Date:10/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/06/10/stories/2005061008240300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Sangeet Nritya Academy to promote Carnatic music

Staff Correspondent

BELGAUM: The Karnataka Sangeet Nritya Academy has decided to hold Carnatic music recitals in north India, in an effort to introduce the classical music of the South to a new audience.

The Academy's new chairman, the noted vocalist Rajshekhar Mansur, said here on Wednesday that concerts by eminent artistes from the State will be staged in Pune, Nagpur and Bhilai. Depending on the response, Bharatanatya and Carnatic music performances will be staged in other cities, such as Kolkata and New Delhi, in future.

Another initiative evolved by the Academy to renew the dying art of gamaka recitation, is to set up a Gamaka Training Centre to train schoolteachers in gamaka recitation. Initially, the centre will be in Bangalore and teachers from primary, middle and high schools will be invited for training.

Mr. Mansur regretted the lack of media coverage on Hindustani musical programmes. To create awareness among journalists, a two-day workshop will be organised in Bangalore at the end of this month. Eminent musicians and music critics will be the resource persons and will highlight the salient features of Hindustani music. Similar workshops will also be organised at the district-level, if journalists' associations came forward.

He said the Academy will request the State Government to provide more funds, about Rs. 25 lakhs, as the present allocation of Rs. 18 lakhs is not sufficient.