Balwantrai Bhatt
Balwant Rai Bhatt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 September 1921 |
| Origin | Benaras, India |
| Genres | Hindustani classical music |
| Occupation(s) | classical composer, singer |
Pandit Balwant Rai Bhatt (born 23 September 1921) is a noted Indian composer and musician of Hindustani vocal music.[1] He is also known as Bhavrang (भावरंग). He passed away at his home in Varanasi on 2nd May 2016.
Early life and background
Balwant Rai Bhatt was born in Bhavnagar, Gujarat to Smt. Harkunvar and Shri Gulabrai Bhatt on 23 September 1921.[2]
Career
Bhatt is a disciple of Pandit Omkarnath Thakur of Gwalior Gharana. In 1950, he moved to Varanasi with his mentor setting up a music institution named Kala Sangeet Bharati at the Banaras Hindu University. He taught at the university for 31 years. The music institution grew and evolved through the years, and is now the Faculty of Performing Arts.[3]
Apart from being an educator, he is known as an exceptionally talented composer. He is considered a complete Vaggeyakaar, one who composes both Vak or the word (couplets, poems) and the Geya (literally translated to singable) or the melody. He has a penchant for layakari, and many of his compositions incorporate intricate laya (tempo) patterns. Many of his compositions have been published in book form as the three volumes of Bhavrang Lahari. Bhavrang is his pen name.
Books
He edited the Sangeetanjali series of books that were authored by Pandit Omkarnath Thakur. A 3-volume book series called Bhavrang Lahari (भावरंग ऻहरी) contains many of his compositions.
Awards
Balwant Rai Bhatt has been awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1990.[4] He was awarded Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar in 2004.[5] He was honored with the prestigious Kalidas Samman in the year 2007–08.[6]
Students
References
- ^ http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/03/03/stories/2006030302420200.htm
- ^ http://omenad.net/page.php?goPage=http%3A%2F%2Fomenad.net%2Farticles%2Fbhavrang.htm
- ^ http://bhu.ac.in/fpa/index.htm
- ^ http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php
- ^ http://sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist.htm
- ^ http://www.mpinfo.org/mpinfonew/hindi/award/kalidas.asp
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