Dhaka: Bengal Foundation and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) will jointly organise Sangeet Abayab, a Sitar-Sarod workshop by Tejendra Narayan Majumdar and Kushal Das from 3-5 October 2015, at BSA in Dhaka’s Segunbagicha area.

The workshop will be inaugurated at 4:00pm on Saturday, 3 October, 2015 at the National Art Gallery auditorium in BSA.

Cultural Affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor will inaugurate the programme as the chief guest.

Besides the artistes, Bengal Foundation chairman Abul Khair, Bengal Foundation director general Luva Nahid Choudhury, Music, Dance and Recitation Department director of BSA Sohrab Uddin, and BSA director general Liaqat Ali Lucky will speak on the occasion.

The workshop will be held from 5:00pm to 7:30pm.

To register for the workshop one could call 01816270565, 01711817749, 01610446611, and 01552100350.

Tejendra Narayan Majumdar

One of the best-known and undoubtedly one of the busiest Sarod maestros of the world, Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, has long achieved that order of excellence and universal acclaim, which ensures him to be one of the foremost icons of Indian Classical Music throughout the globe.

Training

Early initiation into music by his grandfather, Late Bibhuti Ranjan Majumdar and later his father, Late Ranjan Majumdar, nurtured Tejendra’s considerable talent. Tejendra was accepted by the Sarod Maestro Late Ustad Bahadur Khan as his disciple. Vocal and rhythm training under Late Pandit Amaresh Chowdhury and Anil Palit further ensured a holistic musical development in him. Eighteen years of intensive study under Late Ustad Bahadur Khan matured his talent into a true genius.

After the untimely demise of his guru, he studied under Late  Ajay Sinha Roy. He was then accepted as a disciple by none other than Late Swara Samrat Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. He continued to learn from the Legend until his demise. After that, he has also received Taalim from another such Legend, Late Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Recognition

Recognition came as early as in 1981, when he stood first in the All India Radio Music Competition and was awarded the President’s Gold Medal and the Pandit D.V. Paluskar Award. Thenceforth, he did not have to look backward and has performed and gained recognition in four continents. Quite obviously, he is also a Top Grade artist of A.I.R and Doordarshan.

He has been awarded the Sangeet Mahasamman, the highest honour given by the Government of West Bengal to a musician.

Style

One of the best equipped musicians to carry on the great Senia Maihar mantle, Tejendra combines the intellectual density and technical virtuosity of his gharana, with an extraordinary tone, touch and an ambient melody which transcends any qualification. Tejendra’s repertoire combines elements from the Dhrupad, Tantrakari as well as Gayaki styles of music. Above all, he has, in abundant measure, that indescribable ability to take the listeners along with him - the rare quality that is the hallmark of a genius.

Kushal Das

Kushal Das, a north Indian solo Sitar and Surbahar player, was born in an enriched musical family of Kolkata. His grandfather Late Shri Bimal Chandra Das was a renowned ‘Esraj’ player and his father and uncle are both sitarists of high repute. His

father Shri Sailen Das is a disciple of Late Pt. Lakhsman Bhattacharya. Later he became a disciple of Late Pt. Ravi Shankar. His uncle Late Shri Santanu Das is a disciple of Late Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

Kushal started his training from the age of five under the guidance of his uncle and father. Later he received intensive training in advanced sitar techniques and the art of creating music, under the affectionate guidance of Pt. Sanjoy Banerjee. Kushal is also proud of the privilege of having learnt from great musicians like Late Pt. Ajoy Sinha Roy (a disciple of Ustad Allauddin Khan), and taken vocal lessons from Late Pt. Manas Chakraborty and Late Pt. Ramkrishna Basu.

With a profound knowledge of music and raga improvisation Kushal is now considered to be one of the foremost torchbearers of the tradition of Indian Classical Instrumental Music. His concerts are always marked by their aesthetic appeal and insight with a fine command of technical expertise.