May 24, 2013, 8 PM in the Salon de Musique of the Ali Akbar College
Abir Singh Khangura, Apurba Mukherjee – Tabla will present an evening program of North Indian classical music.
Abir Singh Khangura belongs to the musical lineage of his Father Prof. Mohan Singh Khangura, disciple of Pandit Dhruvatara Joshi of Agra Gharana and Pandit Asesh Bandopadhyay of Vishnupur Gharana and his Mother Smt Suchismita Singh. Born in Shantiniketan, Abir began his Esraj training from Sri Ranadhir Roy, disciple of Pandit Asesh Bandopadhyay. After the untimely demise of his guru, Abir continued with Sri Buddhadev Das of the same tradition. Later he had the good fortune to receive training from Dr. Sisirkana Dhar Chowdhury, disciple of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan of the Maihar Gharana. Along with receiving a national scholarship from Governement of India, Abir has received many awards including the junior fellowship in the field of Hindustani Classical Music. Abir has travelled extensively in India, Bangladesh, Europe and U.S.A, with his music and teaching.
Apurba Mukherjee is a bright and talented Tabla player in the world of Indian Classical Music. As a disciple of Pandit Shankar Ghosh, he has performed widely in India and abroad, accompanying well known musicians of the country including Ustad Saiuddin Dagar, Smt Purnima Sen, Smt Sanjukta Ghosh, Sri Sanjoy Banerjee, Sri Kaivalya Kumar Gurav, Sri Partho Sarothi, Sri Kushal Das, Sri Partha Bose and others. Besides performing in important concerts in India, he has also performed in major festivals and concerts abroad including the USA, Canada, Europe and the Middle East.
The Esraj
The Esraj (Israj), a stringed instrument played with bow, is hardly known outside Bengal (Vishnupur and Santiniketan). In the 17th this instrument was referred to as the ‘BALASARASWATHI’ in South India, although the construction of the instrument and bow was a little different from Esraj.
In 19th century Baba Allauddin Khansahib used Esraj in his famous Orchestra in Maihar. The construction of the instrument was same but there was no peacock ornament on the peg box. In late 19th Century Sri Surendra Chandra Bondopadhyaya, uncle of the famous Esraj player of Visnupur Gharana Pandit Ashesh Chandra Bondopadyaya, brought about the major changes in holding the instrument. Now the instrument was played in a straight position on the lap instead of a tilted one. Also he brought about some major changes in holding and playing with the bow.