Jammu, February 11, (Scoop News)-SaMaPa stretched its wings to Rajouri on Day 2 of the SaMaPa Aalap Festival (SAF) 2014. The concert was held at DPS Rajouri featuring enthralling presentation by Shri Zunain Halim Khan on Sitar, one of the foremost Sitar players of the present generation from Mumbai followed by mesmerizing Ghazal recital by eminent vocalist Ustad Naeem Ali Thirakhwa from Delhi. The concert was witnessed by more than 3000 people comprising of students of DPS Rajori and other institutes of the area, parents and local residents. The concert also featured a discourse by eminent musicologist and critic Vidushi Manjari Sinha from Delhi. In another concert held earlier in Jammu at the K.C. Public School observed a soulful recital of Bansuri by the internationally acclaimed Flute maestro Pandit Ronu Majumdar frm Mumbai. The 9th Annual SAF is being presented by the Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts (SaMaPa) in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, J&K Police & Department of Tourism, Jammu.
The concert at K.C. Public School was attended by a large number of students and staff of the School. The function started with the traditional lamp lighting by the artists, Director of K.C. Public School Dr. R.D. Thaku and Santoor Maestro & Music Composer Abhay Rustum Sopori. The proceedings of the concert were coordinated by CCA Coordinator Ms. Shobhna Sethi while Alice Singh, a student of Class IX compered the programme. The concert was attended by hundreds of students and a number of music connoisseurs including the Principal Amarendra Mishra, senior music critic and musicologist Pandit Ravindra Misra from Delhi. Pt. Ronu Majumdar presented Raga Mangal Bhairav commencing his recital with Aalap – Jod followed by compositions in Jhaptaal and Teentaal. He concluded his recital with the meera Bhajan “Payoji Maine Ram Ratan”. His hour long performance marked his mastery on the instrument, perfection of techniques, fine melody, fluency and beautiful unison of Gayaki and Tantrakari Ang. The students joined him singing various phrases and compositions and were taken into a trance. He was ably accompanied by the renowned Tabla player Shri Durjay Bhaumik and on Bansuri by Shri Hari Dutt Sharma. Dr. Thakur presented mementos and shawls to the performing musicians and Abhay Rustum Sopori. in his address, Dr. Thakur complimented SaMaPa and Abhay for taking pioneering steps to reshape the cultural scenario of the State and contributing to its further growth. He said, in the last few years the school has witnessed presentations by various internationally acclaimed musicians as part of the SAF and the SaMaPa movement and this is something which will go a long way in the development of each child and society at large. He complimented Abhay Sopori for giving the students and music lovers of the State of J&K to witness the performances of some of the best musicians of the country.
Music maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori spoke to the children on the occasion. He explained the festival motive and shared with the children how various initiatives were taken by SaMaPa in the year 2005 to revive the cultural scenario of the State and how it has now reached to more than 35,000 people. He asked the students to take more interest in cultural activities and also take initiatives to attend atleast one art or cultural show every month which helps in the overall development of the personality. He highlighted the need to have a focus on art and culture too as it’s an identity of each child. The children looked very inspired, influenced and motivated by Sopori’s interaction with them.
In the concert at Rajouri, Shri Zunain Halim Khan presented a scintillating Sitar recital followed by Ghazal recital by Ustad Naeem Ali Thirikwa accompanied by Shri Rafi Khan on Harmonium and Shri Abhishek Mishra on Tabla. Hundreds of students and general public attended the concert including Shri Sajjad Tariq, Chairman of the institute and Senior music critic and musicologist Vidushi Manjari Sinha from Delhi whialso conducted a discourse on music and culture after the concert.
The SAF, on 12th February, will feature Santoor recital by maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori at Army Public School Ratnuchak at 10:30 am.
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