Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival

Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav
Dates Traditionally the second weekend of December
Location(s) New English School Ramanbaug,
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Years active 1953 – present
Founded by Bhimsen Joshi,
Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal
Website
sawaigandharvabhimsenmahotsav.com

The Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav (formerly known as the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav[1] and simply known as Sawai) is an annual Indian Classical music festival held in Pune since 1953. Arguably the largest, most popular, and sought-after Indian Classical music festival in the world, the festival is hosted by the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal (ASPM) and initiated by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi as a memorial music conference commemorating the life and work of Pt. Joshi's guru, Pt. Sawai Gandharva alias Rambhau Kundgolkar, the festival's namesake.

While Pt. Joshi was leading the organization of the festival, performing artists received personal invitations from Pt. Joshi to perform at the festival. With an emphasis on Hindustani Classical Khayal music, instrumentalists, dancers, dhrupadiyas, Bhakti musicians, Ghazal musicians, Qawwaliyas, and Carnatic musicians frequent the concert lineup.

A younger artist's debut performance at the festival connotes their "arrival" and promise to the Classical music scene of India (most recently including Rahul Deshpande, Kaushiki Chakrabarty, and Mahesh Kale).

Since its inception, the festival has grown into a prominent cultural soiree for Pune's musical connoisseurs, featuring the foremost musicians of traditional Indian musical forms.

History

The festival was started in 1953 on a small scale, to commemorate the first death anniversary of Pt. Sawai Gandharva, the acclaimed Hindustani Classical vocalist of the Kirana Gharana.

The festival played a key role in the development of Hindustani Classical music in India's post-independence cultural history. Prior to Indian Independence, Hindustani Classical musicians were supported by monarchs under patronage as court musicians since the beginning of the Mughal Empire. After independence, the political division between India and Pakistan culturally alienated many Hindustani musicians. The newfound Indian Republic resulted in an end to the patronage of musicians. Classical musicians were forced to find new methods of sustaining themselves and their art. Public performances of Classical musicians rose as a result, where the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival played an integral role in establishing a regional audience for Indian Classical music. Within the first several decades following Indian Independence, a great number of music festivals or music conferences were founded in order to provide a platform for Classical musicians to perform.

Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal

Change in leadership

Pt. Bhimsen Joshi was leading the organization of the festival since its beginning until 2002 when his health problems became of concern.[2] Following, Pt. Joshi's youngest son, Shrinivas Joshi, and senior disciple, Shrikant Deshpande, succeeded Pt. Joshi in organizing the music conference.[3] Since Bhimsen Joshi's death in 2011, Shrinivas Joshi and Anand Deshmukh have been leading organizers of the music conference.[4]

Growth

The festival was initiated specifically to showcase performers of the Kirana Gharana and started on a small scale. Gharana-specific music festivals were popular at the time because musicians wanted to commercialize their Gharana style and artists.

Pt. Bhimsen Joshi was instrumental in inviting musicians from varying backgrounds to the festival because of his own appreciation and reverence for diverse approaches to presenting Indian Classical music. By the late 1970s, the festival established itself as a festival that had the fullest representation of the Classical music temperament in India.

As a result, the festival has become an annual event for music connoisseurs worldwide and reinforces the modernity of Indian Classical Music.

Recent years

During the 2014 festival, there was a heavy rain on 13 Dec which lead for the postponement of the festival to 1 January 2015.[5]

Influence of 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic

The 2009 Festival was postponed to January 2010 due to an H1N1 scare in Pune. This was the first instance in festival history of any kind of postponement.[6][7]

Criticism

Recently, many festival regulars have criticized the festival's growing commercial success for causing a decrease in musical quality. Many attribute this to Pt. Bhimsen Joshi's retirement from organizing the festival after 2002. At the 59th festival in 2011, the performances of senior musicians like Utd. Amjad Ali Khan and Dr. Prabha Atre were interrupted due to time restrictions, angering audiences. Many have also criticized the ASPM for inviting fewer musicians of less popularity to perform. The ASPM has also been criticized for not publicly releasing vintage recordings of past festival performances.

Renaming

When Pandit Bhimsen Joshi passed away on 24 - January - 2011, The Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal decided to rename the festival from it's original name ' Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav' to it's new name as ' Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav ' in the honor of the legendary vocalist.[8]

Tradition

The Sawai Gandharva Music Festival is conducted every year in the first two weeks of December over three days. In the past, the festival runs through whole the night and the days used to end in the morning. Later on, when Pune Municipal Corporation set rule to finish the program before 10 pm which leads to change in the schedule of the program. Traditionally, each festival is inaugurated with a tribute honoring Pt. Sawai Gandharva, with a Shehnai musician performing first, in the early morning. During the first two days, programs begin in the late-afternoon and are supposed to officially end by 10 pm. On the third and final day (previously a Saturday, now usually a Sunday), the programme is conducted in two sessions, the first beginning in the early morning continuing until the early afternoon, the second session begins in the early evening and ends at 10 p.m.

Finale performances

It has been tradition that the last, finale performance is presented by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. Since Pt. Joshi's retirement in 2004, other members of the Kirana Gharana have concluded the festival, including Pt. Sangmeshwar Gurav in 2005, leading disciples of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi in 2006. Doyen of Kirana Gharana, eminent vocalist Dr. Prabha Atre has concluded every festival since 2007.

