Coming up .. Special Concert on Thu 25th Nov

This will be at the Shri Shirdi Sai Mandira in Munnekola (off Varthur Road) .. Details soon!

Music Exam for Aditya!

Aditya took his first Hindustani Classical Music (Vocal) exam today - conducted by the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya (Miraj). He was asked to sing 2 Raags (Bhupali & Desh) and 1 Taal (Keherva). We've been informed that he's done well & passed, but the official letter/certificate + marks-sheet will follow sometime later :)

Raga Sangama Annual Concert - Oct 2010

Both Aditya and I sang at the annual concert organized by Raga Sangama, Sahakar Nagar, Bangalore and sponsored by the Dept. of Kannada and Culture, Govt. of Karnataka, as a tribute to Late Pt. Fakkiresha Agadi. Also seen are Guruji Pt. Shripad Gaddi (Harmonium), Shri Shanmugha (Tabla) and Kum. Janhavi (Rhythm).

Links to our videos given below

Aditya singing Alaap and Chotakhayal in Raag Bhupali



Aditya singing a Kannada Dasarapada "Daya Mado Ranga" in Raag Kafi



Anup (that's me!) singing a Kannada Dasarapada "Enna Paliso Karunakara" in Raag Bhupali

Durga Puja 2010 .. Aditya's debut performance at a Puja event!

Aditya sang at the Durga Puja celebrations in Brookefields, Bangalore on the auspicious occasion of Shubho Saptami (14th Oct). He was the only child singer and was given the honor of opening the evening's cultural program with a Chotakhayal and a Bhajan in Raag Malkauns! :)

Featured here is a video snippet of the Bhajan.

Meeting with Ustad Rashid Khan!

We were privileged to have attended the grand finale of the Bengaluru International Arts Festival (on Sunday 10-10-10), featuring Ustad Rashid Khan (Hindustani Classical Vocal) and Vidwan TM Krishna (Carnatic Classical Vocal) in a 'Jugalbandi' Concert at the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, Bengaluru .. Aditya and I were also lucky enough to meet Ustad ji backstage and get his blessings for our musical endeavors! They started with Raag Desh, moved to Raag Kirwani and finally Raag Bhairavi .. Before this, each of the artistes had one or two vocal renditions individually too. Ustad ji sang Raag Puriya Dhanashri. Wah!

This is a very special photograph of Aditya with Ustad Rashid Khan :-)

And one of Ustad ji with me!

Aditya Vittal singing "What a wonderful world"

Originally sung by the legendary Louis Armstrong .. Aditya attempts to reprise the magic of the original, at his school's culmination day event on 27th July 2010. (Recorded on location at Vibgyor High School, Bangalore).

Indian Ocean Concert - Bangalore, 29th July 2010

We attended our first ever Indian Ocean concert at Hard Rock Cafe Bengaluru on 29th July 2010 .. Asheem was missed of course, but Susmit Sen, Rahul Ram and Amit Kilam were admirably backed up by Himanshu Joshi (Vocals) and Tuhin (Tabla). Aditya managed to get photo-op time with all the band members! :)

Aditya gazing wistfully at his hero - Amit Kilam, Percussionist and Vocals. Aditya particularly enjoyed the 'Gabgubi' instrument played by Amit! :-)

Making funny faces together! Rahul Ram (Bass Guitar and Vocals) with Aditya ...

Hey, he does smile! Susmit Sen (Co-founder of the Band and Acoustic/Lead Guitar) with Aditya ...

Aditya Vittal singing 'solo' at his school (Vibgyor High, Bangalore)

Snippet of Aditya singing two Bhajans at the Culmination Day event of his school .. First time ever on his own! (Disclaimer: Video quality is slightly poor but hopefully the audio is better!)

First - A Meera Bhajan in Raag Malkauns

And next - A Kannada Bhajan in Raag Kafi

Meeting with God - aka Ustad Zakir Hussain, in Bangalore

This will remain etched in our memory forever. 13th Feb - a date with destiny. We had somehow managed to get tickets for a concert showcasing Ustad Zakir Hussain on Tabla, but hadn't bargained for the bonus at the end ...

The concert itself started with the opening act of Pt. Pravin Godkhindi on Flute, accompanied by Pt. Ravindra Yavagal on Tabla. Pt. Godkhindi was at his mellifluous best in Raag Yaman. The main act was Ustad Zakir Hussain on Tabla, accompanied by Sabir Khan on Sarangi. Sabir Khan is the son and disciple of the maestro Ustad Sultan Khan. Magical tabla playing. What a performance! Absolutely stunning!

