Composers and Musicians.
Pandit Ravi Shankar
Pandit Ravi Shankar was born on April 7, 1920 in Varanasi, India. His older brother was a famous Indian classical dancer. In his early years, ravi joined him and travelled to Paris in 1930 to experiment with the stage by playing small roles in ballets for three years. His formal training on the sitar began in 1938 and ended in 1944. After that, he composed ballets for several years and started the Renaissance artistes in 1947. He was in charge of a component at the All Indian Radio in 1949. Ravi Shankar’s first performance took place in the Soviet Union in 1954, and he also performed at the Edinburgh Festival and the Royal Festival Hall.
He is a legendary sitar player and has made a major contribution in popularizing Indian classical music through his work with the Beatles. He has won many awards for his work, including two Grammy Awards as well as the title of India’s most esteemed classical musician, and was awarded India’s highest civilian honour. He was also elected a member of the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of Parliament from 1986 to 1992.
Pandit Ravi Shankar was born on April 7, 1920 in Varanasi, India. His older brother was a famous Indian classical dancer. In his early years, ravi joined him and travelled to Paris in 1930 to experiment with the stage by playing small roles in ballets for three years. His formal training on the sitar began in 1938 and ended in 1944. After that, he composed ballets for several years and started the Renaissance artistes in 1947. He was in charge of a component at the All Indian Radio in 1949. Ravi Shankar’s first performance took place in the Soviet Union in 1954, and he also performed at the Edinburgh Festival and the Royal Festival Hall.
He is a legendary sitar player and has made a major contribution in popularizing Indian classical music through his work with the Beatles. He has won many awards for his work, including two Grammy Awards as well as the title of India’s most esteemed classical musician, and was awarded India’s highest civilian honour. He was also elected a member of the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of Parliament from 1986 to 1992.
Ustad Ali Akbar Khan
Ustad Ali Akbar Khan was born on April 14, 1922 in East Bengal (Bangladesh). His family ancestral tradition is traced back to a 16th Century musical genius and a court musician. He first started learning music at the age of three and learned vocal from his father and the drums from his uncle. Throughout his early years, he learned many other instruments, but decided to concentrate of the sarode and vocal. His first performance was given at the age of thirteen, and in his early twenties, he made his first recording for the HMV label. The following year, he became a court musician. He first visited America in 1955 and gave a memorable performance at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
He was one of the most accomplished Indian classical musicians, and was admired world-wide for his compositions. By some, he was considered the “Indian Johann Sebastian Bach”. He popularized Indian classical music in the West and in the United States. He founded the Ali Akbar College of Music in Calcutta, India in 1956 and began teaching music in the US in 1965. He later founded in Ali Akbar College of Music in Marin County, California. He composed music for many famous films. He passed away at his music centre at the age of 88 on June 19, 2009.
Ustad Ali Akbar Khan was born on April 14, 1922 in East Bengal (Bangladesh). His family ancestral tradition is traced back to a 16th Century musical genius and a court musician. He first started learning music at the age of three and learned vocal from his father and the drums from his uncle. Throughout his early years, he learned many other instruments, but decided to concentrate of the sarode and vocal. His first performance was given at the age of thirteen, and in his early twenties, he made his first recording for the HMV label. The following year, he became a court musician. He first visited America in 1955 and gave a memorable performance at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
He was one of the most accomplished Indian classical musicians, and was admired world-wide for his compositions. By some, he was considered the “Indian Johann Sebastian Bach”. He popularized Indian classical music in the West and in the United States. He founded the Ali Akbar College of Music in Calcutta, India in 1956 and began teaching music in the US in 1965. He later founded in Ali Akbar College of Music in Marin County, California. He composed music for many famous films. He passed away at his music centre at the age of 88 on June 19, 2009.
Ustad Allauddin Khan
Born in Shibpur Village in Brahmanbaria (Bangladesh) in 1862, Ustad Allauddin Khan was a multi-instrumentalist as a child. His brother first introduced him to music at home. However, he ran away from home at the age of 10 to work in the traditional theatre. This gave him the opportunity to explore folk art. He later travelled and crossed paths with singer Gopal Krishna Bhattacharya, who took him in and taught him for 12 years. After his guru passed away, he turned into a disciple of the great Indian philosopher Swami Vivekananda and the musical direction of Kolkatas Star Theatre. It was here that he decided to become an instrumentalist. He learned the classical violoin and developed an interest in the Sarod after attending a musical show. Khan then studied it for five years and developed a love for classical music.
Khan is well-known for being the creator of the Maihar genre of music. He set up the Maihar College of Music in 1955, and won various awards. He was a guru (teacher) and influence to many other famous players of his time and of future generations.
Born in Shibpur Village in Brahmanbaria (Bangladesh) in 1862, Ustad Allauddin Khan was a multi-instrumentalist as a child. His brother first introduced him to music at home. However, he ran away from home at the age of 10 to work in the traditional theatre. This gave him the opportunity to explore folk art. He later travelled and crossed paths with singer Gopal Krishna Bhattacharya, who took him in and taught him for 12 years. After his guru passed away, he turned into a disciple of the great Indian philosopher Swami Vivekananda and the musical direction of Kolkatas Star Theatre. It was here that he decided to become an instrumentalist. He learned the classical violoin and developed an interest in the Sarod after attending a musical show. Khan then studied it for five years and developed a love for classical music.
Khan is well-known for being the creator of the Maihar genre of music. He set up the Maihar College of Music in 1955, and won various awards. He was a guru (teacher) and influence to many other famous players of his time and of future generations.