrained by his father to play Rudra Veena in dagarbani style. He represents the  Dagar lineage. First generations musicians have always enriched musical traditions; the art gains stability with generational artistes. Today, when globalization is changing dreams, mores and opportunities, such artistes are needed to keep their artistic traditions vibrant and current. Dr. Laxmi Ganesh Tewari too was trained by Dr. Lalmani Misra and was first to record vocal rendering of Sameshwari – a Raga consecrated by Dr. Misra to keep the knowledge of Samic notes alive.

Bhopal

Bharat Bhawan

7th January 2012

6:30 pm

Vichitra Veena          –         Dr. Ragini Trivedi (Daughter of Pt. Lalmani Misra) View Clip

Vocal Recital            –          Dr. Laxmi Ganesh Tewari  (Santa Rosa, California)

Indore

Preetamlal Dua Sabhagrih

8th January 2012

6:30 pm

RudraVeena                           –                           Bahauddin Dagar                                     

Vocal Recital                          –                           Dr. Laxmi Ganesh Tewari                    

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