Dhrupad is an ancient musical devotional practise and the oldest surviving classical music form in India. Emerging directly from Vedic chants and ritual worship, Dhrupad continues to evoke their meditative magnificence. It is based on nada yoga (the yoga of sound) and has as it's aim the trancendence of the self through performance of raga.
Each of the many ragas of North Indian music are considered to have a soul or spirit and are closely associated with a particular mood and time of day or season.
Dagar Dhrupad performance, which is the family tradition to which the gundecha brothers belong, is distinguished by a long, slow and intricate development of Raga, purity of tuning, graceful ornamentation, improvisation, and a repetoire of bandishes [songs] handed down through the family lineage over 20 generations spanning 500 years. Only in the last 30 years has this music been passed to people outside of the Dagar family.

about the artists

Shree Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha (vocal) and Shree Akhilesh Gundecha (pakhawaj) are among the most highly acclaimed performers of Dagar style Dhrupad in their generation. They perform regularly in Europe, USA and Asia, as well as all the main festivals in India. They are the furst dhrupad artists to perform at the prestigous Dover Lane festival in Kolkata where they received a standing ovation from an audience of thousands.

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or visit the gundecha brothers home page
find more information on dagar dhrupad here

about the workshop

The Gundecha Brothers will be presenting a lecture demonstration and singing workshop in Melbourne during the first week of october 2007. The workshop will be a rare opportunity to learn this ancient art in an intimate and supportive setting, as well as gain a deeper understanding of Indian music in general. It will take place in the superb reading room of the heritage listed fitzroy town hall. The 2005 workshop was sold out and was a very rewarding and enriching experience for all involved.

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