Toronto, Canada – The Small World Music Sixth Annual South Asian Music Series continues with the Gundecha Brothers, India’s leading performers of the ancient classical style of Dhrupad. The performance will take place Saturday, May 24, at 8 pm at Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W.
Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha are India’s leading exponents of the Dhrupad style, the spiritual heart of Indian classical music. These dedicated and immensely talented artists have helped to maintain this ancient and profound tradition, a musical legacy which freshly resonates today amongst yoga and meditation enthusiasts, as well as classical music fans.
About the Dhrupad style:Patronized over six centuries ago by the royal Indian courts and highly sophisticated audiences of the time, Dhrupad is the most ancient style of Hindustani classical music that has survived to the present day, in its original form. The Dhrupad tradition is a major heritage of Indian culture. Spiritual in nature, it does not seek to entertain, but to induce feelings of peace and contemplation in the listener. One significant characteristic of Dhrupad is the emphasis on maintaining purity of the Ragas and the Swaras.
The word Dhrupad is derived from Dhruva, the steadfast evening star that moves through our galaxy, and Pada, meaning poetry. It is a form of devotional music that traces its origin to the ancient text of Sam Veda. The Sam Veda was chanted with the help of melody and rhythm called Samgana. Gradually this developed into other vocal styles called “Chhanda” and “Prabandha “with introduction of verse and meter. The fusion of these two elements led to the emergence of Dhrupad.
The Gundecha Brothers have sung great Hindi poetry by Tulsidas, Kabir, Padmakar, and Nirala in Dhrupad style. They have numerous recordings on H.M.V, Music Today, Rhythm House, Senseworld Music, Sundaram Records, IPPNW Concerts Berlin, Navras and Audio Rec London. They have sung for many television channels in India and have been broadcast on British, American, German, French, Japanese and Australian Radio. As well as being an integral part of all of India’s most prestigious music festivals, the Gundecha Brothers have performed at many important international festivals and institutions in Europe, the U.S., Australia, Japan and Hong Kong.
Tickets: $25 advance at Harbourfront Centre Box Office
(416) 973-4000 / $30 door
Buy the CDs:
- In North America:
Tears on a Lotus, Sattva, Darshan, Bhaktamar Stotra, Durga kavach with English narration, and Dhrupad Vocal Recital
- In Europe: Bhaktamar Stotra, Tears on a Lotus, Sattva, Dhrupad Recital, Darshan, and Ancestral Voices
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
