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Musical Ecologies
Nature as a World of Emotion in Hindustani Music
Performers
What is nature? Though it is a term used so ubiquitously, its meaning has been debated and questioned, changing with each era. While trees, animals and the planets are considered natural elements, it is the human relationship to nature that concerns us the most. Aren’t humans too part of nature, rather than external to it? What is the relationship between humans and nature? Is it merely utilitarian, or is there hope that can it be something more?
Musical Ecologies is an exploration of how music and art can answer such questions for us, by showing us how to experience nature as a world of emotion. Hindustani music has a long tradition of celebrating natural beauty and seasons. These compositions capture the subjective human response to nature, locating humans very much inside the natural ecosystem as co-habitants. Perhaps by relating to nature on its own terms rather than from a position of control or exploitation, we can contemplate a symbiotic model of living for the future.
Hindustani vocalist Priya Purushothaman presents bandishes and raags that celebrate the environment and its rich ecosystems, interspersed with commentary addressing these philosophical questions, suggesting a way of bringing together environmental consciousness and music.
The session will also include readings and a discussion with Musician, Playwright and Social Justice Worker Rumi Harish.
In collaboration with:
Supported by:
Performers
Priya Purushothaman
Priya Purushothaman is a Hindustani vocalist of the Agra gharana, trained under Vidushi Aditi Upadhya, Pandit Sudhindra Bhaumik, and Agra gharana stalwart Pandit Dinkar Kaikini. Over the last 20 years, she has established herself as a leading voice of the next generation of young vocalists, performing at reputed venues around the world. She has been featured at the Barbican Centre, London; Bimhhuis, Amsterdam; Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concert Series, NY; National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai; Kalakshetra, Chennai; Gharana NextGen Festival, Mumbai; among many others.
As an educator, she runs a global private teaching studio in-person and online, where she utilizes a contemporary approach to relating to learners of different generations. She has been invited as a guest at leading institutions including Codarts, Rotterdam; Utrecht Conservatory, Utrecht; Syracuse University; Society for Arts and Cultural Heritage, California; to name a few.
Her work in music extends to other creative realms. She is the author of the book, Living Music: Conversation with Pandit Dinkar Kaikini and the creator of the educational children’s podcast, Music & Masti.
Vyasmurti Katti
Shri. Vyasmurti Katti, born and brought up in Solapur, was initiated into music at a very young age by his sisters. Later he went on to take systematic training in harmonium under the able guidance of Late Pt. Ramacharya Bagewadi of Solapur. Presently he is learning vocal music under the expert tutelage of Pt. Indudhar Nirody, a very senior exponent of the Agra Gayaki.
Shri. Katti is a much sought after harmonium player and has accompanied eminent artistes like Dr. Gangubai Hangal, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Ramrao Naik, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, Yashawantbua Joshi, Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Indudhar Nirody, Ustad Rashid Khan, Smt.Vasundhara Komkali, Begum Parween Sultana, Smt. Lalith Rao, Smt. Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Smt. Padma Talwalkar, Dr. Ashwini Bhide and others. He has also given harmonium solo concerts at prestigious Sabhas. Shri.Katti has given vocal performances at Pt. Kumar Gandharv Sangeet Sammelan Belgaum, Parampara- at Rajguru Smriti, Rama Shakti Mission Mangalore, Bangalore Sangeet Sabha, Hindustani Sangeet Kalakar Mandali, Sapthak, Shruthi, etc. and has won the appreciation of the learned audience.
Shri. Katti has toured and given several performances in India and has visited countries like USA, Canada, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Ireland, Newzealand, UK, Italy, Singapore and Oman to give concerts with eminent artistes like padmabhushan pt. Rajan Mishra and pt. Sajan Mishra, vidushi Lalith Rao, vidushi Veena Sahasrabuddhe, vidushi Koushiki Chakravarthy Desikan, pt. Ganapati Bhat, Pt. Parameshwar Hegde and others. Shri. Katti, being an Electronics Engineer (B.E.-Electronics), has given up a career in IT to pursue music full time. He lives in Bangalore.
Swapnil Satish Bhise
Swapnil Satish Bhise is a promising Tabla player in Hindustani Classical Music. He began learning at age three from Sadguru Shri Chandrakant Bhosekar. Later, he trained under Shri Praveen Karkare (Laliyana and Delhi Gharana) for 10 years and has been studying with Tabla Maestro Pt. Yogesh Samsi for the past 15 years.
Since the age of 12, Swapnil has performed Tabla solo recitals across India at prestigious events like the Saptak Festival (Ahmedabad), Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mohotsav (Pune), and the Shree Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan (Punjab), among others.
In 2023, he earned a ‘B High Grade’ from All India Radio and has received multiple accolades, including the Pt. V. D. Paluskar Award, Pt. Nandan Meheta Award, and a Gold Medal in inter-university competitions. He is also a recipient of the ‘Scholarship to Young Artists’ from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, and the ‘Swarateertha Sudhir Phadke Scholarship.’
Rumi Harish
Rumi Harish is a queer trans man. He has been working in the field of social justice and human rights of various marginalised communities like contract based sanitation workers union, transgenders, queers and sex workers for the last 22 years.
He started learning Hindustani classical music at the age of 8 and learnt under 6 Gurus all over India like Late Pandit Ramarao Naik, Pandit Yeshwant Bua Joshi, Pandit Dattatreya Garud, Pandit Indhudhar Nirody, Panditha Aditi Upadhya and Pandith Sudhindra Bahowmick. He is now going through his voice transition and is trying out a new way of singing and use of voice. He has written 3 plays called Sanchari, Liberty Begum and A Journey A to E, and is a regular columnist in EEdina.com.
He had focused on crisis intervention and worked with Sunil Mohan for 18 years. Along with Sunil Mohan he has written articles and reports. Presently he is focusing on developing the regional cultural aspects of queer and trans communities.
Jaunpuri Khayal is his autobiography.
