Hariprasad Chaurasia

Hariprasad Chaurasia

Hariprasad Chaurasia at Bhubaneswar, Orissa
Background information
Born 1 July 1938 (1938-07-01) (age 73)
Origin Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Genres Hindustani classical music
Occupations Composer, flute player
Instruments bansuri
Website hariprasadchaurasia.com

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (born 1 July 1938) is an Indian classical instrumentalist.[1] He is a player of the bansuri, the North Indian bamboo flute. Chaurasia is a classicist who has made a conscious effort to reach out and expand the audience for classical music.

Contents

Early life

Hariprasad Chaurasia was born in Varanasi.[2] His father was a wrestler. His mother died when he was four. He had to learn music without his father's knowledge, for his father wanted him to become a wrestler. He did go to the Akhada and train with his father for some time, although he also started learning music, and practising at his friend's house. He often credits his wrestling training for giving him the immense stamina and lung power that are the hallmarks of his flute playing, stating that,

“ I was not any good at wrestling. I went there only to please my father. But maybe because of the strength and stamina I built up then, I'm able to play the bansuri even to this day. ”

Career

Hariprasad Chaurasia started learning vocal music from his neighbour, Pandit Rajaram at the age of 15. Later, he switched to playing the flute under the tutelage of Pandit Bholanath Prasanna of Varanasi. Much later, while working for All India Radio, he received guidance from the reclusive Annapurna Devi, daughter of Baba Allaudin Khan.

He is considered a rare combination of innovator and traditionalist. He has expanded the expressive possibilities of the bansuri through his masterful blowing technique.

Apart from classical music, he has made a mark as a music director for Indian films along with Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, forming a group called Shiv-Hari. He has also collaborated with various world musicians in experimental cross-cultural performances, including the fusion group Shakti.

He serves as the Artistic Director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory in the Netherlands.

He has collaborated with several western musicians, including John McLaughlin and Jan Garbarek, and has also composed music for a number of Indian films. He has performed throughout the world, winning acclaim from varied audiences and fellow musicians including Yehudi Menuhin and Jean-Pierre Rampal.

Personal life

Chaurasia is married to Anuradha, a classical vocalist.[3] They have a son Rajiv.[4]

Awards

Honours

Books

Discography

These are major albums released by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, categorized by release dates.2

1967

1978

1981

1984

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2003

Albums (release year unknown)

With Zakir Hussain

Music for Bollywood films

Along with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma he composed music for

Music for Telugu Films

The music for the movie Sirivennela is composed by K. V. Mahadevan which revolves around the role of Pandit Hari Prasad, a blind flautist played by Sarvadaman Banerjee and flute renditions by Hariprasad Chaurasia.[8]

Music for English Films

Some of his music is used in Mithaq Kazimi's 16 Days in Afghanistan.

References

  1. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/parties/hyderabad/Hariprasad-Chaurasia-performs-in-Hyderabad/articleshow/5056274.cms
  2. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4923670.cms
  3. ^ http://www.india-today.com/itoday/06071998/arts2.html
  4. ^ http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032258300200.htm
  5. ^ http://hariprasadchaurasia.com/biography.htm
  6. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/music/news-and-interviews/French-honour-for-flutist-Chaurasia/articleshow/6907170.cms
  7. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/music/news-and-interviews/Playing-flute-like-practising-yoga/articleshow/6906123.cms
  8. ^ http://listing-index.ebay.com/movies/Sirivennela.html

External links