LearnQuest Academy of Music presented Hindustani vocalist Smt. Rachna Bodas in its final offering of 2018 Baithak season at the Thoreau Middle School in Concord, Mass on Sunday, Nov 18^th. The artist sang Hindustani classical music for three hours and was provided excellent accompaniment by Shri Ramachandra Joshi on the harmonium,  Shri Nitin Mitta on the tabla and Eesha Ingle on the tanpura.

On the previous day, Saturday, November 17^th, Smt. Bodas had presented a vocal workshop for students on “Basics of Voice Culture and Swar Saadhan” at LearnQuest, Waltham, Mass. In the workshop she taught basic voice exercises that focused on the meend ornamentation (glide from one note to another note), the manner of singing weighted gamak taans and also a khyaal in Raga Ambika composed by her Guru, the late Shri Kashinath Bodas set to sixteen beat rhythmic cycle, teentaal.

On the evening of Nov 18, there was considerable excitement in the air at the Thoreau Middle School. The artist, Smt. Rachna Bodas  was introduced by Dr. Pradeep Shukla who said “Daughter of a tabla artist, Shri Ravi Shankar Shukla, Smt. Bodas learned music under the renowned musicians of Gwalior gharana, the late Pandit Kashinath Shankar Bodas and his sister, the late Vidushi Smt. Veena Sahasrabuddhe."

Next, after Puriya Kalyan, the artist presented three compositions in Raga Hemanth, a khayal “Beet gaye ri maayi” by Pandit Ramashraya Jha in seven beat cycle Roopak in a slow tempo, another khyal “Hemanth Hemavanth Samaan” that described the celebratory wedding scene of Lord Ram and Queen Sita and a fast paced tarana set to fourteen beat cycle, aada chautaal. The artist’s subtle touch on Pancham (musical note “pa”)and Rishabh(musical note “re”) in the descending movement distinguished it from the raga Kaushik Dhvani.  Pleasing diction of beautiful lyrics, continuity in the flow of sparkling gamak ornamented taans that finished perfectly on the first beat of the rhythmic cycle provided an exhilarating experience to the audience.

“This was my first time listening to Smt. Rachna Bodas and I enjoyed the concert very much. I loved in particular her alaaps introducing the ragas she sang. They made for a solid opening.” said Meera Gargeya, a concert attendee.

In the second half of the program, Smt. Rachna Bodas presented two khyaals and a tarana in Raga Chandrakauns. The first khyaal “Dukhva mora kaase”  (who do I share my heart’s sadness with?) composed by the late Ustad Vilayat Hussein Khan (Pran Piya) set to slow tempo twelve beat cycle ektaal perched on the Sa (Khadaj) note on the climactic “sum” (first beat of rhythmic cycle). “Chandra ki Chandni madh bhari” (the moonlight is intoxicating), a Pandit Balwant Rai Bhatt (Bhav Rang) composition set to sixteen beat cycle conveyed shringara rasa as well as the fast paced Tarana set to fourteen beat cycle aada chautaal were replete with swiftly moving, cascading taans. A solitary surprise touch on shuddh rishabh (Vivadi “Re” note) in the upper register added uniqueness to the Raga Chandrakauns presentation.

The finale of the classical music concert was a melodious Kabir Bhajan “ Dhun sunke manva magan hua ji” (the heart became joyous on listening to the melody) in the raga Bhairavi which is often used to conclude Hindustani concerts.

Kudos to the organizer, volunteers of LearnQuest Academy and sound engineer Jawed Wahid in bringing a wonderful Hindustani classical music concert and vocal workshop to the Boston audience.

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