INDIA HONORS CALARTS TEACHER.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer VALENCIA - An Indian music Indian music, of India: see Hindu music. teacher at California Institute of the Arts California Institute of the Arts known as CalArts U.S. private institution of higher learning in Valencia. Created in 1961 through the merger of two other art institutes, it was the first in the U.S. will receive the Sangeet Natak Academy Award for his contributions to North Indian classical music The origins of Indian classical music can be found from the oldest of scriptures, part of the Hindu tradition, the Vedas. Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music at length. Indian classical music has its origins as a meditation tool for attaining self realization. . Rajeev Taranath, who has been teaching at CalArts since 1995, will be presented with the highest award of its kind by Indian President K.R. Narayanan at a February ceremony in the president's home. ``This is the highest award in my country given by the government and the people of India,'' Taranath said. ``I shall be receiving it from no lesser person than the president of India The President of India (Hindi: Rashtrapati) is the head of state and first citizen of India and the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces. In theory, the President possesses considerable power. .'' Taranath is being recognized for his work with the sarod sa·rod or sa·rode n. A many-stringed lute of northern India that is played with a plectrum. [Urdu, from Persian sar , an Indian instrument that is smaller than a sitar sitar (sĭtär`), fretted string instrument with a gourdlike body and a long neck, similar to the lute. It has from 3 to 7 gut strings, tuned in fourths or fifths (or both), and a lower course of 12 wire strings that vibrate sympathetically with with two sets of strings. He began to play the unusual instrument in 1955 after the age of 21 - 10 years after he began his career as a classical vocalist. ``When you start to play, the sound is atrocious,'' Taranath said. ``Many people give up the instrument soon.'' But Taranath, who was a disciple to Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (Bengali: আলী আকবর খাঁ), a Sarode legend, is considered to be one of India's greatest living classical instrumentalists. for three decades, fell in love with the instrument and its sound. ``It's actually like falling in love,'' Taranath said. ``It becomes an obsession. It starts like a crush, and then you want to get into the skin of the sound.'' Taranath has traveled and performed to critical acclaim in India, Australia, the United States and Europe as a concert artist, composer and teacher. His performances have been noted for innovative sophistication so·phis·ti·cate v. so·phis·ti·cat·ed, so·phis·ti·cat·ing, so·phis·ti·cates v.tr. 1. To cause to become less natural, especially to make less naive and more worldly. 2. , thoughtfulness and commanding technique. ``He is a master musician and is a master performer,'' said David Rosenboom, CalArts dean of music. ``We are very proud of this because it is one of the highest awards he can get in India.'' With a background in English literature, Taranath is very good at translating music for westerners and demonstrating the kinds of things students can learn from Indian music, Rosenboom said. Along with music teacher Swapan Chaudhuri, who specializes in tabla tabla Pair of small drums, the principal percussion in Hindustani music of northern India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The higher-pitched daya, played with the right hand, is a roughly cylindrical one-skinned drum, usually wooden, normally tuned to the raga's tonic. , a set of Indian drums, Taranath is considered the center of the CalArts Indian music program. ``I can't think of the another music school to have such great masters in the area of Indian music,'' Rosenboom said. ``We are very fortunate to have two great musicians.'' While in India, Taranath taught English and music from his home to youngsters. It wasn't until he arrived in the United States that he was paid to teach the instrument he loves. At CalArts, Taranath teaches Indian vocal music and instrumental music on Indian instruments. Taranath said that the award comes as a great compliment. ``You only receive it once in your lifetime,'' Taranath said. ``My gurus have received it.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: CalArts music teacher Rajeev Taranath conducts his North Indian classical music class Thursday morning at the school. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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