Bari Siddiqui played North Indian Classical Music with flute and sang Baul songs as well. To add to his versatile quality, he composed and directed music, wrote lyrics and was a vocalist as well. Bari started to sing in 2000, with the award winning album of Shrabon Megher Din. His unique contribution in the music of folk fusion is originated from the sub-continental classical music. With the authentic background in music and originality of his voice quality, Bari created his own genre.
Bari came from a family of musicians. His formal vocal training began at the age of 12 under Gopal Dutta of Netrokona. His career took flight in 1981, when he was taken under the wings of Ustad Aminur Rahman, direct disciple of Pandit Panna Lal Ghosh (1911- 1960) and Dabir Khan (Beenkar). Ustad Aminur Rahman spotted Bari during a concert, and offered to tutor him. For the next six years Bari trained under Rahman.
Ustad Aminur Rahman’s house was frequented by the contemporary legends like Devendra Muddereshshor, Director All India Radio (also the son in-law of Pandit Panna Lal Ghosh), VG Kannad, Daagar Brothers, Ustad Zia Mohiuddin (Veenakar), Ustad Asad Ali Kha Veenakar, Pandit Sriram Tewari. After Aminur Rahma, Bari continued to take special training on Alap from Tawfique Nawaz, second son of Ustad Aminur Rahman.
At one stage, Bari went to Pune and got professional tutelage under Pandit VG Karnad. For many years to come, Bari, being in an environment surrounded by musical maestros, kept his search for his own true self and to achieve newer heights of infinite journey of music.
This passion of Bari for around 4 decades extended his reputation beyond Bangladesh. He performed and conducted workshops in France, Switzerland, Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran, Singapore, Austria, Australia, China and USA. He was the only participant invited from the whole Indian subcontinent in the World Flute Conference held in Geneva in 1999.
According to Bari, the difference between Indian and European music is that Indian music comes from silence whereas the European music comes from sound.
Bari maintained that the Indian way is more melodious with the Miir (the sweet curves and filigree works) and more natural with the typical natural bamboo flute. As of his Gurus, he believed in praying through his tunes and devoted all his creation to eternity.
Bari Siddiqui died in Dhaka on November 17, 2017.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
