Mumbais National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) has lined up interesting music-based programmes in August.The first to kick off will be Shyam Rang,a Hindustani Music Festival on July 5 and 6. Supported by Krishnakumar M. Daiya Charitable Trust,it is topical as Janmashtami is approaching. This is a two-day festival of light music celebrating the legend of Krishna. Indian music has a treasury of compositions dedicated to the exploits of Krishna,the cowherd and prankster,as also the spiritual and philosophical thoughts associated with his divine love.Sanjeev Abhyankar presented pad,bhajan and allied songs,from the literature of saint-poets of the Vaishnav and Bhakti sects on August 5,while Kaushiki Chakraborty Desikan,daughter and disciple of Ajoy Chakraborty of Patiala Gharana,will present a special selection of khayal,thumri,bandish ki thumri,dadra and kajri compositions associated with Krishna that are notable for their literary content and poignant devotional flavour. In Young Talent,Dhruva Seshadri and Vineet George Panikkar (both on Piano) will present a Western Music Recital on August 13 in collaboration with the Stop-Gaps Cultural Academy. Dhruva Seshadri started learning Carnatic music on the violin at age 8 and western music on the piano at age 10. Vineet George Panikkar started out learning the mridangam at the age of 7. He studied piano and has learnt under several master pianists.The programme will include works by Schumann,Grieg,Faure and others. Under the Umang Series that is about the Promotion of Promising Artistes,Jayesh Rege (tabla) and Salma Ghosh (dhrupad) also present a Hindustani Music Recital on August 13.Jayesh is one of the senior-most disciples of tabla and pakhawaj maestro Pt. Sadanand Naimpalli of the Farukkabad Gharana. Salma Ghosh is a talented singer with extensive training in khayal,dhrupad and lighter genres. A Western Music Concert of semi-classical,light and seasonal music by the B. P. Salon Orchestra will be presented on August 15,conducted by Parvez Doctor and hosted by Khursheed Wadia. The programme will include Waves of the Danube,medley from Hans Christian Andersen,marches,tangos and sing-along items.Dmitri Ivanov (Violin) and Svjatoslav Presnyakov (Piano) will present a Western Music Recital on August 17. In Sangit Chintan: Musical Reflections,one of NCPAs educational initiatives that aims to bring together eminent artistes,scholars,connoisseurs and students of music to enable knowledge-sharing and analysis of different aspects of Indian music as it is practiced today,compositions based on the Malhar group of raags will be presented by Mashkoor Ali Khan on August 20. The Malhar raags family are especially associated with the rainy season. Even the song texts are replete with vivid descriptions of the rains. The raags include Miyan Ki Malhar,Megh Malhar,Sur Malhar,Ramdasi Malhar,Mira Malhar,Jayant Malhar and others. A Concert For Tranquility will be present by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia with his bansuri recital on August 24. The show is supported by the Khanna family in memory of Kiran Khanna, who tragically died in a violent robbery attack. The Khanna family commissions one concert per year. Each concert features one of the worlds greatest musicians,selected singularly for their noble abilities to replace violence in the world with tranquility. In the Music Mirror: Documentary Films On Music series,Mani Kauls Dhrupad,a 70-minute documentary,will be shown on August 27. Dhrupad is the oldest of todays vocal genres of Hindustani classical music. This documentary offers insight into Dagarbani,one of the four styles (bani) of dhrupad. It includes performances and explanations by Zia Moiuddin (1929-1990) and Zia Fariddudin Dagar. The documentary also offers a rare glimpse in to the world of one of the most revered instruments,the Rudra Veena. Diane Witherspoon In Concert will present jazz in support of the BSPCA on August 28. International Jazz & Blues singer,composer and producer Diane Witherspoon will perform in India for the first time. MusiKi: Music for Kids - Flora and Fauna in Music and Art,a two-day Indian Classical Music Workshop for Children (8 -12 years only) will be held on August 27 and 28. MusiKi was conceived last year by well-known vocalist,Mala Ramadorai,to engage young children in small workshops that enable them to enjoy Indian classical music. The Bombay Chamber Orchestra will have a Western Music Concert with Guest Conductor Ernst Hoetzl and soloists Pawel Sobowiec (Piano) and Krzysztof Trzaskowski (Piano) om August 29 supported by the Consul-General for the Federal Republic of Poland.
