A Dhrupad (Indian classical music)
Concert for Peace and Harmony
To Benefit The Tibet Center
WASIFUDDIN DAGAR
Vocal
MOHAN SHYAM SHARMA
Pakhawaj
Friday June 13, 2008 7:30pm
@ Assembly Hall
Community Church of New York
40 East 35 Street
New York, NY 10016
Tickets $25.00
$20.00 {students & Tibet Center members}
Tickets can be purchased by calling 718.222.0007
or @ The Tibet Center - 25 Washington Street, Suite 304 Brooklyn, NY 11201
Dhrupad is the most ancient form of Indian classical music. It evolved from recitations of the Sam Veda - the Sam gaan - prayer chants that also transmitted the holy text to the next generation. Dhrupad has a well defined structural arrangement. The recitation begins with the alap – a meditative rendering of the melody without accompaniment from a percussion instrument. The alap gives the artist ample opportunity to improvise. Only a tanpura provides support to the dhrupadiya during the alap. It is followed by the dhrupad. The dhrupad is a prayer sung with rhythmic accompaniment from a pakhawaj. The pakhawaj is a two headed drum with a deep mellow sound, more suitable for the meditative nature of the dhrupad than the tabla which accompanies the khayal.
The Dagar family has dedicated themselves to the preservation of the dhrupad form. The dagarvani dhrupad has traditionally been performed as a Jugalbandi (duet). This traditional rendering of dhrupad preserves the emotional appeal while adding the richness of intricate rhythmic patterns and spontaneity. Young vocalist Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar continues this 20 generation unbroken tradition of the Dagar family. He is the nephew of Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar and son of Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar, the legendary younger “Dagar Brothers”. After continuing the jugalbandi tradition with his uncle till his demise in 1994, Wasif (shorted form of his name) has successfully presented the dynamic of a duet in a solo performance by maintaining the distinct musical approaches and styles of both his father and uncle. His innovative alap notes are spacious and colorful, ranging across the three octaves delineating the personality of the raga in great clarity. Over the years he has developed subtle variations and improvisations by modulation of volume and sound application to present many shades of the same musical phrase. The composite effect of his dhrupad rendition remains traditional, merging techniques and styles of both his teachers. His is very popular with young listeners for his lively lecture demonstrations illustrating old Vedic technicalities through metaphors from daily life. Wasif has a number of recordings on cassettes and CDs including a five CD collection (Jecklin Musichaus).
He is accompanied by Mohan Shyam Sharma, one of the leading pakhawaj masters in India. He has accompanied leading vocal and instrumental masters and appeared in concerts across Europe, and the United States. He has been performing with Wasif for several years.
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The Center for Technology, Innovation and Community Engagement at Columbia University and The Tibet Center present
LIVING PEACE: SPIRITUAL APPROACHES TO ACHIEVING INNER PEACE
Columbia University , June 2, 9, 16, 23
The Tibet Center , June 5, 18, 19, 26
LIVING PEACE is a series of seminars and workshops where teachers and leaders of different faith backgrounds will present their respective techniques for realizing inner peace.
We believe that if each individual accomplishes inner peace, we can then take small steps towards achieving global peace. Cultivating a sense of peace internally, at every level of our social structure-within the community, within the family, within the self-is essential for the achievement of world peace.
Living Peace seeks to offer the New York City community practical exposure to different ways of achieving and maintaining inner peace, and promoting awareness of the importance of this state.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Columbia University -- John Jay Hall
Mondays: 6:30-8 p.m.
June 2: Welcome: Robert Pollack; Workshop: Rev. Eugene Callender (Christianity)
June 9: T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki (Jodo Shinshu Buddhism)
June 16: Rabbi David Almog (Judaism)
June 23: Welcome: Peter Awn; Workshop: Sheikha Fariha Al-Jerrahi (Sufism)
The Tibet Center
Wednesday & Thursdays: 6:30-8 p.m.
June 5: Ibrahim Ramey (Islam)
June 18: Robert Thurman (Tibetan Buddhism)
June 19: Uma Mysorekar (Hinduism)
June 26: Rabbi Jeffrey Hoffman (Judaism)
These lectures are free and open to all.
DIRECTIONS
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY is located at 116th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.
By Subway: Take the #1 Train to 116th St.
THE TIBET CENTER is located at 25 Washington Street, Suite 304, in Brooklyn.
By Subway: Take the F train to York St or C train to High St.
By Car: Take I-278 to Cadman Plaza (Exit 28).
For more information, please contact LM2500@COLUMBIA.EDU or dsmith@thetibetcenter.org
ph718.222.0007
The Tibet Center's regular schedule...
Mondays 7pm
Beginners Buddhism class. Basic concepts and precepts of Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy.
Tuesdays 7pm
Meditation and advanced Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy.
Saturday 2pm to 4pm
White Tara Meditation
Monday - Friday
Open Meditation 2pm - 7pm.