Shyam Sundar Goswami

Pandit Shyam Sundar Goswami

Pandit Shyam Sundar Goswami
Background information
Birth name Shyam Sundar Goswami
Genres Hindustani classical music
Occupation(s) Vocalist
Years active 2000 – present
Website Pandit Shyam Sundar Goswami: Google Sites

Pandit Shyam Sundar Goswami (Bengali: শ্যাম সুন্দর গোস্বামী) is an Indian classical vocalist who has secured a distinguished position in the domain of Hindustani classical music.[1]

Prior to the Mughal era, his forefathers have continued to be the votary of music. His ancestor named Banikantha was blessed with the idol of Madan Mohan and used to sing in front of the idol. It is said that his family was not only the religious guru of king Shashanka, but also used to sing in the king's court. His family, since the Mughal era, has made efforts to track out God and his spirits through music.

Although trained in Kirana Gharana,[1][2] he has blended his family's own traditional style of recital, which was kept alive by his mother, Srimati Maya Goswami, with the gharana and has introduced a new style of rendering khayals, in which there is a serene devotion to God.

Early life

Goswami was born to Pravupada Dwijendranath Goswami who was also his religious guru and a Sanskrit scholar. On the other hand, his father was also an exponent of music and sculpture. Goswami received his first training from his mother, Srimati Maya Goswami. Then he was trained under the tutelage of Pandit Jadunath Chakraborty and Guru Madan Mohan Thakur.[2] He studied Indian classical music at Rabindra Bharati University, from where he got an Honours degree in Hindustani classical music. Later on, he successfully achieved the M.A. degree in khayal from there. He is a master of khayals, thumris and bhajans[1]

Singing Style

Pandit Shyam Sundar Goswami performing at Sovabazar Rajbari in 2014

Goswami has introduced a new style of rendition of khayals through an assemblage of the Kirana style and his family's own style.

In music, Goswami traces a Utopian spirituality which, under the veneer of seemingly artistic temperament, reveals his mastery of the most intricate art form influenced by ecstatic reverberation of philosophical reflections on music.[3] His manner of interpreting khayals is imbued with great depth and spirituality emanating from his knowledge and research into the roots of this ancient courtly style.[2] He stresses more on vistaar than on taan, yet showing equal brilliance in both. According to him, first comes sur and then comes swara.

He is continuing the preaching of various old ragas among the people which are, at large, extinct. He is also trying to revive the ragas, taals and the style of singing of Jayadeva's Geet Govind of the 12th century. For continuing his research, he got a scholarship from the French Government and worked at La Cite Internationale Das Arts in Paris with other musicians.[3]

Career

Goswami performing at the Fes Festival in 2013

Goswami has performed at several Indian cities as well as in other parts of the world. His voice has enthralled the old Rajbaris, ancient temples, historical places and churches. He performed at the Chhatubabu Latubabu Rajbari and Sovabajar Rajbari in 2004. In July 2004, he performed at a special concert at Ruby Palchowdhury's house in memory of his guru Prabhas Sen of Shantiniketan. He was invited twice by Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi— once at the Flag Staff House in Barrackpore in 2006 and at Governor House in 2008. He also performed at the Mother House on August 26, 2007 in memory of Mother Teresa. He also performed at St. Xavier's College in memory of Babu Beckers SJ in February, 2006. In the year 2000, he performed at the 'Biswa Bango Sammelan'. He has also performed at Rabindra Sadan and the I.C.C.R. Auditorium.

Goswami has not only performed in India, but has also delivered his voice's serenity to several European countries in numerous classical concerts. Remarkable among those are the concerts at the Festival de Musique sacree de Champeaux en Seine et Marne in 2004, at Lausanne Pully, Switzerland, at the Institute du Monde Arabe, Paris on June 5th, 2009, at Mandapa Centre in Paris, at Marolles Brie (Seine et Marne), at Rennes, at La Radio du Tessin, Lugano, at Fes Festival in 2013[4] and at several other countries of Europe, including Belgium, Italy and Switzerland. Apart from Europe, he has performed at Morocco, South Africa.[1][5]

He was called a "jewel" by late artist Prabhas Sen of Shantiniketan. The first CD album of Goswami, named "Peace and Harmony" was released by the eminent artist Shanu Lahiri on 24th April, 2006.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Pandit Shyam Sundar Goswami: Biography". Retrieved 2016-03-27.
  2. 1 2 3 "Pandit Shyam Sundar Goswami (khyal)- Fes Festival". Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  3. 1 2 3 "Pandit Shyam Sundar Goswami: Google Sites". Retrieved 2016-03-27. The Google Site of Pt. Shyam Sundar Goswami
  4. ↑ Suzanna Clarke (2016-04-29). "Indian Presence will continue at the Fes Festival". The American Bazaar. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  5. ↑ "Pandit Shyam Sundar Goswami-Concerts: Google Sites". Retrieved 2016-03-27.
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