Thematic Concerts
In addition to recitals of pure Hindustani Khayal Radhika is passionate about exploring various aspects of Indian musicians and their music. Below are some examples of the thematic concerts presented by Radhika .
Specialities of the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana
The Jaipur- Atrauli Gharana was founded by Ustad Alladiya Khan. It is considered to be a style of singing that places equal emphasis on emotion and intellect, and hence this Gayaki is often referred to as a thinking listener's or connoisseur's Gayaki.
A highlight of the Jaipur gayaki is the mastery over Jod Raags where the challenge is to sperform a rendition that sounds like a perfect fusion of the two raags, not as a heterogeneous mixture cobbled together. This lecture cum demonstraiton aims to bring to light some of the distinctive musical characteristic of the gharana through a historical study of the gharana's lineage and descendents.
Semi-Classical music in India
Semi Classical music in India refers to lighter forms of raga-based music that originate from or are inspired by folk music. While some are descriptions of various festivals celebrated in Northern India, others remind us of changes in seasons and the joys thereof.
In this concert, Radhika provided a historic outline of the growth and decline of semi-classical in various parts of Northern India. We demonstrate similarities and differences in various forms of semi classical music such as Thumri, Dadra, Hori, Kajri, Chaiti and Jhoola.
Tribute to women performers
In this series of performances hosted by the Bangalore International Center, Radhika presented a tribute to two most iconic women performers in India: Padma Bhushan Begum Akhtar and Padma Vibhushan Girija Devi. The performance included a carefully scripted narration of stories and anecdotes from the lives of these musicians and how these incidenced shaped their careers. In the concert, Radhika also present compositions immortalized by these women.
Lecture Demonstration
Radhika is passionate about spreading the love for Hindustani music among the youth. She regularly conducts lecture demonstrations to explain the nuances of Indian Classical music to students and listeners. Eager to introduce classical music to children in an engaging manner, Radhika has also released a book titled 'Phulwari Geeton Ki' which has new compositions especially for children.
