Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia

By Rima Bek

Los Angeles, CA (Hollywood Today) 10/03/11—Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, a world-renowned master of the North Indian bansuri, performed Indian classical music on Wednesday evening at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

The bansuri, one of the world’s most ancient instruments, is made from a piece of hollowed-out bamboo. In this performance, Chaurasia played the bansuri with Jay Gandhi on the second bansuri, Shyamala Rajender on the tanpura and Pandit Subhankar Banerjee, a well-known prodigy of the tabla.

This evening was presented as part of the 5^th World Festival of Sacred Music. The performance was also part of the Daniel Pearl World Music Days, a yearly global concert inspired by the life and work of American journalist Daniel Pearl. World Music Days put these concerts to affirm commitments of tolerance and humanity.

Chaurasia, who has been performing for over 40 years, has been honored with many awards, including the Padma Vibhushan (Living National Jewel, 2^nd highest civilian award) in 2000, the Padma Bhushan (3^rd highest civilian award) in 1992, and an award in the instrumental music category from the Sangeet Natak Academy (India’s national performing arts academy).

Chaurasia has also been honored by performing at the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo.

At the Skirball, he played several quiet and meditative pieces ranging from 10 to 30 minutes before hundreds of people. A couple pieces even stirred laughter from the audience as they witnessed Chaurasia and Banerjee play what sounded like a very rhythmic and fast-paced musical banter. In this midst of this banter, it was fascinating to watch Banerjee’s hands move almost to the speed of a hummingbird’s wings. Yes, seriously, this is not some embellishment…it was that fast. Listening and watching Chaurasia perform brought about such a pleasant yet energized feeling. It was an enriching experience that I will never forget.