By Jagpreet Sandhu,Chandigarh, January 12 : Pracheen Kala Kendra organized its 172nd Baithak Programme on wednesday featuring Goraya-based vocalist Hari Dev at the Bhaskar Rao Indoor Auditorium of the Kendra at Sector 35.
One of the noted vocalists of Punjab, Hari Dev is gifted with a sweet voice and an innate sense of music. Hari Dev’s considerable talent attracted the attention of renowned vocalist Sangeet Diwakar Master Rattan ji of Hadiabad who was master exponent of Sham Chaurasi Gharana of Ustad Maula Baksh. He has the privilege of performing in all major music conferences. A master singer of Khayal, Thumri, Bhajan and Gurmat Sangeet, Hari Dev has been performing on the Radio and Doordarshan for the last over three decades.
He began his recital with most appropriate and appealing Raga Jaijaiwanti, presenting the Bara (slow) Khayal “Palana ghar lah re bharanjiya…” set to vilambit Ek tala. It was given a most befitting handling, with reposeful alaap, badhat, sargams and bol-taans with tuneful phrasings and refreshingly deployed variations. The fast tempo composition (chhota khayal) “Mohe Mandir ab lo nahi aaye” was embellished with liltingly conceived phrasings, thereby releasing the raga’s gay and colour contents with pleasing effect.
His next rendering of the evening was “Adhey sumaridh mana…” in Raga Malkauns. Hari Dev concluded his recital with a Kaafi revealing his high level of musicianship and artistic depth, totally devoid of unnecessary showmanship.
His immaculate spell was well augmented by Pradeep Sharma on Harmonium. The accomplished Tabla player Mehmood Khan articulated the melody meter and won applause from the audience.