The classical music tradition that has been prevalent in this subcontinent since the early days has been deemed the basis for all music that had emerged in the days to follow. In Bangladesh the practice and development of this musical tradition owes a lot to the contribution of the Barendra region – specifically the district of Rajshahi. Through this event, the Bengal Foundation aims to showcase this musical tradition to the young musicians of today, to teachers and to enthusiasts of classical music.

As a part of the ongoing initiative to engage the public with Indian classical music, Bengal Foundation invited students and members of the faculty of the Department of Music of the University of Rajshahi to present classical music at the Bengal Shilpalaya on Friday, May 30, 2014.

In the illustrious city of Rajshahi located within the Barendra region was born the famous kirtan singer of the Dhrupad tradition, Narottam Das Goswami. Rajshahi is also heir to a rich heritage of the Gambhira style of music. Poet and composer Rajanikanta Sen also grew up in this city. This locality by the bed of the Mahananda and Padma rivers was once graced by the presence of a canon of sun-continental classical music tradition Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and renowned sarodiya Ustad Muhammad Amir Khan. Celebrated musical guru Sangeetacharya Radhika Mohan Maitra also hails from Rajshahi. The music of this region is a reflection of the hopes and aspiration of the people surrounding the great river Padma.

At the event, Mousumi Biswas began with a short kheyal in raga Madhuvanti. Golden Mandal followed with a kheyal in raga Bhinna Shadaj. Shalok Hossain rendered a composition in raga Bihag. All three were accompanied in the tabla by Iftekhar Alam Prodhan and in the harmonium by Alamgir Parvez. The last presentation was a collaborative in the Dhrupad style, by Dr. Asit Roy and Alamgir Parvez. They began with raga Malkauns, followed by a short rendition of raga Mian Ki Malhar. Sushen Roy accompanied the duo in the Pakhawaj.

Mousumi Biswas and Golden Mandal are master class students of the music department. Shalok Hossain and Alamgir Parvez are members of the faculty. Dr. Asit Roy is the chairman of the department. Sushen Roy is a member of the faculty of Trishal University in Mymensingh.

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