Dhaka Int’l Music Conference at National Museum
Dhaka International Music Conference featuring classical music (both vocal and instrumental) performances by four Indian artistes — Sandip Chatterjee (santoor), Manali Bose (vocal), Amzad Hossain (sitar) and Sandip Bhattacharya (vocal) was held at the main auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum on July 15.
Arranged by Web Entertainment Limited, Tabla artistes Gyan Swarup Mukherjee (India) and Swarup Hossain (Bangladesh) with Bangladeshi artiste Mohammad Shoaib on harmonium accompanied the featured artistes at the music conference. Shamima Parvin welcomed the guest artistes with bouquets.
Santoor maestro Sandip Chatterjee was first to take the stage. Trained by masters like Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya and Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Sandip Chatterjee attained “Best Instrumentalist Award” organised by “Sangeetayan” in New Delhi in 1986. He also won the “President of India Award” in 1990.
“When we practise music at home, we dedicate our efforts to God. And when we perform on stage, we symbolise the audience as God. An artiste can never perform well without blessings from you,” said Chatterjee.
Sandip started with a short alap in Raga Jog. The bandish took off superbly in teentaal as Gyan Swarup Mukherjee produced several tabla rela amid the harmonious rhythm and tune. His jod and jhalas were a virtuoso exposition of the Layakari( rhythm). A reverse recital of rhythm (from quick tempo to slow beat) on santoor together with various patterns made it a masterful and lively performance.
Manali Bose performed Raga Shyam Kalyan at the event. An ITC SRA scholar Manali was also trained by Pt. Devyani Bose and Pt. Arun Bhaduri. Manali, who attained a Master degree in English literature, has also achieved distinctions in Rabindra sangeet, Nazrul sangeet and Bhajon.
Manali started with alap. The bandish “Jio Mero Laal Banera” followed. Swarup Hossain accompanied her on tabla in vilambit ektaal. With her melodious voice, she showcased various styles of vocal improvisation in a superb balance during the drut bandish in teen taal with Swarup on tabla.
Amzad Hossain, a disciple of Pt. Dhrubotara Joshi, performed Raga Desh on Sitar. Gyan Swarup Mukherjee on tabla accompanied him on Madhyalaya teentaal. He performed a short alap, gaut and jhala.
Classical vocalist Sandip Bhattacharya, a disciple of Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan, performed the concluding ragas. He first performed Raga Megh. Swarup Hossain accompanied him on madhyalaya jhaptaal on tabla. Performance of a thumri “Yaad Piya Ki Aiye”, (originally recorded by Bade Ghulam Ali Khan,) followed. He also obliged a request from the audience and performed a bhajan.
Amidst the masterful performances, the one unfortunate arrangement was the acoustics. The sound system fell short of the quality required to support a concert such as this. The concert, though billed as an ‘international’ event featured only two countries. A more apt title for the event could have added more meaning to the evening, which in all other respect was an enjoyable one for the audience.
-With The Daily Star input
