The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

From Schools
Rhyme time at St Soldier’s
Our Correspondent

Mohali, October 27
‘Rhymes n Recitation Day’ was celebrated with great enthusiasm at St Soldier’s International Convent School, Phase VII, here yesterday. The programme started with an introductory speech by the junior wing in-charge Amrit Kalsi who apprised the parents about the significance of enhancing speech skills and their relevance in personality building. More than 700 students of pre-primary and primary classes participated in the inter-class elocution competition. The highlight of the day was the show put up by the children of the play group as it was their maiden experience on stage. Students of the primary classes mesmerised the audience by reciting classical poetry. Principal V. Tiwana applauded the efforts of the students and teachers.

Musical evening: A musical evening was organised by St Soldier’s Ex-students Association here today. As many as 100 students walked down the memory lane on the occasion and shared the happy moments spent in the school. They also participated in games like musical chairs, passing the parcel, rock-n-roll and tambola. The members of the association later shook a leg to foot-tapping numbers at a dance party. Winners were honoured by the principal V. Tiwana.

Prize distribution: Gaiety and fervour marked the annual prize distribution function - ‘Harmony-2007’ of Sant Isher Singh Public School here today. The function started with the recitation of the school shabad followed by invocation of Goddess Saraswati. Students performed dances of different states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Assam which enthralled the audience. A Punjabi play ‘Play Khol’ won great applause. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, cooperation minister, who was the chief guest, gave away prizes to the students for excellence in academics, sports and co-curricular activities.

CULTURE

Sitarist captivates audience
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 27
The Chandigarh administration, in association with the Triveni Sangeet Sabha, presented a programme during the Festival of Classical Music 2007 at Bhargava Auditorium, PGI, here today.

Harbinder Kumar Sharma, an acclaimed sitarist of the Imdadkhani gharana and the foremost disciple of Ustad Vilayat Khan Saheb, commenced the soiree with a scintillating recital. In the exposition, he bared the melodic character of raga Vachaspati. Harbinder displayed his deft adroit mastery over the instrument in both the slow and fast tempo compositions. Young tabla virtuoso Jaidev gave him perfect accompaniment.

Just back after her hectic 28 performances in the US and Australia, world-renowned vocalist Shruti Sadolikar took center stage to spell magic with her rendition of raga Maru Bihag. She concluded the recital with a Gujarati song.

Talking to the The Tribune, Shruti maintained that she was not immune to any innovation in her music. Working with genius A.R. Rehman for the “Jan Gan Man” was a good experience as also singing the badhai song for Amol Palekar’s film, ‘Paheli’, she added.

Artistes hold audience spellbound
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 27
The Broadcasting Corporation of India held its annual Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan at Lobana Bhavan, here, today. Well-acclaimed santoor maestro Satish Vyas opened up the concert. He delineated the finer nuances of raga Chander Kauns delving deep into the contemplative alaap, jod jhalla before forming the abstract raga form. The maestro was at his best while executing the gats, both vilamat and drut, set to jhap tal and ek tal, respectively. Maintaining his dexterity in laya tal and melody, he also presented raga Kirwani. Mukand Raj Deo accompanied him on tabla.

The second session belonged to revered classical vocalist Pandit Mohan Lal Mishra, who presented raga Shudh Kalyan and later raga Kalwati.

Pandit Kalle Ram of the Punjab gharana and Hirenmoy Mitra embellished the recital, accompanying him on tabla and harmonium, respectively.

Lack of management

The city’s art aficionados, while welcoming the three classical music performances at different venues, resented the lack of coordination among the organisers. They lamented that such programmes, featuring the top brass of artistes, were a rarity and a cultural calender must be evolved to serve the art lovers better.

Sparkling recitals spell magic
S.D. Sharma

Chandigarh, October 27
A captivating sarod recital by Lucknow-based Pandit Narender Nath Dhar and a vocal performance by vivacious vocalist Manjri Asnare lighted up the second day of the ongoing Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan organised by the Indian National Theatre (INT) and Indian Oil at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan auditorium. The Tribune Group of Newspapers is the media sponsor.

Dhar opened up with an elaborate alaap jod jhalla of raga shudh kalyan. Ably supported by young Avirbhav on tabla and Aroop on tanpura, he displayed a rare pattern of jhap tal.

A scion of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana Sangli-based vocalist Manjiri Asanare concluded the second session with an immaculate rendition of raga Lalit gauri delineating an alaap and a vilambat composition Pritaqm sanyan in teen tal. Dr Kalyani Deshmukh will conclude the sammelan with her vocal recital beginning at 10.15 am tomorrow.