BERA-IAA Proudly Presents
A Santoor
Concert by Pandit Ulhas Bapat
In
Berkner Hall at Brookhaven National Laboratory
On Sunday September 17th, 2006 @ 4:00 PM
A Musician with Exquisite Artistry, Exceptional skill And
Innovative approach
The Santoor is an instrument with approximately 100 strings which originated in the Himalayan Valley of Kashmir. Originally known as the Shata Tantri Veena (Sanskrit for one hundred strings), it has close relatives in the British and American hammered dulcimer; the Chinese yang chin; and the Eastern European cembalom. Played with a pair of curved wooden sticks, its many strings create an immense variety of resonating sounds which fill the air like waves, and a variety of tonal effects reminiscent of the piano or harp.
Pandit
Ulhas Bapat is a disciple of Sarod Maestro Smt. Zarin Sharma, Pt. K.G.Ginde and
Pandit Wamanrao Sadolikar. Pandit Bapat is the only Santoor player who has
adopted the technique of tuning the instrument in ‘Chromatic’ structure, and
has pioneered a modification which enables him to reproduce a ‘Meend’ on
Santoor. This patented innovation has helped to extend the frontiers of Santoor
to make it more appealing as a concert instrument, and this unique technique
brings a masterly individuality in his performances.
Ulhasji has been internationally acclaimed as an accomplished
Santoor player and a versatile musician. He has kept up a steady stream of concert
appearances all over India, interspersed with concert tours abroad such as in
U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany Switzerland, China, Belarus, Finland, Middle East,
etc. His performance in the film “In Custody---Muhafiz”, music composed by
Ustad Zakir Hussain & Ustad Sultan Khan, gave him the honour to participate
in the “Merchant Ivory Productions” 35th Year Anniversary in 1996 at
Carnegie Hall in the United States.
Ulhasji’s
invited participation in “The Presidents Meet-2000,” in China with renowned
violinist Dr. L. Subramanium, speaks for the respect he carries as a maestro in
India and abroad. He had the privilege to play Santoor for Internationally
known “dj” Cheb i Sabbah, in his two albums “Krishna Lila & Asian Travels
2” released by Six Degree Records.
Apart from his contributions to the international music as a
musician, an impetus for Ulhasji’s creativity was his composition for a Dance
Script “Ganges to Nile” produced by Anurekha
Ghosh & Co. UK. He has to his credit many Cassettes and Compact Discs.
His latest releases, by Anannya Creations, are Atha Dhyanam,
Felicitation and Swakrut.
Here are a few selected ragas to his credit:
·
Raga Parijat: A morning melody
·
Raga Gorakh Kans: An evening melody
·
Raga Amrit Ranjani: An evening
melody
·
Raga Abhogini: An evening
melody
·
Raga Charuvi: An expressive
melody
·
Raga Poorna Naad: Any time
me
In addition to Ulhasji's achievements in classical music, he is
currently the most sought-after Santoor player in the Hindi Film industry. Some
of his recent works can be heard in the music for Fanaa, Paheli &
Veerzara. Please visit his website (www.santoorulhas.com) for more
information.
Pandit Ulhas Bapat will be accompanied by Shri Survyaksha
Despande on Tabla.
The above
information is kindly provided by Geeta and Achyut Tope’. Please contact them
at 345-2677 for more details about the artist.
For reservations,
please send e-mail to bera-iaa@bnl.gov
Ticket
Price: $12.00 (BERA-IAA members: $10.00)
Start Time: 4:00 p.m.
End Time: 6:30 p.m.
(includes half hour intermission with snacks)
For further
information, please contact:
Ramesh Gupta, gupta@bnl.gov , (631)344-4805
Sharadha Sambasivan, sharadha@bnl.gov , (631)344-4862
Saroj Kandasamy, saroj@bnl.gov , (631)344-7545
Vatsal Bhatt, vbhatt@bnl.gov , (631)344-5453
Directions
to Berkner Hall at Brookhaven National Laboratory:
From Long Island Expressway 495, take exit 68 to William Floyd Parkway North (Rt 46N). On William Floyd Parkway, make a right at the second traffic light. Stop at the main gate. Continue going straight; make a left turn on Upton road at the first traffic light. Then make a right turn on Brookhaven Avenue at the first light. The Berkner Hall is on your first left. Please park in the adjacent parking lot.
Note: Permanent e-mail address of BERA-IAA is bera-iaa@bnl.gov and website is http://www.bnl.gov/bera/activities/iaa/