Music recital by Nirmalya Dey (Dhrupad) & Mohan Shyam Sharma (Pakhawaj) in London, UK

Association Sargam was privileged to present one of India's leading Dhrupad singers, Nirmalya Dey, accompanied on the Pakhawaj by Mohan Shyam Sharma. The recital took place on 29th June at the Nehru Centre of the Indian High Commission in London. Dhrupad is one of the most ancient forms of classical music and its vocal technique is the basis of the North Indian style. In his recital, the artist demonstrated, with controlled mastery, this sacred, complex and profound technique which was transmitted to him by his Guru, the reputed exponent of the Dagar gharana: Ustad Zia Faridaddun Dagar. In the exposition and development of the three compositions in Raga Bhoop, Megh and Sohini, the vocalist showed great subtlety and control over the shrutis, meends and ghamaks. He thus maintained a rigueur and integrity of approach, attempting no artificial devise to 'please his audience'. He also ably succeeded in creating an emotional atmosphere in tune with the lyrical contents of the bandish. His performance reflected his entire approach to his art: austere, meditative, reverential. His intense interiority, his continuous search for inspiration from the Dagar parampara and his total involvement with performing and transmitting the Dhrupad form have made Nirmalya Dey an exemplary exponent of this timeless art. He was ably accompanied by Mohan Shyam Sharma on that most beautiful of percussion instruments, the Pakhawaj. And on the tanpura by Veronique Dupont, his Paris-based student, and Solveig Mcintosh, an exponent from London of the Dagarvani Dhrupad. Feedback from the diverse audience that attended the performance: "a beautiful concert... we really loved it and felt privileged to hear such a beautiful voice"

" why do we never hear enough of this kind of music in London, why don't artists like him come more often". "I would certainly want to hear this artist again and on the strength of that performance would encourage others". "I would like to say how much we enjoyed the Dhrupad recital on Saturday". Appreciation of the very special atmosphere created by this profound and sacred art and recognition of talent in abundance. Sargam extends its appreciation to the Nehru Centre for its invaluable support and to Jay Visvadeva of SAMA Performing Arts for providing the tanpuras. On 30th June, Nirmaly Dey conducted a Dhrupad workshop wherein he gave a lecture demonstration on the salient features of Dhrupad and initiated the students to some fundamentals of this vocal art This was supported by illustration of the breathing techniques and basic exercises to develope the voice.

Article in Veena magasine

Dhrupad international
Nirmalya Dey, a disciple of the Dagar school, balances a busy career as a composer for AIR in Delhi with a growing overseas audience for the ancient vocal style he prefers. Richard Turner met the singer on his first UK visit.

It's Saturday evening and the Nehru Centre audience is entranced as Nirmalya Dey, eyes closed in concentration, battles a dry acoustic with a performance that is by turns gentle and pure, powerful and inventive. Two tanpuras provide a richly textured backing, but he cannot hear them. The singer is as caught up in his own creation as his listeners. Applause is warm and sustained and, after the concert, Talvin Singh approaches Nirmalya, asking whether he would be willing to record with him. Sadly, time is against them but, as Nirmalya tells me later, they will stay in touch.
Nirmalya Dey was born in Guwahati, in 1959. Ethnic conflict in Assam drove the family to seek the relative security of Kolkata, where Nirmalya's schooling was supplemented by singing lessons from his mother, a Dhrupad enthusiast. "My mother inspired me to learn," he says.
Training in khayal followed, but it was the late Professor Nimai Chand Boral who initiated Nirmalya in the Dagar school, a proud lineage dating back to the Mughal courts. Professor Boral was himself a disciple of Ustad Nazir Mohiuddin Dagar. The link made, Nirmalya went on to study with Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar from 1988. "When I started learning with him it was a great experience," says Nirmalya, suddenly animated. "I discovered many subtle nuances of Dhrupad - how to deal with and justify the mood and elaborate on it, and to perfect the intonation. "A raag is dependent on intonation."
He speaks with affection of staying at the Ustad's house, talking about music when not actually practising, and sharing in the daily life of the household, in the time-honoured way. Nirmalya also studies with Professor Ritvik Sanyal, Head of the Department of Vocal Music, Varanasi Hindu University. "Sanyalji was a disciple of Ustad Nazir Mohiuddin Dagar," Nirmalya points out. "He has the best knowledge, both theoretical and practical."
The singer has wide-ranging musical tastes. "I work as a music composer on All India Radio in Delhi. I compose geet, ghazals, bhajans and popular music for community singing. But normally I perform only Dhrupad. I like different kinds of music but not for my own performances."
In addition to appearances at the major Indian music festivals, Nirmalya's concerts in Europe have not only added to the audience for Dhrupad but have also brought him new students. "I have students who sing Gregorian Chant and Baroque music. They came to my concerts in Paris and invited me to teach them."
Now with London on his list of conquests - he hopes to return "Maybe next year," - the modest and approachable Nirmalya Dey is a fine ambassador for the Dagar school, combining integrity and spirit across the years and the miles.

The author is Editor of veena Indian Arts Review, from which this interview is reproduced with permission. veena is the new, monthly magazine serving Indian arts in the UK. Artists, promoters and potential subscribers are welcome to contact the Editor on 44 (0)20 8900 9121 or email veenamagazine@hotmail.com