And then the bonus ... We managed to somehow push our way through the crowd and meet with Ustad backstage. Yes, an actual face to face, cheek to jowl meeting with the maestro! Here are some photographs. We are still reliving the moment! :-)

Ustad Zakir Hussain comforting Aditya who had to struggle through the crowd to get close to the Ustad. He was gracious enough to hug Aditya and give him a personalized autograph!

Autograph of Ustad Zakir Hussain, addressed to Aditya! Wah Ustad!

Sabir Khan (Sarangi player, and son of Ustad Sultan Khan himself!), Aditya and Anup - Post concert photo op! :)

Ghalib Ghallab (Jazz musician), live at Kyra, Bangalore

Very interesting experience of new-age Jazz music. Ghalib Ghallab is an internationally acclaimed Jazz musician, who sings and plays the Piano (and keyboards) with equal aplomb! His usual performance location is the Caesar's Palace Casino and Restaurant, Las Vegas, but on this occasion he was in India, and performing live at Kyra.

Aditya was entranced by the rhythms and the percussion section .. Insisted on having some photos taken with Ghalib and his son Jihad (Drums), and Ricky Rocha (Congos).

A music legend LIVE in Bangalore (1 Feb 2010) - Ustad Amjad Ali Khan!

Aditya, Bipasha and I were fortunate enough to get tickets in time for this Sarod concert by the maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan himself, held at Ravindra Kalakshetra Bangalore.

Ustad ji played Ragas Kedar, Maru Bihag, Ganesh Kalyan (his own composition), Charukeshi and Songs like "Vaishnava Janato", Ram Dhun and "Ekla Chalo Re' (Bengali song by Rabindranath Tagore). Accompanied by Pt. Suresh Talwalkar on Tabla, he also included a special guest appearance by Vidwan TAS Mani on Mridangam. Subhanallah!

Aditya and the Raghu Dixit Project - 26 Jan 2010, Bangalore!

Celebrating Republic Day in style!

Aditya had a memorable evening at Kyra Theater, when he was invited by Raghu Dixit to join him on stage and sing with the Raghu Dixit Project! This video clip has Aditya singing 'Ninna Poojege Bandhe Mahadeshwara' - Raghu's iconic song from the Kannada movie 'Psycho'.

Sawai Gandharva Music Festival coming up this week!

From Thursday 7th Jan 2010 to Sunday 10th Jan 2010, the festival will feature eminent musicians / artistes from all over India. Details at http://www.sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com/

Unfortunately will not be able to travel to Pune this time around for the festival.

Jazz in our lives! Yes, along with Indian Classical Music!

Aditya has been following Jazz for some time now - Over a year to be precise, and has a very keen appreciation of the nuances of this form of music too. How did he get interested in Jazz? I don't really know, but artistes like Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis etc. are all very popular at home, along with stalwarts of Indian Classical Music ... So yeah, quite an eclectic combination! I'm waiting for the day when he can combine the two forms of music and create something new on his own! Aaahhh ... That would indeed be the day! :-)

Here's a photo of Aditya trying out a Bass Trombone, courtesy the visiting ETH Big Band Orchestra from Switzerland, at the Kyra Theater, Bangalore

Raga Sangama, Bangalore - Oct 24th, 2009 - Concert in memory of Late Pt. Fakkiresha Agadi

This was the annual concert organized by our Guruji Pt. Shripad Gaddi as a tribute to his Guru Late Pt. Fakkiresha Agadi (Haveri) ... and the 11th edition of this annual event. The previous edition (in 2008) was when Aditya performed on stage for the first time ever! Selected disciples of Pt. Shripad Gaddi, accompanied by Guruji and other musicians, performed classical and semi-classical songs, and they were followed by Shri Muddu Mohan as the featured artiste of the evening (singing Raag Kaunsi Kanada). The grand finale had Pt. Shripad Gaddi singing a Bhajan in Raag Bhairavi.

Here are some glimpses of the event ..

Aditya singing and playing the harmonium. He performed 'Daya Mado Ranga' - a Kannada devotional song in Raag Kafi, and his favorite Meera Bhajan in Raag Malkauns - 'Nainana Mein Nandalaala'.

A couple of songs sung by me as well ... (Video snippets below)

'Hari Bhajane Mado' - a Kannada devotional song in Raag Bhimpalasi, and 'Abir Gulal' - a Marathi Abhang in Raag Deshkar.

Tribute to Late Pt. Fakkiresha Agadi - Concert coming soon!

Stay tuned for more news on the concert scheduled for Oct 24, 2009 (Saturday). Both Aditya and I will be singing along with other students of Guruji Pt. Shripad Gaddi.

