Dhwani 2008 - Hindustani Music Concerts

The Bangalore Kidney foundation had organized Dhwani - 2008, 5th Mallikarjun Mansur music festival last weekend (20th and 21st of Sep) at JSS auditorium near my home. There were 6 concerts from and it was a heavy dose of music even for someone like me that listens to classical music atleast 8hrs every day and attend all Hindustani concerts that come to my notice. Except for Sanjeev Abhyankar, I was listening to the remaining 5 artists for the first time. Here are the artists that performed over there:

• Pt. N. V. Gopinath - Sitar (Raags Bhoop Kalyan, Jaijaivanti)
• Vidushi Shruti Sadolikar (Raags Maru Bihag and Kaunsi Kanada, Bhairavi Thumri)
• Pt. Samaresh Chaudhary (Raags Bairagi, Todi and a Thumri)
• Pt. Sanjeev Abhyankar (Raags Madhuvanti, Din Ki Puriya, BhinnaShadja, Hori Geet and Bhajan)
• Pt. Jayateertha Mevudni (Raags Puriya, Shahana Kaanda, Thumri and a Kannada Bhajan)
• Pt. Ajay Pohankar (Raag Rageshree, a Raagaamala and a Bhajan)

I may be biased, but I found Sanjeev Abhyankar's concert to be the best. His beautiful voice (in contast with a rather unpolished voice of Pt. Samaresh Chaudhary whose sung before Abhyankar), ever smiling demeanour and the encouragement he gives to his tabla and harmonium saaths, makes it a great experience. His rendition of Bhinna Shadja and especially the taraana which is his own compostion was just out of the world. Due to popular request, he sung beyond the specified time. Shruti Sadolikar's Kaunsi Kanada in the complex Jaipur-Atrauli style and Jayateertha Mevundi's Puriya would remain in my memory for long. Found Ajay Pohankar rather casual and for a Bhajan he was urging everyone on the stage and the audience to sing with him and atmosphere resembled a typical bhajan session in some Swamiji's ashram. He had an young person as his vocal support and that guy was too good and seem to have a bright future. Overall it was a great experience, even though it became a bit hectic.

I have started uploading few clips from these concerts and these can be seen at my classical music blog.