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Pandit Kishan Maharaj | |
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| Born | Kishan Hari Maharaj 3 September 1923 |
| Died | 4 May 2008(2008-05-04) (aged 84) Khajuri,Uttar Pradesh,India |
| Occupation | Hindustani ClassicalTabla player |
| Years active | 1934-2008 |
| Parent(s) | Hari Maharaj (father) Anjora Devi (mother) |
| Musical career | |
| Instrument | Tabla |
Musical artist | |
Pandit Kishan Maharaj (3 September 1923 – 4 May 2008) was an Indiantabla player who belonged to theBenares gharana ofHindustani classical music.[1][2]
Maharaj was born to aBrahmin family of hereditary musicians inKabir Chaura,Benaras.[1] His father was Hari Maharaj and his mother was Anjora Devi. He was adopted by his father's older brother,Kanthe Maharaj, who did not have children of his own.[3]
Maharaj's musical guidance was initiated by his father. Maharaj was six years old when his father died. Afterwards, Maharaj's musical training continued with Kanthe Maharaj and lasted for give years.
Maharaj began performing in concerts by age 11. He moved to Bombay in 1944 to pursue a music career and initially struggled. He provided tabla accompaniment toSitara Devi in theHindi filmBadi Maa (1945).
Within a few years, Kishan Maharaj was sharing the stage with leading classical musicians likeFaiyaz Khan,Omkarnath Thakur,Bade Ghulam Ali Khan,Bhimsen Joshi,Ravi Shankar,Ali Akbar Khan,Vasant Rai,Vilayat Khan,Girija Devi, and many others.
Celebrated as a leading tabla soloist, Maharaj also gavesangat to dancers likeShambhu Maharaj, Sitara Devi,Gopi Krishna, andBirju Maharaj.
Maharaj also performed alongside celebrated tabla maestros likeSamta Prasad (his uncle),Alla Rakha, andKaramatullah Khan.
HisTaal Vadya Kacheri performances withCarnatic percussionistPalghat R. Raghu were celebrated.[4]
Among all his compositions, his "Tala Vadya Kacheri" with the Mridangam Vidwan, "Palghat Raghu" stood out. Maharaj extensively toured and participated in several prestigious events across the world, including theEdinburgh Festival and the Commonwealth Arts festival in theUnited Kingdom in 1965. He has toured across the UK,USSR,Switzerland,Poland,Yugoslavia, andCzechoslovakia.
Maharaj had the ability to play cross-rhythms and produce complex calculations, particularly intihai patterns. Known as an excellent accompanist, Maharaj was extremely versatile and capable of playing with any accompaniment, be it with theSitar,Sarod,Dhrupad,Dhamar or even dance.
Maharaj died on 4 May 2008 at Khajuri near Varanasi, aged 84.[5]
Maharaj trained many disciples, several of whom have become prominent musicians. This includes:
In 1947, Maharaj married Veena Devi, the daughter ofAnokhelal Mishra's older brother. They have a son,Pooran Maharaj, who is also a tabla player.
Maharaj was awarded thePadma Shri in 1973 and thePadma Vibhushan in 2002.[6] He was married toBeena devi, niece of a Tabla maestro of theBenaras Gharana,Pandit Anokhe Lal Mishra.
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