What attracts musicians to Goa in September?

Come September, and for Shaunak Abhisheki, his father and guru Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki’s birth anniversary (21st September is his 93rd anniversary) with a concert. One of the most prolific and popular composer-composers of our times, Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki has left behind not only worthy disciples who have kept his cherished style alive but also a wealth of rich compositions.

From veteran Pt. Prabhakar Karekar to Devaki Pandit, he trained many students in the Guru-Shishya tradition and for free. “He put us through a tough regime. We woke up at 3.45 a.m. in the kharaj (lower octave) to the voice of our father’s riyaz,” recalls Shaunak, whose mother made him realize the importance of his musical legacy.

The family bond with Goa is strong; His ancestral home is Mangeshi. Traditionally priests, they were entitled to consecrate at the Shiva temple there, and were thus given the revered ‘abhishek’.

Initially, Shaunak taught his father’s students, Pt. Raja Kale, Pt. Sudhakar Devle. “He taught me many bands by heart. Until the age of 10, I didn’t know what ragas were, but I knew compositions. After that I took training from Kamal Tambe, a senior student of Mogubai Kurdikar, who solidified my foundation. At that time, my father used to travel more than 20 days a month. When I was 15 years old, I started learning from my father and also traveled with him.”

The sense of proportion is admired in Shaunak’s singing. At a concert in Delhi, he enthralled the audience with several rare ragas. “When I used to learn a raga, my father used to tell me to whom I should sing it. I remember that after learning Abhogi he gave me versions of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and Ustad Aamir Khan. He taught me to be honest to my music. His advice comes beautifully in this song: ‘Kahat man rang, aap range bina, kaise range koi’ (If you don’t immerse yourself in the color of music, how can you make the audience experience it?)

Recalling his training, Shaunak says that his father was a versatile genius. “He had a love for literature, painting and many other art forms. He encouraged me to see the beauty in him and to incorporate it into my music. He used to say don’t just admire a good painting, imbibe its aesthetics. It is a misconception that ‘Sahitya’ has no relevance in Hindustani music. This abstraction is music; An abstract art, but it needs the props of song to enhance it. ,

Shaunak himself, a learned singer narrates how his father knew hundreds of compositions not only from the Gwalior Agra Jaipur tradition, but also from the Khurja gharana. “He learned for 10 years from Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan, and Pt. Jagannath Bua Purohit, who I think was the main influence in his music. Of course, he also learned from Jaipur’s witch Pt. Gullubhai Jasdanwala, and Baba Saheb ( Azizuddin Khan, grandson of Ustad Alladiya Khan). The ragas of the Khurja gharana are different, their nat kamods are different from the ragas normally performed. Baba also sang a lot by Pt. Ram Ashray Jha’s compositions and his Gurubhai, Pt. CR Vyas.”

Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki composed for 17 musicals, the first ‘Matsyagandha’; He was also a popular Abhanga singer and composer, he also sang Rabindra Sangeet. “As far as new ragas are concerned, my father was not really ready to make them. He included two Carnatic ragas in his repertoire – Amruthavarshini, in which he composed two bandishas, ​​and Manoranjini. He also loved singing ‘Jor’ ragas like Hindol Bahar, Triveni,” says Shaunk, who wants to give back to the world of music through several festivals organized in his father’s memory.

Jitendra Abhisheki Utsav will be held on 24th and 25th September at the annual Pt. Goa.

The critics of Delhi specialize in classical music.