Sitar Maestro
Pandit Prateek Chaudhuri
Pandit Prateek Chaudhuri, a
brilliant performer, is acclaimed as one of the most
outstanding Sitar players of the country today amongst the present generation. His
Sitar sparkles with the rare combination of virtuosity with technical
finesse and a deep sense of aesthetics. His music also reflects
the eternal essence of Sitar. He has for his father, the World Renowned Sitar
Maestro, Pandit Debu Chaudhuri,Padmabhushan Awardee. He also
had the great fortune to learn from his Dadaguru (father’s guru), Ustad
Mushtaq Ali Khan Sahab, the great legend of the “Senia” tradition,
which has been named after “Mian Tansen” , the doyen of Indian
Classical Music. Tansen is often called the father of Indian Classical Music
and those who belong to his family and follow his tradition are called “ Senia
”. Prateek ji is the automatic successor to this rare “Senia” tradition of the
great Indian Classical Music, having a unique tradition of
playing the Sitar not only with the traditional and rare 17 frets (
instead of 19,20 or 21 frets, found at present), but also
having a unique string arrangement of it’s own.
Prateek ji, today, strides the musical panthenon like a
young handsome Colossus. His graceful
style and intricate technique
echo the great masters of the past. From his nimble fingers resonate, the rich
tones and melodious phrases, which are characteristics of his style. His
skillful fingers handle rapidly moving passages with ease, while maintaining integrity and beauty of every note, the mark of a true virtuoso. With each performance, he evokes masterful handling of his
instrument emitting grace,
fluidity and dexterity with
each note.
His charming stage presence and charisma only serve to
enhance the overall grandness of the performance. That being so, it must be
mentioned that simplicity and clarity are the hallmark of his style.
Amongst his numerous achievements, Prateek ji has been ranked as an “A
Class” Artist by the National Television and Radio of
the Govt. of India. His mastery over the Sitar and "Laya" (rhythm) has been
acclaimed and praised by the leading musicians of the country and he has also
been accompanied by almost all the leading Tabla maestros, in his recitals
in India and Abroad.
Special Awards & Recognitions :
Prateek ji has been awarded the reputed
“Kala Ratna Award” from the Swami
Haridas Sangeet Samaroha Samiti in Vrindavan, the “Savitri Samman Award”, from
Delhi, “Sangeet Ratna Award”, from Delhi “Jadubhatta
Award ” from Kolkata “Pandit Nikhil Bannerjee Award” from
Lucknow, “The Best Instrumentalist Award” from Delhi and
the “Surmani Award” from Mumbai, amongst many other
Awards and recognitions. His name has also been listed amongst the prominent
personalities of the World in American Biographies Intl.
and Asia’s Who’s Who.
Special Concerts :
·
Prateek ji was invited
to perform a very Special and Prestigious concert celebrating the
60 years of the Indian Parliament in
the Central Hall of the Parliament
of India in the year 2012 , which was attended by the President of India, Prime Minister of India, the Vice President, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the whole of the Lok
Sabha and Rajya Sabha members of the Indian Parliament.
·
Prateek ji received
the rare distinction and honour to
give a Special Concert for the President of United States
of America, Mr. Bill Clinton during his first visit
to India
- He also had the honour to perform for
the President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam and Shri
R. Venkataraman in Rashtrapati Bhawan,New
Delhi.
- He has also performed for the Prime
Minister of Norway during his trip
to India in 2005.
- Prateek ji has performed at Major
Venues across the world including the prestigious Carnegie
Hall and Kennedy Centre, in USA and the
famous Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.
He also has to his credit many successful
concerts in Major Music Festivals in India and
Abroad.
- He is the only Indian musician to have
performed with the Renowned “Swarovsky Music
Wattens” Orchestra, consisting of 80 musicians, from Austria in
a Special Concert held
in Jaipur, India in the year 2005, which was highly appreciated
and profusely praisedby the audience. The Concert was
also graced by Smt. Pratibha Patil,
the Governer of Rajastan and now the President
of India.
