Hariprasad Chaurasia, George Brooks - Kirwani by Samarpan

Artist:  Hariprasad Chaurasia, George Brooks  
Album: Kirwani by Samarpan
Genre:  Indian Classical,Bansuri  
Label:  MHY 2006  

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (born 1 July 1938) is an Indian classical instrumentalist. He is a player of the bansuri, the North Indian bamboo flute. Chaurasia is a classicist who has made a conscious effort to reach out and expand the audience for classical music.

Hariprasad Chaurasia was born in Allahabad.[2] His father was a wrestler. His mother died when he was six. He had to learn music without his father's knowledge, for his father wanted him to become a wrestler. He did go to the Akhada and train with his father for some time, although he also started learning music, and practising at his friend's house. He often credits his wrestling training for giving him the immense stamina and lung power that are the hallmarks of his flute playing, stating that,
"I was not any good at wrestling. I went there only to please my father. But maybe because of the strength and stamina I built up then, I'm able to play the bansuri even to this day."

Hariprasad Chaurasia started learning vocal music from his neighbour, Pandit Rajaram at the age of 15. Later, he switched to playing the flute under the tutelage of Pandit Bholanath Prasanna of Varanasi. Much later, while working for All India Radio, he received guidance from the reclusive Annapurna Devi, daughter of Baba Allaudin Khan.
He is considered a rare combination of innovator and traditionalist. He has expanded the expressive possibilities of the bansuri through his masterful blowing technique.
Apart from classical music, he has made a mark as a music director for Indian films along with Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, forming a group called Shiv-Hari. He has also collaborated with various world musicians in experimental cross-cultural performances, including the fusion group Shakti.
He serves as the Artistic Director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory in the Netherlands.
He has collaborated with several western musicians, including John McLaughlin and Jan Garbarek, and has also composed music for a number of Indian films. He has performed throughout the world, winning acclaim from varied audiences and fellow musicians including Yehudi Menuhin and Jean-Pierre Rampal.

Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia (bansuri)
George Brooks (saxophone)
Gwyneth Wentink (harp)
Vijay Ghate (tabla)
Shamala Rajender (tampura)

1. Introduction
2. Invocation ~ Aarti
Kirwani
3. Alap
4. Jor & Jhala
5. Gat Composition in 16 Beat Cycle
6. About Aif & Its Activities
7. Preview of Selected Navras DVD Titles 

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