Pandit Bhajan Sopori - Santoor Maestro - Raga Saraswati - Part - 2/6

Pandit Bhajan Sopori is more than an individual a performer and composer par excellence, musicologist, teacher, writer, poet, and an extraordinary human being he is a complete institution in himself. Making waves out of his instrument, and regarded as the cultural bridge of the State of Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of the country, Pandit Bhajan Sopori is hailed as the Saint of the Santoor and the King of Strings.

Pandit Bhajan Sopori was born in Kashmir into a family of musicians of the fabled Sufiana Gharana of Kashmir (the exclusive traditional Santoor family of the country). The mystic master is the bearer of a rich musical legacy and was initiated into Santoor playing by his grandfather Pandit S. C. Sopori and later by his father Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori (hailed as the father of music in the State of Jammu and Kashmir).

Pandit Bhajan Sopori, the Legendary Santoor Maestro and Music Composer, has been the pioneer in establishing the Santoor on national and international platforms as a complete solo instrument. The quiet and unassuming maestro has come long way since he created history by being the first person to play the Indian Classical music on the Santoor way back in the early 1950s. In his five decades of dedicated work he has explored various dimensions of the Santoor, carrying out many path-breaking innovations. He has increased the range of the Santoor from the conventional one-and-a-half to more than 3 octaves, balanced the Kalam (strikers) with boles and attached the Tarab and Tumba for enhanced tonal quality, etc. These innovations combined with his strong base in traditional Raga-Sangeet allow for a systematic exposition of the Raga combining both the Gayaki and the Tantrakari Ang (style) in his recitals, demonstrating all the essential stylistic nuances of Hindustani Classical Music such as Meend, Glides, Gamak, Boles, including the 'Dhrupad Ang' with the accompaniment of the Pakhawaj. His recitals are known for their high degree of technical virtuosity combining highly intricate layakari, legendary chhandkari, speedy taan patterns running through three octaves and a melodious alaap. He has thereby expanded the scope of the Santoor as a classical instrument and formally established the Sopori Baaj in the realm of Indian Classical Music for which he is hailed as the Saint of Santoor and the King of Strings. It is also entirely to the credit of the Sopori Family that Hindustani Classical and Light Music acquire legitimate space in the State of J&K.

A highly learned person, Pandit Bhajan Sopori, has a double Masters degree in Indian Classical music, specializing in both the Sitar and the Santoor, besides having a Masters degree in English Literature. He has also studied Western Classical Music at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Santoor
• Pandit
• Bhajan
• Sopori
• Indian
• Classical
• Music
• Tabla
• Sitar
• Harmonium
• Raag