- Prateek ji has also been the featured
artist in almost all the Major Festivals of
the country including the famous and prestigious Music
Festivals like the Jaipur International Heritage Festival in Jaipur,
UNESCO Music Festival on Intl. Day for Tolerance in Delhi, ITC
Music Festival in Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad, Tansen
Music Festival in Gwalior and Delhi,
Maihar Festival of Music in Maihar, Sawai
Gandharva Music Festival in Poona, Saptak Festival in
Ahmedabad, Sankat Mochan
Festival in Varanasi, Baba Harballabh Festival in Jalandhar,
Pandit Vishnu Digambar Jayanti in Delhi, UMAK
Music Festival in Delhi, Kolkata and Jalandhar just
to name a few, amongst many others..
- Prateek ji was invited to give a
Special Live Concert for BBC 3 Radio in London.
- He has been featured in the prestigious National
Programme of Music in All India Radio May’2000 and the National
Television of India ( Doordarshan ) in 2003.
- Prateek ji has also been featured in
the prestigious AIR Sangeet Sammelan (Radio
Music Festival) of the Govt. of India, held in Shimla in2004
and Mumbai 2010
Unparalled Unique Creations :
- SITAR ECSTASY
: The Creator and Leader of “ SITAR ECSTASY ” the
“ sought after ” Sitar Fusion Group with
a Beautiful
, Pulsating, Rocking and a Heady Mix of
a variety of Indian and Western Musical Forms including Indian Classical, Western Classical,
Light Music, Arabic, World Music, Rock, Musical & Rhythmic Dialogues
all performed in a unique and in a creative manner
appealing
to all age groups.
- SITARS OF INDIA: The Creator and Leader
of “ SITARS OF INDIA” the Unparalled ,
Rare and Exciting Sitar
Ensemble with a Difference , encompassing and
showcasing a beautiful synthesis and amalgamation of the
immense variety of Musical
forms found in India at present in such a Unique and Exciting manner, which has not been attempted anywhere all over the World.
- SOUL OF INDIA -The Grand Orchestra :
Prateek ji is the Creator and the Main
Leader of “ SOUL OF INDIA -The Grand Orchestra
” the “rare”, “unique”, and
sought after Grand Musical Orchestral Ensemble of
the country India , which has got musical elements of great
variety including Indian Classical, Western Classical. Rockmusic, Jazz
music, Sufi music, Music from Rajasthan, Pop
music, a Grand Rhythmic ensemble known as ‘Taal
Vadya Kacheri’ and also other elements of World Music presented
in a Grand scale with vocals and instruments
Unique Performances :
Fusion, Cross over
Music, World Music and Jugalbandi
(Duet) Concerts
With his innovative
ideas, also being a composer, Prateek ji received rave
reviews after he explored and experimented successfully with Fusion Concerts, World and Crossover Music, Carnatic Music and Jugalbandi ( Duet) Concerts in India and Abroad. He
has given highly successful concerts with
many reputed
artists , forms of music and combinations with artists
from various parts of the world, which include :
· Immensely popular Concerts : with Louis
Banks,the Renowned Jazz Keyboard player and Sivamani, the famous
Drummer and Percussionist from India. The name of the
above group is “Rhythm Asia” which is very
much sought after.
· Sitar with Japanese
Drum players : Prateek ji performed a scintillating
concert with Ryohhei and Kohei of
the famous AUN group fromJapan
· Sitar with Saxophone : He
has also performed with Dave Pietro, the famous Saxophone player from New
York, USA
· He has also experimented
successfully with Carnatic musicians in India which
also show his imagination in another dimension in his musical career.
Another unique and rare concert performed
by him was that Prateek ji, on the Solo Sitar was accompanied
by both Tabla andMridangam,
a highly successful and rare combination.
