THIS IS A RARE AND USED ITEM. IT IS NOT MANUFACTURED ANYMORE. NO RETURNS WILL BE ACCEPTED

Born in 1931 Nikhil Banerjee was a child prodigy. At the age of 9 he received the highest honor in the All Bengal ‘Sitar’ competition.

Nikhil Banerjee initially studied music at the feet of his father, the late Jitendra Nath Banerjee. Subsequently, the eminent musician Kumar Birendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury of Gouripur (Bengal) introduced him to the celebrated centenarian Ustad Allauddin Khan of Maihar under whom Nikhil Banerjee had very intensive training. Ustad Ali Akbar Khan too has contributed greatly to the development of this fine musician. Nikhil Banerjee recently toured Europe as a member of the Indian Cultural Delegation.

Sri Kanai Dutt is one of the best contemporary Tabla Players. At an early age he learnt the art from the late Satish Das and later, for over 10 years, was the disciple of Sri Jnan Prakash Ghosh – the famous musician of Bengal. Kanai Dutt has extensively toured Europe and America with Pandit Ravi Shankar.

THE MUSIC

Side One: Raga Komala Rishab Asawari

It is a morning Raga symbolizing the mood of pathos. The exposition starts with an Alap or invocation in free rhythm, followed by Jod which is more rhythmic with variations and then by Jhala in rapid rhythm. The Gat is in slow, medium and quick tempo set to “Teentaal” – 16 beat rhythm – consisting of 4 equal groups of 4 beats – (4+4+4+4 – 16 matras).

Side Two: Raga Maluha Kalyan

This is an evening Raga composed by Ustad Alauddin Khan. It is a mixture of two Ragas, Maluha Kedar and Yaman, and symbolizes the mood of devotion. The gat is set to “Chartaal Ki Sawari” – 11 beat rhythm – (2+2+2+2+1 ½ + 1 ½ = 11 Matras).

Raga Mishra Gara in Thumri Style

This is a traditional evening Raga of a somewhat less serious nature, lighter in spirit and a exotic in character providing what is known as Sringara Rasa. This music is improvised in a free form and returns to the main theme to “sitarkhani Taal” – 8 beat rhythm consisting of 4 equal groups of 2 beats – (2+2+2+2 = 8 Matras).

Artists: 

Nikhil Banerjee (Sitar), Kanai Dutt (Tabla)