Pandit Ramakant Gundecha - Om Shanti

Classical Music of North India
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Sachi_R
Posts: 2174
Joined: 31 Jan 2017, 20:20

Pandit Ramakant Gundecha - Om Shanti

Post by Sachi_R »

Image

The inseparable Gundecha Bandhu have been separated. Sri. Ramakant-ji, the younger one, suffered a fatal heart attack soon after a performance on Friday 8th Nov.

The Gundecha brothers have been the torch bearers of Dhrupad for us in the south. Especially in Bengaluru. They used to come and perform several times every year. Their disciples run a Dhrupad school called sunaad. Mrs. Tara Kini has a team and presents many thematic musical spiritual presentations on Katha upanishad, Mandukya, (and soon) Kena etc. Under the guidance of Sri. Ramakant-ji. Well, not any more.

Dhrupad for Carnatic music lovers is so different from what we hear usually. Just the voice. No violin or harmonium or sarangi. A pakhawaj played in a very supportive way. The voice explores every note like a calligrapher would script a holy scripture. There is tempo, built slowly, just as the notes are explored systematically. There is much modulation of voice. There is a lyric finally, a short one and mostly in Samskrita, addressed to Shiva or Krishna or Devi usually. At the end of every piece, which typically lasts 20-40 minutes, there is a sense of fulfillment for the entire audience.

The Gundecha brothers have different voice timbres. They explore notes differently. The two voices meld very wholesomely. When Umakant-ji touches a note, and Ramakant-ji touches the same note and moves forward, with his own manodharma, the duet acquires an extra dimension. So two voices that do more than just sing in synchrony.

May Pandit Ramakant-ji share his music with gods in the higher realm. They will love it!

I have heard the Bandhu over a dozen times in Bengaluru in the past few years. It was always a very fulfilling experience.

I request the more knowledgeable rasikas to share their experiences. I give below two links:

https://dhrupad.org/dhrupad-institute/l ... e-gurukul/

https://youtu.be/j-ZDW1LPdMg

Om ShantiH ShantiH ShantiH

Post-edit: a nice video-
https://youtu.be/TdApXfJJdBY
Last edited by Sachi_R on 11 Nov 2019, 00:00, edited 1 time in total.

Nick H
Posts: 9379
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: Pandit Ramakant Gundecha - Om Shanti

Post by Nick H »

This is very sad. A great loss.

rshankar
Posts: 13754
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:26

Re: Pandit Ramakant Gundecha - Om Shanti

Post by rshankar »

Condolences to his personal family and his musical family. May his AtmA attain SAnti.

PS: Can this thread be moved to the Obituary Section?

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