Leading classical singers of the country presented ragas created by Ustad Alauddin Khan at a commemorative programme organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at the Music and Dance Centre on Sunday.
Ustad Allauddin Khan’s nephew Ustad Shahadat Hossain Khan and niece Reenat Fouzia shared facts about the late maestro’s talent with the audience at the programme, which was presided over by Liaquat Ali Lucky director general of the academy. Classical singers Asit Dey and Priyanka Gope also spoke on the occasion.
Ustad Allauddin Khan (1862-1972) was born in Shibpur village, under Brahmanbaria district. He went to Kolkata at the early stage of his career and took tutelage under the leading musicians and achieved mastery in playing diverse instruments like sitar, flute, piccolo, mandolin, banjo, shanai, naquara, tiquara and jagajhampa.
Subsequently, Khan settled in India and became the court musician of Brijanath, the Maharaja of Maihar Estate. Being the court musician, the maestro created a number of new ragas and musical instruments which falls under the school of Allauddin Sangeet or Maihar Sangeet Gharana.
Renowned classical music singers like Asit Dey, Priyanka Gope, Reenat Fouzia, and Ustad Shahhdat Hossain Khan presented different ragas at the programme.
The show began with Asit Dey’s presentation of raga puriya dhanashree which is usually sung at dusk. The handful of audience enjoyed the rather flat raga, with ascending and descending variations in the middle part of the raga.
Another pleasing piece was the presentation of raga madhuvanti by Priyanka Gope. Based on the kalyan thaat, the romantic raga pleased the audience.
Two other pleasant presentations were with instruments. Reenat Fouzia presented raga kirwani on sitar. The melodious raga, which has much resemblance with raga pilu, received great appreciation from the audience.
Ustad Shahhdat Hossain Khan ended the programme with a captivating presentation of raga manj khamaj on sarod. The raga created by Ustad Allauddin Khan is on the khamaj thaat which is often used in thumri, tappa and other folk music. The resemblace of the raga with folk tunes was key to get the audiences’ instant appreciation.
Though only a handful audience listened to the music to the end, they left the hall with the satisfaction of enjoying the programme to the fullest.
‘I am not much of a fan of classical music. But I really enjoyed today’s programme,’ said Shahriar Joy, an audience at the event.
‘I thank BSA for the programme and request them to arrange more programmes on classical music. I liked Shahadat Hossain’s performance the most,’ said Salauddin Babu, another audience.
-With New Age input
