Jasraj
- Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj, born 28 January 1930, is an Indian classical vocalist. He belongs to the Mewati gharana of Hindustani classical music.
- He was born in a family of outstanding musicians over four generations. He was initiated into music by his revered father, Pandit Motiram, until the age of three, when his father passed away. Thereafter he underwent intensive tutelage under his elder brother and Guru Pandit Maniram. Later, along his turbulent path of hard-earned maturity, he was guided by his spiritual Guru Maharaja Jaiwant Singh.
- He is the recipient of Padma Vibhushan (2000), Surer Guru , Sangeet Martand , Sangeet Kala Ratna, Sangeet Natak Academy Award etc.
- www.panditjasraj.com
Bismillah Khan
- Bismillah Khan, the Shehnai maestro of India was born on March 21, 1916 at Dumraon, Bihar.
- His ancestors were court musicians in the princely state of Dumraon in Bihar. Ustad Bismillah Khan was trained under his uncle, the late Ali Baksh 'Vilayatu', a shehnai player attached to Varanasi's Vishwanath Temple.
- He believed in Hindu-Muslim unity and spread the
message of brotherhood through his music. He always announced that music
has no caste.
- He had the rare honor of playing his Shehnai on the eve of
India's independence in the year 1947. He performed at the Red Fort in
Delhi and since that year he has always played on 15th August right
after the Prime Minister gave his speech.
- Ustad Bismillah Khan was the recipient of Padma Shri (1961), Padma Bhushan (1968), Padma Vibhushan (1980).
- He became the third classical musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.
- He died on August 21, 2006.
- Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, instituted the 'Ustad Bismillah Khan
Yuva Puraskar' in 2007, in his honour. It is given to young artists in
the field of music, theatre and dance.
Shivkumar Sharma
- Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, born January 13, 1938 is an Indian Santoor player.
- He created a new genre of instrumental music using Santoor, which was used in Soofi music in the valley of Kashmir.
- Santoor was not considered as a complete instrument on which one
could play classical music. After in-depth research, he made some important modifications
on this hundred stringed instrument, like a new chromatic arrangement
of notes and increased the range to cover full three octaves. He also created a new technique of playing with which he could sustain
notes and maintain sound continuity.
- He made Santoor at par with any
other classical instrument, well established not just all over India, but
across the globe.
- He is the recipient of national and international awards, including an honorary citizenship of the city of Baltimore, USA, in 1985, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986, the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001.
- www.santoor.com
Amjad Ali Khan
- Amjad Ali Khan born 9 October 1945, is an Indian classical musician who plays the Sarod.
- He was born into the illustrious Bangash lineage rooted in the Senia Bangash School of music. He was taught by his father Haafiz Ali Khan and at the age of 6 he gave his first recital of Sarod.
- He has performed internationally since the 1960s. He considered his audience to be the soul of his motivation and the world saw the Sarod being given a new and yet timeless interpretation by him.
- He is a recipient of the Padma Shri (1975), the Padma Bhushan (1991), Padma Vibhushan (2001), Unicef's National Ambassadorship. Gandhi UNESCO Medal (1995) in Paris for his composition Bapukauns. In 2003, the maestro received “Commander of the Order of Arts and letters” by the French Government.
- www.sarod.com
