Ravi ShankarRavi Shankar(7 April 1920 11 December 2012), bornRobindro Shaunkor Chowdhury, his name often preceded by the titlePandit, was anIndian musicianwho was one of the best-known exponents of thesitarin the second half of the 20th century as well as a composer ofHindustani classical music.Shankar was born to aBengalifamily inVaranasi, India,[3]and spent his youth touring India andEuropewith the dance group of his brotherUday Shankar. He gave up dancing in 1938 to study sitar playing under court musicianAllauddin Khan. After finishing his studies in 1944, Shankar worked as a composer, creating the music for theApu TrilogybySatyajit Ray, and was music director ofAll India Radio, New Delhi, from 1949 to 1956.In 1956 he began to tour Europe and the Americas playingIndian classical musicand increased its popularity there in the 1960s through teaching, performance, and his association with violinistYehudi MenuhinandBeatlesguitaristGeorge Harrison. Shankar engaged Western music by writing compositions for sitar and orchestra, and toured the world in the 1970s and 1980s. From 1986 to 1992 he served as a nominated member of Rajya Sabha, the upper chamber of theParliament of India. He continued to perform up until the end of his life. In 1999 Shankar was awarded India's highest civilian honour, theBharat Ratna.Shankar was born on 7 April 1920 in Varanasi, India, to a Bengali family, as the youngest of seven brothers.[2][4][5]His father, Shyam Shankar, was aMiddle Templebarristerand scholar fromEast Bengal(nowBangladesh). A respected statesman, lawyer and politician, he served for several years asdewan(chief minister) ofJhalawar,Rajasthan, and used theSanskritspelling of the family name and removed its last part.[2][6]Shyam was married to Shankar's mother Hemangini Devi who hailed from a small village named Nasrathpur in Mardah block ofGhazipur district, nearBenares, and her father was a prosperous landlord. Shyam later worked as a lawyer inLondon,England,[2]and there he married a second time while Devi raised Shankar in Varanasi, and did not meet his son until he was eight years old.[2]Shankar shortened the Sanskrit version of his first name, Ravindra, to Ravi, for "sun".[2]Shankar had six siblings, only four of whom lived past infancy: Uday, Rajendra, Debendra and Bhupendra. Shankar attended the Bengalitola High School in Benares between 1927 and 1928.[citation needed]At the age of ten, after spending his first decade in Varanasi, Shankar went to Paris with the dance group of his brother, choreographer Uday Shankar.[7][8]By the age of 13 he had become a member of the group, accompanied its members on tour and learned to dance and play various Indian instruments.[4][5]Uday's dance group toured Europe and the United States in the early to mid-1930s and Shankar learned French, discovered Western classical music, jazz, cinema and became acquainted with Western customs.[9]Shankar heard the lead musician for theMaiharcourt, Allauddin Khan, in December 1934 at a music conference inKolkataand Uday convinced the Maharaja of Maihar in 1935 to allow Khan to become his group's soloist for a tour of Europe.[9]Shankar was sporadically trained by Khan on tour, and Khan offered Shankar training to become a serious musician under the condition that he abandon touring and come to Maihar.[9]Shankar's parents had died by the time he returned from the European tour, and touring the West had become difficult due to political conflicts that would lead toWorld War II.[10]Shankar gave up his dancing career in 1938 to go toMaiharand studyIndian classical musicas Khan's pupil, living with his family in the traditionalgurukulsystem.[7]Khan was a rigorous teacher and Shankar had training onsitarandsurbahar, learnedragasand the musical stylesdhrupad,dhamar, andkhyal, and was taught the techniques of the instrumentsrudra veena,rubab, andsursingar.[7][11]He often studied with Khan's childrenAli Akbar KhanandAnnapurna Devi.[10]Shankar began to perform publicly onsitarin December 1939 and his debut performance was ajugalbandi(duet) with Ali Akbar Khan, who played the string instrumentsarod.[12]Ali Akbar KhanAli Akbar Khan(Bengali: ) (14 April 192218 June 2009), often referred to asKhansahibor by the titleUstad(master), was aHindustani classical musicianof theMaihar gharana, known for his virtuosity in playing thesarod. Khan was instrumental in popularisingIndian classical musicin the West, both as a performer (often in conjunction withSitarmaestroRavi Shankar), and as a teacher. He established a music school inCalcuttain 1956, and theAli Akbar College of Musicin 1967, which is now located inSan Rafael, California and has a branch inBasel, Switzerland. Khan also composed several classicalragasandfilm scores.[1]He was a Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Music at the University of California, Santa Cruz.[2]Trained as a musician and instrumentalist by his father,Allauddin Khan, Khan first came to America in 1955 on the invitation of violinistYehudi Menuhinand later settled in California.[3]Khan was nominated for fiveGrammy Awardsand was accorded India's second highest civilian honour, thePadma Vibhushan, in 1989.[4]He has also won aMacArthur Fellowshipand theNational Endowment for the Arts'sNational Heritage Fellowship.Ali Akbar Khan was born in the village of Shibpur,Nabinagar Upazila,Brahmanbaria, in present-dayBangladesh, (thenComilla,East Bengal), to renowned musician and teacher,Allauddin Khanand Madina Begum.