Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Context: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi would have turned 100 this year.

About Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

• Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi (1922 –2011) was an Indian vocalist from Karnataka, in the Hindustani classical tradition.
• A brilliant exponent in the field of Hindustani classical music
• Famous for perfecting the Khayal, a form of Hindustani classical
• Bhimsen Joshi belongs to the Kirana gharana tradition of Hindustani Classical Music.
• He was also known for his presentation of devotional music – his‘bhajans’, which were usually sung in Kannada, Hindi and Marathi languages
• He has also recorded Kannada Dasa Krithis in Dasavani, the likes which are usually sung by Carnatic musicians.
• Bhimsen Joshi was instrumental in organising the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival annually, as homage to his guru, Pandit Sawai Gandharva.

Hindustani Classical Music

• Hindustani music is one of the two principal types of South Asian classical music.
• It is found mainly in the northern three-fourths of the subcontinent, where Indo-Aryan languages are spoken.
• The roots of Hindustani Music is traced to the emergence of Dhrupad & Dhamar. It further developed into Vocal & Instrumental Streams.
• Further emergence of Khayal from Dhrupad as a result of influence of the Mughal Kingdom, Classical Music underwent a change in character, moving from Temples to the Courts.
  • Miyan Tansen have been one of the greatest influence on the Hindustani Style.

Gharanas:

• A Gharana is a system of social organisation linking musicians or dancers by lineage or apprenticeship, and by adherence to a particular musical style.
• Function in guru-shishya parampara, i.e. disciples learning under a particular guru, transmitting his musical knowledge and style.
• Kirana Gharana founded by Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Famous artists such as Abdul Wahid Khan, Suresh Babu Mane, Hira Bai Badodekar and Roshanara Begum belong to this Gharana.