The renowned Gundecha brothers, Padmashri Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha draw packed audiences world-wide when they sing Dhrupad, the ancient genre of Hindustani classical music believed to be more than 1,000 years old. On the morning of Saturday, June 4, two rooms full of young children and adults eagerly awaited the arrival of the Dhrupad singing brother duo at Learnquest Academy in Waltham, MA for a different reason. Twenty-five children in the age group of 5 and 13 had learned and practised Dhrupad compositions over several months to sing in front of the Dhrupad masters. For a change, the Gundecha brothers visited Boston not to perform, but to listen to children singing Dhrupad and to conduct an educational workshop for children and adults.

Umakant Gundechaji sat and listened carefully to small groups of children who took turns to sing in front of him. He seemed happy with their progress after hearing them sing Dhrupad and Dhamaar in ragas such as Bhairav, Malkauns, Komal Rishabh Asavari and Desh. Some children sang Khayal compositions. Nodding his head in an encouraging fashion, he said to two ten year old boys Pranav Nayak and Tamoghna Kommaraju, “Next time I come, I want to see you keep perfect taal while singing the Dhamaar in Desh”. Thereafter, he patiently taught the children a Dhrupad in Raga Saraswati that he had composed.  In less than two hours, the children learned to sing the composition by mastering the lyrics and melody by singing it repeatedly several times. He guided the participants on correct sitting posture, voice projection techniques and in giving hand movements for seven beat cycle Tivra taal. The Saraswati raga composition described Goddess Saraswati dressed in white garments, seated in a lotus position and holding the Veena instrument in her hands and imparting knowledge to devotees.

Sthayi:

Sharada Ma Saraswati Ma
Shubhra Vastra Dhaarini Ma
Hansavaahini Maata

Antara:

Bramhaputri Padmaasana
Gyaan Daayini
Veena Vaadini Maata

“I really enjoyed learning a Dhrupad in raga Saraswati. The sound of higher variant of Madhyam note, Teevra Ma was beautiful.” said 13 year old Aaroh Jugulum of Franklin, MA whose mother Rekha attended the workshop for adults in the adjoining room.

In a room packed with adult beginners and advanced students, Ramakant Gundechaji gave an overview on “Dhrupad”. He explained about the nature of raga music and the Dhrupad genre of Hindustani music,  the importance of swara, laya, taal and language, the role of the taanpura instrument as well as the use of microtones or shrutis in Dhrupad singing. The workshop for adults was divided into two separate two hour long sessions with a delicious vegetarian lunch served between the two sessions.

On the subject of classical music and the purpose of Dhrupad music, Ramakant Gundechaji said “The word classical music did not exist in our ancient books. Margi Sangeet and Desi Sangeet were the two terms used in our books. While Desi sangeet is akin to folk music, Marg is the path that connects you to Godly experience (ishwaraanoobhooti). Dhrupad was meant to be a medium of worship, the mode of connecting humans to higher consciousness.”

In Dhrupad music, in addition to five notes Re, Ga, Ma, Dha, Ni which have variants, Sa and Pa are also believed to be moveable notes. Ramakant Gundechaji gave the analogy of sunlight to the sound of the perfectly tuned taanpura instrument . “If you plant an apple seed, an apple grows. The same sunlight helps grow a mango from the mango seed. A whole harmonic sphere of sound is created when a well-tuned taanpura is played while singing Dhrupad.”

The ascending and descending movements and chalan (melodic structure) of Raga Basant-Mukhari were introduced in the morning session. His advice regarding voice to workshop attendees was “Your voice should have clarity, should be free and stable when you sound the first note Sa (known as Khadaj). Singing Sa is a basic practice, a meditation for all – whether one wants to become a singer or not. “ he said.

In the afternoon session, workshop participants learned a Dhrupad composition in Sooltaal (cycle of ten beats) composed by Pandit Ramakant Gundecha in the raga Basant Mukhari. The composition was about how singing musical notes can center a wandering mind.

Sthaayi:

Sur mein ramey too hi,
Bhatakatha phiray yoon hi,
Laagi lagan jyoon hi,
Huruh soo khulay tyoon hi

Antara:

Dagara dagamaga karata,
Munuh juhaan tuhaan oodata,
Sur mein jub chitta dharata,
Tubuh sub bisarata

“The Gundecha brothers are very humble despite all their scholarship and fame. I did not feel intimidated by their presence and really appreciated the workshop” said Satyavati Rao who has taken to learning Hindustani music in the recent years. Encouraged by the response to the Dhrupad workshop, Dr. Pradeep Shukla, founder of Learnquest Academy said “The multi-day “Dhrupad Days” workshop and festival has been held successfully over the past few years in cities such as Seattle, WA. Boston could be a promising potential location for a multi-day retreat with the Gundecha brothers too. Next year, we may consider hosting a Dhrupad retreat in Boston.” Dhrupad students in Boston eagerly look forward to a retreat in the summer of 2017.

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