Saturday, May 13, 2000, 7:00 pm 
Rajan & Sajan Misra (Vocal)
with
Subhen Chatterjee (Tabla) &
Binay Pathak (Harmonium)
Venue:
The HHH Cowles Auditorium
University of Minnesota, West Bank campus, Minneapolis
About the artists:
Born in the famous Benares Gharana, music came with the first breath of life to the two talented brothers, Rajan Misra and Sajan Misra. They belong to a family of great maestros - Pandit Ganesh Ji Misra (Great Grandfather), Pandit Sursahai Misra, Pandit Bade Ram Das Ji Misra (Grandfather), Pandit Hanuman Misra (Father), and the late Pandit Gopal Misra, the renowned Sarangi maestro, was their uncle. The brothers have been trained in vocal music under the able guidance of their father Pandit Hanuman Misra, Pandit Gopal Misra and Gayanacharya the late Pandit Bade Ram Das Ji Misra. Today, the brothers are the foremost exponents of the Benares style of singing. Pandit Rajan Misra is a post graduate in sociology and Pandit Sajan Misra is a graduate from the Benares Hindu University. Rajan and Sajan Misra are known for their extensive repertoire of Khayal, Tarana, Tappa and Bhajan. Blending powerful and expressive voices, their performances are characterized by a methodical treatment of the Raga with exquisite ornamentation and taans. Their performances have taken them to all corners of India and abroad. The brothers’ last visit to the Twin Cities was in 1993.
Subhen Chatterjee, a senior disciple of tabla maestro Pandit Swapan Chowdhury, has already established himself as a fine young tabla soloist and accompanist. Subhen has accompanied great musicians such as Pandit V.G. Jog, Smt. Girija Devi, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, Begum Parveen Sultana, Ustad Rashid Khan, Pandit Monilal Nag and Ustad Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan. Subhen has also worked with World Music masters such as Paul Horn (flute player) and David Crosby and has been a performing artiste of WOMAD (World Organization of Music and Dance), founded by world-renowned Peter Gabriel. Subhen's own, KARMA, an Indo-Jazz Fusion Orchestra, is one of the most popular bands in India today.
Binay Pathak, the youngest son of the renowned Dhrupadist, Sitarist and Surbahar player, the Late Pt. Balram Pathak has won the acclaim of millions of music lovers with a magnificent musical authority of his own. He has set a new dimention in the field of Ghazals and Bhajans and in their presentations. His Ghazals reveal the elixir of love, passion and poetry. He has already made his mark by giving good performances. He has travelled over Europe, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Doha and Muscat, etc. A Science Graduate from Calcutta University, he is now an artist of the AIR and TV. He has accompanied many eminent vocalists and is also a renowned harmonium soloist. His work in films as a Music Director include: Putuler Kanna (Bengali), Debjani (Bengali) and Rangin Basant (Bengali). TV Serials for which he has composed music include: Teen Bandhu (Bengali), Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh (Hindi), Bandish (Hindi) and Mitti (Hindi Feature Film for TV).
© Copyright 2001 Indian Music Society of Minnesota