Nikhil Banerjee sitar Mahapurush Misra
tabla
1/ alap 18:22 - 2/ jor 14:46 - 3/ slow tintal 25:45
4/ fast tintal 5:24 - 5/ jhalla 7:52 - 6/ jawab sawal 5:35
Total Time: 77:44 - ADD - Mono - RAGA-202
Padmabhushan Nikhil
Banerjee (1931-1986) was one of the greatest sitarists of
this century. His music earned deep respect among India's classical
music aficionados, as well as gaining him a devoted international
following. He was the disciple of the two greatest forces in 20th
Century Indian classical instrumental music, Padmavibhushan Allauddin
Khan and his son Maestro Ali Akbar Khan. Though he recorded many
LPs, few were of live concerts, in which his leisurely, majestic
raga development was unsurpassed. Mr. Banerjee recorded more than
two dozen albums, on the Indian EMI label, and for Sonodisc in
France, Harmonia Mundi and Chhanda Dhara in Germany, Amigo in
Sweden, and for Raga, Capitol, Connoisseur Society and Musical
Traditions in the U.S. (Many of these recordings are available
through the Ali Akbar College in San Rafael, CA.) Mr. Banerjee
disliked being recorded, feeling that the process distracted and
somewhat compromised the inner meditative quality of his music,
and high fidelity live recordings are rare. To preserve his legacy
and show the full scope of his musical vision, Raga Records is
reproducing a series of unique live concert masters. This recording
was made in Berkeley, before one of Mr. Banerjee's most appreciative
American audiences, and broadcast by radio KPFA, during one of
Mr. Banerjee's earliest visits to the U.S., sponsored by the American
Society for Eastern Arts.
Manomanjari is a raga created by Mr. Banerjee, a mix of ragas Kalavati and Marwa. A studio recording made by Sonodisc in France included a brief 23 minute exposition of this raga (ESP 155530, 1976). It was his favorite LP. Raga Records has also released a 1972 Amsterdam performance of Manomanjari accompanied by Zamir Ahmed Khan (Raga-212).
Mahapurush Misra (1932-1987), a disciple of Pt. Anokhelal, was renowned for the clarity and sweetness of his tabla solos and accompaniment. He performed and recorded with many of India's foremost musicians.
Released by arrangement with Mrs. Roma Banerjee. Recorded at the Berkeley Little Theater, July 26, 1968. Special thanks to Charles Amirkhanian and David Mayers at KPFA, Bill Thomas and John Thompson at Pacifica Archives, and to Bob Bielecki, Paul Hsu, Shankar Satyanath, Subrata Chowdhury, Ron Nierenberg and Ray Spiegel. Produced by John Wilton and Ira Landgarten. Sound Recording 1988 by Raga Records, P.O. Box 635, New York, NY 10014. Fax: 212-620-5980. Unauthorized copying, public performance and broadcasting prohibited. All rights of the producer and of the owner of the recorded work reserved. Photographs of Nikhil Banerjee in his Calcutta music room by Ira Landgarten. Photograph of Mahapurush Misra courtesy of Mary Khan.
Available for download through iTunes and CDBaby.
However you can order a CD on this page. It will be custom-burned on the most archival media available, currently phthalocyanine dye and gold reflecting layer. It will be supplied in jewel case with the original printed insert card and booklet. It will not be shrinkwrapped, and the disc identification will be handwritten.
