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The Indian Academy of Performing Arts New York, New Jersey USA |
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USTAD F. WASIFUDDIN DAGAR
Legacy Dhrupad is the oldest and most profound style
of Indian classical vocal music. Dagarvani dhrupad, a genre that was nearly
extinct half a century ago has prospered due to the unique dedication of the
Dagar family. Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar represents the 20th generation of
dedicated dhrupad singers in the Dagar family. He is the nephew of Ustad N.
Zahiruddin Dagar and son of Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar, the legendary younger
“Dagar Brothers”. Though traditionally his family has always performed
dhrupad as a duet, Wasif (shorted form of his name) successfully presents the
dynamic of a duet in a solo performance by maintaining the distinct musical
approaches and styles of both his father and uncle. Wasif’s early training was with his uncle Ustad
N. Zahiruddin Dagar, and his father Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar. Wasif also
had the good fortune of the tutelage of his grand uncle Ustad Rahimuddin Khan
Dagar, a dhrupad exponent and his grandfather’s younger brother. Other elders
including uncles Ustad N. Aminuddin Dagar, and Ustad N. Mohiuddin Dagar
(renowned vina virtuoso) have also greatly influenced him. Wasif continues to
benefit from the knowledge, experience and guidance of his uncles Ustad. R.
Fahimuddin Dagar, Ustad Z. Fariduddin Dagar, and Ustad. H. Sayeeduddin Dagar.
The untimely demise of his father in February
1989 paired Wasif with his uncle and teacher Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar, who
taught him the crucial aspects of jugalbandi (duet) a specialty of the Dagar
family. As the “Dagar duo” they toured extensively. Their concerts and music
was the subject of the French television documentary “Dagarvani” in 1992.
They have also recorded in Switzerland, India, and America with major
recording labels. Since the demise of his uncle Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar in
1994, Wasif has been carrying on the tradition of Dagarvani solo. His
rendition of dhrupad is a unique blend of his uncle’s training, his father’s
quality of voice and temperament, and his in-depth knowledge of dhrupad
tradition. His innovative alap notes are spacious and colorful, ranging
across the three octaves delineating the personality of the raga in great
clarity. His gamaks are fast and sonorous yet retain the softness and
sweetness of the raga inherent in dhrupad renditions. Over the years he has
developed subtle variations and improvisations by modulation of volume and
sound application to present many shades of the same musical phrase. The
composite effect of his dhrupad rendition remains traditional, merging
techniques and styles of both his teachers. His is very popular with young
listeners for his lively lecture demonstrations illustrating old Vedic
technicalities through metaphors from daily life. Wasif performs regularly and extensively on
Indian television and radio, at music festivals, and concerts. He performed
for the UNESCO in France, and also toured the Netherlands, Belgium,
Switzerland, Hungary in 1998, for the United Nations Peace Summit, and the
World Festival of Scared Music of the Dalai Lama in 2001. In several very
successful concert tours, he has performed extensively in the United States
including at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, at Harvard
University, and several other prestigious venues. |
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