It gives us immense joy to be writing about a truly special and memorable Hindustani concert that took place at the India Center, Shrewsbury in honor of Shri Gurusthan on Saturday, Oct 26, 2013.  The performance was a Hindustani vocal concert by Raganjali Guru Smt. Swati Panda. She was accompanied by Shri. Amit Kavthekar on Tabla, Smt. Priti Chakravarty on harmonium and Smt. Asha Alur on Tanpura. The concert was a fundraiser for the new building project for Gurusthan and all proceeds from this ticketed show was donated to Shri. Gurusthan.

Swati presented a veritable and varied series of songs, with the brilliant tabla accompaniment of Amit and the delicate harmonium support from Mrs. Chakravarty.

The concert started with a Vilambit Khayal in Raag Nand (also known as Nand Kalyan or Anandi) - “Dhoondoon baare saiyaan”, a distinguished composition of Nand raag.
The dulcet, aesthetic presentation with detailed melodic development (swar vistaar) of all the quintessential notes (swars) of the raag was a treat for the listeners as she scaled from the lower (mandra) notes to the highest notes, with inimitable ease.   
She then launched her Chhota khayal in drut teentaal “Ajahun na aaye shyam, bahut dina beete” another characteristic Nand composition.  Here, she displayed her amazingly composed taans, meends (nuances)  and layakari while enunciating the words of the playful happy bandish with a happy tone.
It was sheer joy to see the chemistry between tabla and vocals at several points. As I have heard a music connoisseur say, “Great music never takes shape in private, individual space — the vocalist and his/her accompanists are in a constant give and take mode.” and that is exactly we got to witness in a rich musical concert as this.  Amit Kavthekar’s deft and crisp tabla playing with the different taals/thekas brought the enjoyment to a higher level.  As Mrs. Chakravarty would fill in the interludes with her delicate playing, the song felt complete.  The sombre drone of the tanpura permeated the entire room with an aura.

In the second half of the concert, the Khayal, Muhammad Shah Rangeela re (a traditional composition in madhyalay and drut ektaal) started with a deep characteristic alaap in Miyan Malhaar, and then went into a vibrant mode, practically transporting us to the durbar of the Mughals. This composition was about a Mughal emperor, Muhammad Shah, who was a patron of the arts just like the great emperor Akbar, who enjoyed Dhrupad singing in his court. The decadent Muhammad Shah, was also known as ‘Sada Rangeela’, as he led a carefree life of pleasure and indulgence.   This vibrant khayal, composed by Niyamat Khan (aka Sadarang), the Father of Khayal, salutes monsoon with its rain-invoking raag Miyan ki Malhaar, and expresses the grandeur of Muhammd Shah Rangeela. Swati’s rendering of “Umad Ghumad” actually sounded like rumbling clouds, while the highest notes in Taar saptak displayed here made the audience clap in excitement!

These 2 khayals were well balanced with some very introspective moments and different expressions.  When sur and taal are completely intrinsic, what the listener hears is the play of bhaav, emotions and expressions.  
And the different moods were beautifully expressed in other forms..
Romantic delicate flair in the traditional Thumri, “Kaun gali gayo shyaam” (in Raga Mishra Khamaj set to Dheema Jat taal), deep contemplation in the Shiv Bhajan, “Bhalchandra jataa gang” (in Yaman set to Rupak) and melodious simple devotion in the Ganesh Bhajan, “Ganapt vighan haran Gajaanan” (based on Raga Jan-Sammohini set to Addha Teentaal).  And to conclude, reverence and strength in the Devi Bhajan, “Niranjani Narayani” in Raga Bhairavi.

At the end of it, what one as a listener felt was a blissful connection, serene moments of happiness and lingering sounds of the evocative raags, Thanks to an evening of pure music touched by divinity and grace.  

It was a very simple atmosphere, and many volunteers of Gurusthan had worked tirelessly to make it possible.  The kids of Raganjali compered the event with great skill. Thanks to all who could attend this concert.

About the artists:
Swati Panda is a well-established, accomplished Hindustani vocalist, who has been teaching and composing Hindustani music in the Boston area for over 20 years.  Please visit her music school site Raganjali School of Music at http://raganjali.org
Amit Kavthekar, Ganda-Bandha Shagird of Ustad Allarakha, is a well-known, performing Tabla artist, and also faculty at New England School of Music. http://nesom.org
Priti Chakravarty is a complete musician, a seasoned Hindustani vocalist, sitar and harmonium artist, who also teaches music as a faculty of Learnquest Academy of Music.
Asha Alur is a senior student of Swati Panda and also faculty at Raganjali school.

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