Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya

The Music Room Festival

Friday April 5, 2013 @ 6:30 PM

Tickets include admission to Museum exhibitions)

Purchase tickets online or call 212.620.5000 ext. 344

Presented in association with HarmoNYom

Santoor Maestro Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya has been a pioneering and revolutionary musician who has changed the face of Indian classical music.  He has truly been an unparalleled music ambassador of India.

Nitin Mitta is one of the most accomplished and distinctive tabla players of his generation, with a reputation for technical virtuosity, spontaneity, clarity of tone, and sensitivity to melodic nuances.

About the Musicians

Santoor Maestro Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya is the famous Maihar Gharana’s only Santoor Maestro. Pandit Bhattacharya has revolutionized Santoor, the instrument, as well as its style of play. He displayed for the first time ever (1980) that one could 'meend' or glide notes at the lower octave in a hammered instrument like Santoor. He is also the inventor of "mankas" or fine tuners that help in the tuning of this 100 stringed instrument fast, with a long lasting effect and a very high degree of accuracy. His innovative techniques of playing the Santoor also facilitates in the playing of "Krintans, Ekharatans, Boltans" broadening the utility of the Santoor in various traditional art forms. His improvisations on the shape and string arrangements have resulted in a deeper and more classical sound for the Santoor.

Tarun Bhattacharya is recognized the world over for his wizardry in Ragdari as well as Layakari (mathematical calculations), and plays music that touches the inner soul. He has been the recipient of numerous felicitations such as a Grammy nomination in ‘97 and Excellence in World Music USA, and his CD Kirwani has been acclaimed as the top 10 in the world. Pt. Bhattacharya received his talim (music instructions) from his father Pt. Rabi Bhattacharya, Pt. Dulal Roy, and finally from the great Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar. Tarun Bhattacharya is also a Visiting Professor at the Nupur Dance Academy, USA.

Nitin Mitta is one of the most accomplished and distinctive tabla players of his generation, with a reputation for technical virtuosity, spontaneity, clarity of tone, and sensitivity to melodic nuances. Nitin received his early training in Hyderabad from Pandit G. Satyanarayana and gave his first solo tabla performance at the age of ten. During his studies he won many accolades, including first prize in the All India Competition held in Calcutta. To expand his repertoire of tabla compositions, he sought the guidance of Pandit Arvind Mulgaonkar of Mumbai, one of the most highly respected mentors of his generation. Under Mulgaonkarji’s tutelage, Nitin not only broadened his tabla vocabulary, but sharpened his understanding of how to bring the material to life in performances through interpretation, improvisation and respect for the dynamics between instrumentalist and rhythmic accompanist. Both of Nitin’s gurus are disciples of the late Ustad Amir Hussain Khan Saheb, legendary doyen of the Farukhabad Gharana.

Apart from being a dynamic soloist, he is a highly sought after accompanist who has performed with some of India’s most celebrated Hindustani classical musicians, including Pandit Jasraj, Dr. Prabha Atre, Pandits Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, and Ustad Shahid Parvez, as well as many Carnatic musicians, such as Lalgudi G.J.R Krishnan and Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi. Nitin is a regular performer at the Rubin.

http://www.tarunji.com/

http://nitinmitta.com/

www.HarmoNYom.org

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