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About Hemant 1970
Review This was sitar playing of the most poetic, technically dazzling sort imaginable. -- The New York Times on a 1978 NYC concert: Product Description Padmabhushan Nikhil Banerjee (1931-1986) was undoubtedly one of the finest sitarists of his time. His music earned deep respect among India's classical music connoisseurs as well as gaining him a devoted international following. He was the disciple of the two greatest forces in 20th Century Indian classical instrumental music, Padmavibhushan Allauddin Khan and his son Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Though he recorded a number of LPs, few were of live concerts, in which his leisurely, majestic raga development was unsurpassed. Mr. Banerjee disliked being recorded, feeling that the process distracted and somewhat compromised the inner meditative quality of his music, so high-fidelity live recordings are rare. Raga Records is releasing a series of concert recordings to help preserve Mr. Banerjee's legacy. Legendary tabla player Kanai Dutta began to study as a child under Satish Das. Later he was a student of the noted Calcutta teacher Jnan Ghosh for over ten years. He first travelled to the West with Ravi Shankar in 1955. He recorded a number of LPs with Mr. Banerjee for EMI India. Rag Hemant, an evening raga also associated with spring, was created by Allauddin Khan and was often played by Mr. Banerjee. From the Artist Extract from booklet essay by Nikhil Banerjee, "Indian Classical Music in the Western World": My sojourn to different countries on cultural missions actually started about 15 years ago, when I used to go abroad for shorter trips. But it was absolutely different when a few years ago I was invited by the American Society of Eastern Arts in California to teach Indian classical music under the direction of my Guru's son and Guru Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. I accepted the invitation amidst doubts and hesitations. How would our ancient and traditionally rich music be taken by the most sophisticated materialistic-minded modern people of America? Would they be able to show it due respect? Disturbed with such questions, I went to my revered Guru Ustad Allauddin Khan in Maihar for the solutions, and also to receive blessings from him. He was the first real musician to take the message of our music to the world outside. He gave his blessings and said, "Whatever you have learned and achieved it is for the service of mankind. You must render with all sincerity the richness and the spirit of our music to everyone, irrespective of any caste, creed, religion or nationality. This is the only way you can really serve your country and your music as well." About the Artist Padmabhushan Nikhil Banerjee (1931-1986) was undoubtedly one of the finest sitarists of his time. His music earned deep respect among India's classical music connoisseurs as well as gaining him a devoted international following. He was the disciple of the two greatest forces in 20th Century Indian classical instrumental music, Padmavibhushan Allauddin Khan and his son Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Though he recorded a number of LPs, few were of live concerts, in which his leisurely, majestic raga development was unsurpassed. Mr. Banerjee disliked being recorded, feeling that the process distracted and somewhat compromised the inner meditative quality of his music, so high-fidelity live recordings are rare. Raga Records is releasing a series of concert recordings to help preserve Mr. Banerjee's legacy. Legendary tabla player Kanai Dutta began to study as a child under Satish Das. Later he was a student of the noted Calcutta teacher Jnan Ghosh for over ten years. He first travelled to the West with Ravi Shankar in 1955. He recorded a number of LPs with Mr. Banerjee for EMI India.