Our meeting with Dhrupad maestro Guruji Pt. Falguni Mitra

We were very lucky to have the opportunity of meeting Guruji Pt. Falguni Mitra recently. Guruji and Guruma were gracious enough to take time off from their busy schedules to host us at their home. We sought and obtained their blessings and guidance for our musical endeavors. Aditya and I also sang a few bhajans and chotakhayals in their presence, and Aditya had the singular honor of being allowed to play on Guruji's harmonium! Truly a memorable occasion for all of us.

More information on Guruji :

A foremost exponent of Dhrupad, the authentic and respected form of Hindusthani Classical music, Pt. Falguni Mitra was initiated into music by his father, Sangeetacharya Pt. Shib Mitra at the tender age of four and a half. A worthy disciple of Pandit Bholanath Pathakji of Varanasi, a doyen of Betia Gharana, Pt. Shib Mitra had the privilege of receiving “taalim” in Alaap from the legendary musician, Ustad Nasiruddin Khan Sahib of Indore, the patriarch of the Dagars. Thus, Pt. Falguni Mitra combines the Dagar style of “Alaapchari” with the Betia style of Dhrupad and Dhamaar with a distinctive stamp of his own personality.

• http://www.falgunimitra.com/
• http://www.bihaanmusic.com/Falguni-Music%20for%20the%20soul.htm

Gifted with a deep, melodious voice, Pt. Falguni Mitra has inspired a reformation to this unique art-form through successful innovations in its melodic structure and rhythmic variations. The unwavering purity of the Raga, imaginative phrases filled with emotions and nuances, majestic compositions and intricate “laykari” create an aesthetic charm that permeate his vocal renderings.

Pandit Falguni Mitra retired early from an extremely busy top executive position in a multinational US corporation to pursue his first love, music. Currently associated with ITC Sangeet Research Academy as the Prefect and a Guru, Falguni Mitra has been taking part in prestigious music festivals in India and abroad for decades besides being a regular artiste on Akashvani and Doordarshan. Early in his career, he became the youngest musician to perform as a regular artiste on All India Radio, and has subsequently been honored with various awards and titles including the esteemed "Dhrupad Ratna".

A video of Pt. Falguni Mitra found on Youtube

Aditya singing "Daya Maado Ranga" at the Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha (Pejawar Math), Bangalore

This was a really significant day in Aditya's singing career !

Aditya Vittal singing "Daya maado Ranga" (Kannada devotional song in praise of Lord Purandhara Vittala), at the Shri Krishna temple - Poorna Prajna Vidya Peetha, Katriguppe, Bangalore. This beautiful temple also houses idols/emblems of Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy, Sri Madhwacharya and Sri Vadiraja.

Aditya was fortunate to be blessed by His Holiness Sri Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji (Pejawar Math) himself at the venue!

Also seen in the video are Guruji Pt. Shripad Gaddi, and Priyabrata (on Tabla). The day was especially significant as it was also the "Aradhana" day for Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy.

Practice @ Home - Two of Aditya's favorite songs - This time Aditya's also playing the harmonium as he sings!

Kannada Dasarapada - "Daya Maado Ranga" (in praise of Lord Purandhara Vittala), sung by Aditya Vittal at home. Also seen - our Guruji Pt. Shripad R Gaddi.

Aditya Vittal singing his favorite "Nainana Mein Nandalaalaa" in Raag Malkauns, this time also playing the harmonium. Practice at home - under the tutelage of Pt. Shripad Gaddi (also seen in the video).

"Shiva Chinthe, Shiva Dhyana" .... Aditya singing Sharanara Vachanagalu at the Basava Kendra in Bangalore (7 June 2009)

This was a truly memorable occasion for all of us! In the presence of His Holiness Dr. Shri. Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, Basava Kendra, Shri Murugha Math, Chitradurga, Aditya sang a few "Sharanara Vachanas" in Kannada. Guruji Pt. Shripad Gaddi was there to guide him through this, by accompanying him on the harmonium as well as vocals. Supporting them were Priyabrata on Tabla and Janhavi on Tambourine. The highlight of the evening was Aditya receiving blessings and praise for his singing, from the pontiff himself!

A 'freeze frame' of Aditya singing 'KaalugaLeradu Gaali Kandayya' ...

He also sang 'Antarangadalli' and 'Nava Vindhya' ... Quite an achievement for him to memorize the words and the tunes, considering his relative lack of familiarity with Vachana Sahitya! :)

Video excerpt


PS: You can read more on 'Vachana Sahitya' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vachana