[5]Soon after his birth, Khan's family returned toMaihar(in present dayMadhya Pradesh, India) where his father was the primary court musician for theMaharajaof theprincely state.[6]From an early age Khan received training from his father in various instruments as well as vocal composition, but finally gravitated towards the sarod. Allauddin was a perfectionist and a strict taskmaster, and Khan's lessons started before dawn and often lasted 18 hours a day.[7]Khan also learned to play thetablaand thepakhavajfrom his uncle,Aftabuddin Khan, who he visited at Shibpur.[8]During this period he met several prominent musicians, such as the sarodistTimir Baranand flutistPannalal Ghosh, who came to study with his father; in later years he was joined in his lessons by his sisterAnnapurna Devi, who became an accomplished player of thesurbahar, and fellow student Ravi Shankar. Shankar and Annapurna Devi were married in 1941.[6]Of his training on the sarod, he wrote:If you practice for ten years, you may begin to please yourself, after 20 years you may become a performer and please the audience, after 30 years you may please even your guru, but you must practice for many more years before you finally become a true artistthen you may please even God.[9]Ali Akbar Khan, after years of rigorous training gave his debut performance at a music conference inAllahabadin 1936, at the age of 13. Three years later, in December 1939, he accompanied Ravi Shankar on the sarod during the latter's debut performance at the same conference; this was the first of manyjugalbandis(duets) between the two musicians. In 1938 Khan gave his first recital onAll India Radio(AIR), Bombay (accompanied on the tabla byAlla Rakha), and starting in January 1940, he gave monthly performances on AIR,Lucknow. Finally in 1944, both Shankar and Khan left Maihar to start their professional careers as musicians; Shankar went toBombay, while Khan became the youngest Music Director for AIR, Lucknow and was responsible for solo performances and composing for the radio orchestra.[7]Khan has participated in a number of classicjugalbandipairings, most notably withRavi Shankar,Nikhil Banerjeeand violinistL. Subramaniam. A few recordings of duets withVilayat Khanalso exist. He also collaborated with Western musicians. In August 1971, Khan performed atMadison Square Gardenfor theConcert for Bangladesh, along with Ravi Shankar, Alla Rakha andKamala Chakravarty; other musicians at the concert includedGeorge Harrison,Bob Dylan,Eric ClaptonandRingo Starr. A live album and a movie of the event were later released.[1][10]Bismillah KhanBismillah Khan(Urdu: ; 21 March 1913 21 August 2006), often referred to by the honorific title Ustad, was an Indian musician credited with popularising theshehnai, asubcontinentalwind instrument of theoboeclass. While the shehnai had long held importance as a folk instrument played primarily during traditional ceremonies, Khan is credited with elevating its status and bringing it to the concert stage.[1][2]He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, theBharat Ratna, in 2001, becoming the Third classical musician afterM. S. SubbulakshmiandRavi Shankarto be accorded this distinction.[2]Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March 1913 inDumraon,Biharin northernIndia. He was the second son of Paigambar Khan and Mitthan.[3]His parents had initially named him Qamaruddin to rhyme with their first-born son Shamshuddin. However, his grandfather, Rasool Bux Khan, the shehnai master of the court ofBhojpur, exclaimed "Bismillah!" ("In the name of Allah!") at the sight of him and thereafter he came to be known by this name.[1]His ancestors were court musicians and used to play inNaqqar khanain theprincely statesofBhojpur, now in Bihar. His father was a shehnai player in the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh ofDumraon Estate, Bihar.At the age of six, he moved toVaranasi.[2]He received his training under his uncle, the late Ali Baksh 'Vilayatu', a shehnai player attached toVaranasi'sVishwanath Temple.[4]Bihar Governmenthas proposed setting up of a museum, a town hall-cum-library and installation of a life-size statue at his birthplce inDumraon.[5]Bismillah Khan was perhaps single-handedly responsible for making theshehnaia famous classical instrument. He brought the shehnai to the center stage of Indian music with his concert in theCalcuttaAll India Music Conference in 1937. He was credited with having almost monopoly over the instrument as he and the shehnai are almost synonyms.Khan is one of the finest musicians in post-independent Indian classical music and one of the best examples of Hindu-Muslim unity in India. He played the shehnai to audiences across the world. He was known to be so devoted to his art form that he referred to shehnai as hisbegum(wife in Urdu) after his wife died. On his death, as an honour, his shehnai was buried with him. He was known for his vision of spreading peace and love through music.Khan had the rare honor of performing at Delhi's Red Fort on the eve of India's Independence in 1947. He also performedragaKafi from theRed Forton the eve of India's first Republic Day ceremony, on 26 January 1950. His recital had become a cultural part of India's Independence Day celebrations, telecast onDoordarshanevery year on 15 August. After the prime minister's speech fromLal Qila(theRed Fort,) in Old Delhi, Doordarshan would broadcast a live performance by the shehnai maestro. This tradition dated from the days ofPandit Nehru.M. S. SubbulakshmiMadurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi(16 September 1916 11 December 2004), also known asM.S., was a renownedCarnaticvocalist.She was the first musician ever to be awarded theBharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.