Monday, September 14, 2015

"The Raga-ness of Raga-s" by Deepak Raja



My fourth book on Hindustani music comes off the press in the next 48 hours. The publisher says we need to print a direct mail brochure. I ask him how many copies we should print, to whom we direct the mailing, and whether anyone reads print brochures any longer. He doesn't know the answer. I don't either. Perhaps nobody does. So, he asked me if there was an alternative. I told him I will give it a shot. And, this is what came out of it. Check it out.

The Raga-ness of Raga-s. A Video brochure


Thursday, August 27, 2015

Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan: The Last Interview

Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan


By Lalita Khanna
From: The Souvenir of the
Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Music Festival 1975






























Monday, August 17, 2015

Interviews with Vidushi Dhondutai Kulkarni (1927-2014)


In 2003, I began work on a commentary to accompany a recording by India Archive Music, New York, of Vidushi Dhondutai Kulkarni, the only disciple of Kesarbai Kerkar. Around that time, I was also writing regular features on Hindustani music for SRUTI magazine, published from Chennai, and planning my book on Khayal vocalism. I requested my Guru to give me formal interviews, of which I obtained two over the next couple of months. 

The interviews have been expertly processed and edited by my friend, Kishor Merchant. 
I am sharing  both the interviews here.

Music lovers may feel free to download. 



Dhondutai interview 07-06-2003


(c) Deepak S. Raja 2003-2015

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

The musician and his art


This essay has now been published under the title
"The Raga-ness of musicians"
in my fourth book:



Removing it from here was proper, though not obligatory, in order that my publisher's investment in the book is protected. 

DR