Kunwar Shyam Gharana

[MAUSAM]

I got to know recently of this gharana and that some of the bandishes in
the gharana are exquisite. The only three singers I know about, of this
gharana, are the Laxman Prasad, Govind Prasad Jaipurwales and a writer
musician Amit Chaudhari. Are there more?

Are there available commercial/private recordings of these artists? Is
someone willing to make an exchange?

Thanks
Mausam

[tatya...@gmail.com]

Mausam,
I got the following email from a person in India. He seems to be from
the Kunwar Shyam Gharana. Read about it.

I am not sure whether you remember me, but I spoke with you briefly on
the telephone when you were in Jaipur, last year. It was with reference
to my Guru, Shri Ashok Kumar, who is a vocalist hailing from the
Goswami/Kunwar Shyam Gharana.

I believe Guruji himself spoke to you later with reference to some
prospective programmes that you intended to hold in Mumbai, in the
month of May, 2006. Guruji would like to communicate with you about
these events and is also keen to meet you when next, you are in India.

As he does not have computer facilities, he has authorised me to
maintain correspondence with you on his behalf, via my email id.

I hope to hear from you soon.

With best wishes,

Vir Dasmahapatra

PS. Below is a write-up on Guruji, prepared by myself; it sheds some
light on his musical heritage.

Shri Ashok Kumar an exponent of Indian Classical Music

Shri Ashok Kumar was born in 1959, in Nasik, Maharashtra. His father
was an exponent of pravachan (spiritual discourse) and thus he was
nurtured in a deeply spiritual environment. An important part of his
early years was the music that his father inculcated in his work and
that was a part of life in his hometown. Further, as a child he was
always drawn inextricably to any musical experience. This set the
foundation for his devotion to Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet.

As life took him ahead, his family moved to Mumbai where he had the
opportunity to obtain musical training from some of the greatest
maestros of the time. Foremost amongst these was the Late Pandit
Lakshmanprasad Jaipurwale ( Guni Gandharva ) who is a legend in music
circles today. He was instrumental in bringing Kumarji into the fold of
the Goswami Gharana of Khayal singing. Kumarji spent many happy years
under his tutelage and imbibed the rare and difficult musical
techniques that are the hallmark of this school of music. With Pt.
Jaipurwale s demise, Kumarji had the good fortune of being taught by
the renowned Pt. Jasraj of the Mewati Gharana. His knowledge of music
thus stems from such great sources of wisdom, to whose inputs he has
also added elements born of his own creativity. Apart from Khayal he
also sings Thumris, Dadra, Bhajans, Tappa and Ghazals with rare
virtuosity.

His expertise also extends to the realm of percussion, where his
training was under two great Tabla Nawazs , the late Ustad Nizamuddin
Khan and Pt. Giridhar Prasad. His vast experience in the areas of
swara (melody) and taala (rhythm) makes him a formidable talent in
the world of classical music today.

Kumarji s life is a study in devotion to the cause of serving and
propagating music to the best of his ability. A standing testament to
this is the sizeable number of students that he has trained in either
music or tabla. These students join with him to arrange quarterly
programmes where they perform individually, the various ragas and
taalas that they have learned from him. Anybody is allowed free entry
to the programmes as their aim is to spread the joy of music in
society.

Kumarji has also researched some uncommon musical techniques that he
incorporates in his gayaki (form of singing), such as various types and
moods of alaapchaari (the exploration of a raga), the use of a numerous
variations of taans (swift melodic patterns), gamaks (vibratory
ornaments) and meends (glides between notes). True to the norm of his
Gharana, he is also fond of singing in uncommon taalas and creating
complex patterns of Layakari (rhythmic improvisation) as a part of his
Gaikee. Rare, deeply emotional and clearly pronounced bandishes
(lyrical compositions) are another speciality of his singing. These
elements come together to make his form of music a unique experience
for the novice and the connoisseur alike.

A recent and extremely challenging project that Kumarji has undertaken
is in the field of the therapeutic application of Indian Classical
Music. Using his profound understanding of this system of music, and
his prolific knowledge of Ayurvedic principles, Kumarji has begun
working with some well-known medical practitioners in order to provide
music based treatments i.e. music therapy to patients, as
supportive treatments administered alongside conventional medical
treatment. His enthusiasm and dedication to this application of music
have been instrumental in some highly encouraging results in both
psychological and physiological recuperation of individuals with a
variety of ailments.

Kumarji s future aims are to take music to the masses and ensure that
our heritage reaches all homes in some form or the other. Although a
purist as performer, he is by no means averse to the other forms of
music that are in the country and hopes to be able to blend classical
music with them. He also hopes to take our music to other nations
through live performances and the establishment of schools of music.

[MAUSAM]

Thanks Adwait for the info. Where is Shri Ashok Kumar based in?

Mausam

[tatya...@gmail.com]

I think somewhere in Mumbai I am not sure. He was after me to do his
programs. I dont him to send me a sample audio CD but he never did :).
Adwait

[meno...@gmail.com]

I understand that this post is from very long ago. However, as a student of Pt. Ashok Kumar, I would like to take some initiative in bringing his style of singing to the public. Please contact me at meno...@gmail.com. I would greatly appreciate any help in getting Guruji to the stage.

[manharsa...@gmail.com]

I am Vikram Parikh, i manage My Guruji Pt Murli Manohar Shuka's Digital Footprints. Pandit Murli Manohar Shukla is student of Pandit Lakshmanprasad Jaipurwale and he can be reached at www.manharsangeet.com/home.html.
Please contact for any query, Thanks.