Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi passed away last week.
I have heard many a rendition of Maru Bihag, by many artists. Most of them were very good renditions, but for me the standard of Maru Bihag is set by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi-ji's creation of that raga.
Dhani is another raga which no other artist has sung the way Panditji has, according to me.
Darbari, Todi, Marva, Miya's Malhar, Shudh Kallyan, Bihag, Bhairav, Jaunpuri, ...practically everything that I have heard of Panditji's gayaki was monumental. It was robust, sturdy music. It had depth and length and in every little space along the entire length were little shrines of beauty - like ancient pathways in India. One felt prayerful after listening to Panditji's music.
In his prime Panditji's taan was impossibly complex. There was the main taan and within it Panditji sang two more taans! His was a lusty, full throated and candid voice.
I read in Bhimsen Joshi community on facebook a comment by someone, praying for his recovery. Two days later I got news of his demise.
The Bihag he sang at the opening of Hotel Sayaji (a friend reminded me of the name) near Kala Ghoda in Baroda was amazingly beautiful. I remember it quite clearly. The chota in teentaal 'lata ulazhe sulaza ja balama' was sung most delightfully by Pandit-ji.
Of late he had stopped singing, Yashoda, his grand daughter had told me. "After my grandmother passed away he lost interest", was what she said, not so long ago.
I imagine that as Pandit-ji is passing heavenwards, the gandharvas are giving him a standing ovation on both sides of that celestial path.
Long live Panditji.
I have heard many a rendition of Maru Bihag, by many artists. Most of them were very good renditions, but for me the standard of Maru Bihag is set by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi-ji's creation of that raga.
Dhani is another raga which no other artist has sung the way Panditji has, according to me.
Darbari, Todi, Marva, Miya's Malhar, Shudh Kallyan, Bihag, Bhairav, Jaunpuri, ...practically everything that I have heard of Panditji's gayaki was monumental. It was robust, sturdy music. It had depth and length and in every little space along the entire length were little shrines of beauty - like ancient pathways in India. One felt prayerful after listening to Panditji's music.
In his prime Panditji's taan was impossibly complex. There was the main taan and within it Panditji sang two more taans! His was a lusty, full throated and candid voice.
I read in Bhimsen Joshi community on facebook a comment by someone, praying for his recovery. Two days later I got news of his demise.
The Bihag he sang at the opening of Hotel Sayaji (a friend reminded me of the name) near Kala Ghoda in Baroda was amazingly beautiful. I remember it quite clearly. The chota in teentaal 'lata ulazhe sulaza ja balama' was sung most delightfully by Pandit-ji.
Of late he had stopped singing, Yashoda, his grand daughter had told me. "After my grandmother passed away he lost interest", was what she said, not so long ago.
I imagine that as Pandit-ji is passing heavenwards, the gandharvas are giving him a standing ovation on both sides of that celestial path.
Long live Panditji.
