Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar

Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar is the son and nephew, and musical heir of the Late DAGAR BROTHERS,Ustad N. Zahiruddin and Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar, his uncle and father respectively. He started his career at an early age as a soloist and after his father’s demise in 1989 also performed in jugalbandi with his uncle, Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar. Since the demise of the latter in 1994, Wasifuddin is carrying on the DAGARVANI tradition in solo. His rendition of dhrupad is a unique blend of his uncle’s training, his father’s quality of voice and temperament, his own personality and his in-depth knowledge of the characteristic styles of his elders. Typically in his alap, he fills every note with space and colour, he travels extensively and easily across three octaves delineating the personality of the raga in all clarity. His powerful gamaks are fast and sonorous, yet retain the softness and sweetness of the raga. Over the years, he developed a liking for numerous subtle variations and musical improvisations on a single phrase bringing out, through modulations in volume and sound application, many diverse shades of meaning. The overall effect of his singing is a middle path, merging techniques and styles of both his gurus. He is very popular with young listener for his lively lecture-demonstrations illustrating vedic-old technicalities through metaphors from daily life. As the President of the DHRUPAD SOCIETY of Delhi, he took over the responsibility of preserving and disseminating dhrupad as well as organising the annual Delhi DHRUPAD SAMAROH. As self-employed artiste he gives recitals, he tours and records for Indian and foreign, private and public parties and institutions. He teaches at his residence vocal dhrupad in the ancient guru-shishya parampara tradition.

PRESTIGIOUS CONCERTS 1998 UNESCO, Paris 2000 - Theatre de la Ville, Paris 2001 - World Music Institute, New York - World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, United Nations, New York 2002 - World Sacred Music Festival of the Dalai Lama, New York - World Music Day, New Delhi 2003 - Sahmat, New Delhi CONCERTS AND LECTURE-DEMONSTRATION TOURS September/October 1999, Japan February/March 2000, Europe: Holland, Switzerland, Belgium and Hungary May/June 2000, America: New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington November 2000, Bangladesh: Dhaka, Chittagong June/July 2001, America: New York, Washington, Seattle September 2001, Switzerland October/November 2002, Japan DISCOGRAPHY OF SOLO RECORDINGS SINCE 1995 1995, Audio-cassette/CD released by Maestro’ Choice, MUSIC TODAY, India 1999, a 5 CDs album released by the Swiss company, JECKLIN 2001, CD released by RAGA RECORDS of a live concert given in May 2000 in New York, 2002, CD, recorded specially for the UNESCO, to be released in Paris. 2002, CD recorded for “SENSE”, UK, to be released.

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