The festival officially concludes with the entire audience and remaining performers listening to the Thumri in Raag Bhairavi recording "Jamuna Ke Teer" by Sawai Gandharva, a tune made famous by and signature of his guru, Utd. Abdul Karim Khan.

List of festivals and performances

The Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal takes the task of recording details of the festival each year. The festival has been recorded in picture, video and audio, some of which is commercially available. Festivals are listed counter-chronologically.

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

List of performing artists

The following musicians have performed at the Sawai Gandharva festival (listed by seniority). The featured musicians have included:

Vocalists

Age Unknown:

  • Pt. Sadashiv Jadhav: debuted in 1962
  • Utd. Niyaz Ahmed & Utd. Faiyaz Ahmed Khan: debuted in 1962
  • Smt. Sudha Divekar: debuted in 1962
  • Dr. V. V. Patankar: debuted in 1960
  • Utd. Mohammed Hussain Khan: debuted in 1962
  • Smt. Vatsalabai Joshi: debuted in 1962
  • Dr. Vasant Shivram "Nanasaheb" Deshpande: debuted in 1953 (inaugural concert)
  • Balsaheb Atre: debuted in 1953 (inaugural concert)
  • Pt. Chandrakant Kapileshwari: debuted in 1962
  • Pralhadbuwa Joshi: debuted in 1954
  • Mr. Kagalkar: debuted in 1955
  • Utd. Mohammed Khan of Afghanistan: debuted in 1957
  • Pt. Ramkrishna Patwardhan: debuted in 1958
  • Smt. Jaimala Shiledar: debuted in 1959
  • Smt. Kusum Shende: debuted in 1964
  • Dattopant Deshpande: debuted in 1964
  • Pt. Vitthalrao Sardeshmukh: debuted in 1964
  • Pt. Jagdish Prasad: debuted in 1964
  • Pt. Rambhau Bhavebuwa: debuted in 1964
  • Utd. Ahmed Hussain Sattar: debuted in 1964
  • Smt. Leela Jalgaonkar: debuted in 1965
  • Smt. Meera Khirwadkar: debuted in 1965
  • Smt. Nirmala Arun: debuted in 1965
  • Smt. Nalini Mulgaokar: debuted in 1965
  • Smt. Kshipra Bose: debuted in 1965
  • Chinmay Lahiri: debuted in 1965

Bansuri

Harmonium (soloists)

  • Pt. Appasaheb Jalgaonkar (born 19??)

Kathak

Age Unknown:

Santoor

Sarod

Shehnai

Age Unknown:

  • Mahadev Lonkar: debuted in 1962
  • Shyamrao Lonkar
  • Baburao Khaladkar: debuted in 1962
  • Baburao Devlankar: debuted in 1962
  • Ramesh Khaladkar: debuted in 1963
  • Prabhashankar Gaikwad: debuted in 1964

Sitar

Tar shehnai

Age Unknown:
  • Madhukar Golvalkar: debuted in 1965

Tabla (soloists)

Age Unknown:

  • Utd. Shamsuddin Khan: debuted in 1962
  • Keshav Joshi: debuted in 1964
  • Kailash Mshra: debuted in 1964

Violin

Age Unknown:

Accompanists

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav renamed – Mumbai – DNA". Dnaindia.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  2. ↑ "Still magical". The Hindu. 31 October 2002. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  3. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva music fest to start from Dec 11 – The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Times News Network. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  4. ↑ "This year on, Sawai will be Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav". Indian Express. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  5. ↑ "Sawai Mahotsav postponed - Sakal Times".
  6. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva festival postponed". The Times of India. 25 October 2009.
  7. ↑ Sawai Gandharva Festival to be held from January Indian Express.
  8. ↑ "Music fest renamed Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav". The Times of India. 19 November 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Deshpande, A. P. (2002), Swarayadnya: Sawai Gandharva Music Festival's Fifty Years, Rajhans Prakashan, pp. 78–79, ISBN 978-81-7434-242-3
  10. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav 1962 Lineup". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  11. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav 1963 Lineup". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  12. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav 1964 Lineup". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  13. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav 1965 Lineup". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  14. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav 1966 Lineup". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  15. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav 1967 Lineup". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  16. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav 1968 Lineup". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  17. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav 1969 Lineup". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  18. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  19. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  20. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  21. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  22. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  23. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  24. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  25. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  26. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  27. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  28. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  29. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. 10 December 1981. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  30. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  31. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  32. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  33. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  34. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  35. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  36. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2010". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  37. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 1989". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  38. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 1990". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  39. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 1991". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  40. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 1992". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  41. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 1993". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  42. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 1994". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  43. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 1995". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  44. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 1996". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  45. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 1996". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. 8 January 1998. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  46. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 1998". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  47. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 1999". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  48. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2000". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  49. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2001–02". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  50. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2002". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. 26 December 2002. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  51. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2003". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  52. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2004". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  53. ↑ "Sawai Gandharva 2005". Sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  54. ↑ http://sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com/2006.html. Retrieved 7 July 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  55. ↑ http://sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com/2007.html. Retrieved 7 July 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  56. ↑ http://sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com/2008.html. Retrieved 7 July 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  57. ↑ http://sawaigandharvasangeetmahotsav.com/2010.html. Retrieved 7 July 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  58. ↑ "Sawai opening day holds music lovers spellbound". The Times of India. 10 December 2010.
  59. ↑ The Times of India http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MAH-PUN-sawai-gandharva-mahotsav-renamed-2575912.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)

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