#darbarfestival #VR360 | The late vocalist Tanarang describes his vivid reaction to Raag Shankara: “You wake up from a stupor or disturbed state of mind...a surge of the life force”.
► Welcome to the Darbar VR360 Festival. We’ve released over 50 immersive VR videos showcasing some of India’s finest artists performing in breathtaking natural landscapes, spanning Hindustani, Carnatic, Dhrupad, and percussion.
For the best experience use a VR headset with headphones. Experience being the sole ‘audience member’ right next to the musicians for your own private raga performance, enjoying the music amidst India’s natural world. For more info, including the full program, see www.darbar.org/video360
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Purbayan Chatterjee’s accomplished sitar playing is rooted in the Senia Maihar gharana’s blend of Dhrupad and khayal. His style was shaped by his father Pandit Parthapratim Chatterjee, as well as taking great inspiration from the ideas of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. As a classical artist he has performed with Ustad Zakir Hussain and other leading musicians
He is known for fusion work too, collaborating widely and reworking rock, pop, and jazz classics for the sitar, and has innovated elsewhere, inventing a smaller, more portable sitar that can be played while sitting on a chair rather than the floor. Purbayan continues to develop his classical expertise, while constantly searching for new musical horizons too.
Learn more at:
-www.darbar.org...
"The emotion that comes to my mind first is surrender. What genre you play doesn’t matter. Even a rebellious rocker while playing surrenders to a greater emotion, to a greater need to express himself, to a force." (Purbayan Chatterjee)
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Shankara, considered to be a favourite of Lord Shiva, is traditionally associated with ‘veeram’ - the sentiments of heroism and stoic courage. Intended for performance in the three hours before midnight, it ascends with SGPDN, often ‘turning around’ the highest notes to form PNDS patterns, and adds subtle touches of shuddha Re in the descent.
It draws significant general tension from a vadi-samvadi paring of shuddha Ga and Ni, both notes which beg to be resolved with a searching urgency. Tanarang, the late vocalist and educator, describes his vivid reaction to Shankara: “You wake up from a stupor or disturbed state of mind upon hearing this Raag...a surge of the life force”, speaking of its “sharp, rather bold pronunciation of notes”. It is somewhat similar to Raag Hamsadhwani.
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Recorded by Darbar in 2019, on location in West India:
-Purbayan Chatterjee (sitar)
Technical team credit:
-Jagdeep Shah (DOP)
-Sandeep Virdee (location sound)
-Nirmal Singh (360 editor)
-Christoph Bracher (ambisonic sound dubbing)
-Narvir Singh (assistant editor)
-Special thanks to Sherna Chatterjee & Mortimer Chatterjee
Darbar believes in the power of Indian classical arts to stir, thrill and inspire. Through shared experiences and digital connectivity we ensure that one of the world’s finest art forms reaches the widest possible audience. Founded in 2006, we deliver premium quality live events, music education, broadcasts and online engagement through promoting artistic innovation and creative technology. We are also committed to providing a platform for new talent from India and the UK.