Pracheen Kala Kendra has been one of the pioneers of India to organize regular concerts all over the length and breadth of the country and every baithak and concert or a festival features exciting and extremely talented musicians in a bid to promote the art of Indian Classical Music in an effort to promote the artists and their art and art forms. For several years now, without fail, Pracheen Kala Kendra has been providing a glorious stage for young artists to blossom and veteran/maestros to bless audiences with their performances, hence aiding the flourishment of the world of Indian Classical Music. But in these unprecedented times where social distancing has to be followed to stop the global pandemic’s spread across communities, dedicated listeners and music lovers, critics, learners, and artists need not worry about staying away from our coveted musical Baithaks. Thus, Pracheen Kala Kendra has started their WEBaithak series (Baithaks on the web) for everyone who wanted to feel the warmth of good music healing their souls and giving hope in these trying times.
After completing two successful editions of the weekly baithak which features every Friday at 8 pm sharp on Pracheen Kala Kendra’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, the third edition broadcasted LIVE on Friday, 19th June 2020, 8 pm onwards featured a solo recital by the extremely talented Tabla exponent Sh Pran Gopal Bandopadhyay. Pran Gopal is the son and disciple of the illustrious Tabla maestro of the Benaras Gharana Pt Ananda Gopal Bandopadyay who has been a trendsetter for the Gharana and the highly coveted Benaras – Baaj in Kolkata.
Beginning with traditional starting point Peshkar, Pran gradually unfolded alap-like elaboration, crisp kaidas with rhythmic variations, complex parans, gat, rela, tihais — almost all the different idioms of Tabla playing within the frame of the 16-beat cycle of the tala with tricky numerical permutations and combinations. Young percussionist displayed different shades of Tabla playing with superb clarity. He also presented some traditional and famous bandishes of his Gharana and compositions of his Guru and father Pt. Ananda Gopal Bandyopadhyay.
