Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar (IND): Dagarbani - Indian Classical Song

Dhrupad is the oldest genre of Indian classical music, the earliest written record of which is over two thousand years old. Its origins are linked to the Sanskrit texts of the Vedas, and essentially it aims to create a meditative, peaceful state in which both performers and listeners can turn to God with deep feelings. This is a state the Delhi-based Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar is guaranteed to create on this evening at the House of Music Hungary.

Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar is among the best-known performers of the ancient Indian musical genre of Dhrupad – but that is hardly surprising, since the Dagar family has been representing, preserving and continuing this musical tradition for twenty generations. The Dhrupad style is the oldest form of Indian classical music still in existence today, and one of the principal legacies of Indian culture.

Its conception lies in the Sanskrit texts, the Vedas. Dhrupad is not intended simply as ‘entertainment’, but is about achieving a meditative, peaceful state in which we can all turn to God with deep feelings, both as performers and listeners. Delhi based Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar is on a mission is to introduce the Dhrupad style to as many people as possible. His affable personality and his ability to connect directly with his concert audiences through his improvisations and explanations really help him to achieve that. Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar became president of the Dhrupad Society in 1994 and, in addition to touring and performing regularly around the world, he also teaches, conducts workshops and makes recordings. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and honours and has been invited to be on the jury at many venues. In 1998 he was invited by UNESCO to perform a series of four concerts, and in 2000 he sang at the United Nations Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders in New York, representing ancient Indian sacred music. His concert at the House of Music Hungary will also be a peace summit, featuring Pandit Mohan Shyam Sharma on pakhawaj (who will also perform solo at the House on 8 November) and Balázs Virágh on tanpura.

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