[1]She is the first Indian musician to receive theRamon Magsaysay award, often considered Asia's Nobel Prize,[2]in 1974 with the citation reading "Exacting purists acknowledge Srimati M. S. Subbulakshmi as the leading exponent of classical and semi-classical songs in the Karnataka tradition of South India."[3][4]Subbulakshmi (Kunjamma to her family) was born inMadurai,Madras Presidency,Indiatoveenaplayer Shanmukavadiver Ammal and Subramania Iyer. Her grandmother Akkammal was a violinist.She started learningCarnatic musicat an early age and trained in Carnatic music under the tutelage ofSemmangudi Srinivasa Iyerand subsequently inHindustani musicunderPandit Narayanrao Vyas.Her mother, from thedevadasicommunity, was a music exponent and a regular stage performer, and Subbulakshmi grew up in an environment very conducive to musical learning. Her musical interests were also shaped by regular interactions withKaraikudi Sambasiva Iyer, Mazhavarayanendal Subbarama Bhagavathar andAriyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar.[5]Subbulakshmi gave her first public performance, at the age of eleven, in the year 1927, in the 100 pillar hall inside theRockfortTemple,Tiruchirappalli; with Mysore Chowdiah on the violin and Dakshinamurthy Pillai on the mridangam.[6]In 1936 Subbulakshmi moved toMadras(now Chennai).[7]She also made her film debut inSevasadanin 1938.[8]M.S. Subbulakshmi began her Carnatic classical music training under her mother Shanmugavadivu; and later in Hindustani classical training under Pandit Narayan Rao Vyas. Subbulakshmi first recording was released when she was 10 years old.Subbulakshmi gave her first performance at the prestigiousMadras Music Academyin 1929,when she was 13 years old . The performance consisted of singingbhajans(Hindu hymns).[9]The academy was known for its discriminating selection process, and they broke tradition by inviting a young girl as a key performer. Her performance was described as spellbinding and earned her many admirers and themonikerof musical genius from critics. Soon after her debut performances, Subbulakshmi became one of the leading Carnatic vocalists.[7][10]By the age of seventeen, Subbulakshmi was giving concerts on her own, including major performances at theMadras Music Academy.M.S. also acted in a fewTamilfilms in her youth. Her first movieSevasadanamwas released on 2 May 1938.F.G. Natesa Iyerwas the lead actor, opposite Subbulakshmi, in this film, directed byK. Subramanyam. It was a critical and commercial success.[12]Ananda Vikatanfavourably reviewed the film on 8 May 1938:Hariprasad ChaurasiaPanditHariprasad Chaurasia(Hindi: ; born 1 July 1938) is an Indian classicalflautist.[1]He plays in theNorth Indian tradition.Chaurasia was born inAllahabadin the Indian state ofUttar Pradesh.[2]His father was a wrestler. His mother died when he was 6. He had to learn music without his father's knowledge, for his father wanted him to become a wrestler. He did go to theAkhadaand train with his father for some time, although he also started learning music and practising at his friend's house.[3]He has stated,I was not any good at wrestling. I went there only to please my father. But maybe because of the strength and stamina I built up then, I'm able to play the bansuri even to this day.[citation needed]Hariprasad ChaurasiaChaurasia started learning vocal music from his neighbor, Pandit Rajaram, at the age of 15. Later, he switched to playing the flute under the tutelage of Pandit Bholanath Prasanna ofVaranasifor eight years. He joined theAll India Radio,Cuttack,Odishain 1957 and worked as a composer and performer.[2][4]Much later, while working for All India Radio, he received guidance from the reclusiveAnnapurna Devi, daughter ofBaba Allaudin Khan. She only agreed to teach him if he switched from right-handed to left-handed playing (so as to start over free from any pre-existing errement). Another version is that she only agreed to teach him after he (of his own) took the decision to switch from right-handed to left-handed playing to show her his commitment.[5]In any case Chaurasia plays left-handed to this day. Apart from classical music, he has made a mark as a music director for Indian films along withShivkumar Sharma, forming a group calledShiv-Hari. He has collaborated with world musicians inexperimentalcross-cultural performances, including the fusion groupShakti.He serves as the artistic director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory in the Netherlands. He was also the founder of the Vrindavan Gurukul in Mumbai (opened 2006) and Vrindavan Gurukul in Bhubaneshwar (opened 2010). Both of these institutes are schools dedicated to training students in Hindustani Bansuri in theGuru-shishya tradition.He has collaborated with several western musicians, includingJohn McLaughlin,Jan Garbarek, andKen Lauber, and has composed music for Indian films. He has performed throughout the world, winning acclaim from varied audiences and fellow musicians includingYehudi MenuhinandJean-Pierre Rampal. Chaurasia also played onThe Beatles' 1968 B-side "The Inner Light", which was written byGeorge Harrison.[6]