· Prateek ji has also recently
given extremely successful and sought after Jugalbandi
(Duet) Concerts with his father, Pandit Debu Chaudhuri,
i.e. Duet Sitar Concerts and with many reputed artists
of the country playing the unique instruments like
the Shehnai, Sarangi , Harmonium and
also the Sarod. These concerts also had an overwhelming response
and won the hearts of the audience
Countries performed all over the world :
He has toured extensively throughout the
world with his father as well as a solo artiste. These include countries
like United States of America, Canada, England, New Zealand, France,
Greece, Germany, Holland, Austria, Belgium, Japan, China,
Italy, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Mexico, Morocco,
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Yugoslavia (before
partition), , Indonesia, Venezuela , Turkey, Syria, just
to name a few. Prateek ji is also the first Sitarist to
visit and perform in countries like Bosnia (after
partition of Yugoslavia) and even in Latin American countries
like Columbia, Guatemala and Panama.
Academic excellence :
Prateek ji has also excelled in each stage
of his education. He is the recipient of the Gold Medal for
his M.A. (Music), while he has also secured the first
position in M.Phil (Music) examinations and
is Ph.D (Music) i.e a Doctrate from the University
of Delhi. At present, he not only performs all over the world, but also
teaches as an Associate Professor at
the Faculty of Music of the University of Delhi, India, thus
being a unique and rare combination of
an eminent performer and teacher together
in one , which is very hard to find.
Besides his innumerous performances all
over the world, Prateek ji has also conducted several Workshops and also
given several Lecture-Demonstrations in India and Abroad for students and musicians in
many countries.
Special Mention :
- He has recorded for many labels including India
Archives in New York, USA and also
with SaReGaMa, India.
- Recipient of National Scholarship for
Music awarded by the Govt. of India
- Awarded the Delhi State Scholarship for
Music by the Govt. of the State of Delhi.
- Recipient of the Junior Research Fellowship and Senior
Research Fellowship awarded by the University
Grants Commission, Govt. of India for Research in
Music.
- Represented India in the Six Nation
Music Festival in Greece.
Press Clippings
In Prateek’s detailed exposition in
Alap-Jor with methodical
development of the raga’s essential features, he displayed an air of serenity and technical
proficiency. The three
compositions rendered by him (a Maseetkhani, another in Madhya
laya Ektala and
finally the Super fast in Teentala) were embellished with lively and refreshingly etched variations, many of which were breathtaking. The
Hindu, New
Delhi
“ There is technique, commendable musicianship,
intellectual grasp, and enjoyment for himself, which is the greatest gift a musician
can bring to his
art." The
Times of India, New Delhi
“ One felt delighted to observe the depth and artistic maturity he has now
attained. The tuneful glides were indeed soothing. His unfolding of the
raga’s numerous hidden contours was indeed with scholastic insight which is in
line with one who has already been awarded a Doctorate by Delhi University for his intensive and valuable research
cum study in Indian music. ” The
Hindu, New
Delhi
"There was a perfect combination of thehrav, meends and andolans in his performance…." Ras
Times, New
Delhi
"One is struck by his clarity and boldness in strokes, and the confidence which he performs in concerts."
The Hindustan Times, New Delhi
“As evidenced by the fluent rippling tans, produced by him towards the close of the first gat, Prateek can
also play pretty
nimbly without blurring the swaras that make up the tonal passages and has a feeling for rhythm too.” Sruti, Chennai
Prateek did dish out a good number of forceful and vibrating phrases which did attain a breathtaking pace towards the end……
The Hindu, New Delhi
"Prateek's greatest asset is the
heritage of his gharana reflected in his spontaneous melodic expression."
The Statesman, Kolkata
"Prateek performed with much aplomb
and with gay abundance….”
The Statesman, New Delhi
Contact
:
Address : J-1852 Chittaranjan Park, New
Delhi-110019,INDIA
Mob : 09810022228, Tel / Fax : 91-11-2627-1060
Website : www.prateekchaudhuri.com
e-mail: prateekchaudhuri@yahoo.com