New Book Release :

MY NAME IS GAUHAR JAAN - The Life and Times of a Musician.
By Vikram Sampath
Published by Rupa & Co., India - 2010

"My Name is Gauhar Jaan!" - The earliest recordings of Indian music are distinguished by this high-pitched and flirtatious announcement, made towards the end of the rendition. This declaration of the singer seemed to epitomize a milestone in the history of Indian classical music, one that would change forever its content, structure and style of presentation.

The music scene in India at the turn of the 20th century witnessed tumultuous changes. The traditional custodians of the art form - the devadasis of the South and the nautch girls and tawaifs of the North, who had nurtured the art for centuries, became victims of the morality laws of the British government and the prudery of an 'enlightened' and educated Indian elite. However Gauhar Jaan (1873-1930), eminent Hindustani/North Indian classical vocalist, symbolizes the resurgent women musicians of the time.

Born as Eileen Angelina Yeoward, an Armenian Christian who later converted to Islam, Gauhar Jaan was a naturally gifted musician with a wide repertoire. One of the earliest women artists who seized opportunity that came with the advent of recording technology, hers was the first Indian voice to be recorded in 1902. In her illustrious career she cut close to 600 records.

Along with her musical talents, her striking good looks, flamboyant lifestyle, fluency in several languages and her ability to compose verses in Urdu and Hindi made her a popular figure, both nationally and internationally. She had the rare distinction of performing in front of Emperor George V in the famous Delhi Durbar in 1911.

This book traces the story of her life with all its attendant myths, legends and folklore, some of which are recorded, some apocryphal; as well as the times during which she lived and made exquisite music. The socio-cultural context serves to put her contribution and the role of women like her to Hindustani music in perspective. Through her music an attempt is made to analyze the different genres of Hindustani music that Gauhar and singers like her popularized, namely the Thumri, Dadra, and Ghazal. The book also describes briefly the evolution of the recording industry in India and its impact on Indian music, theatre and social life.

About the Author :Vikram's first book, 'Splendours of Royal Mysore: the Untold Story of the Wodeyars' has been widely acclaimed across India. The book traces the 600 year long history of Mysore, its royal family and culture. It has been termed as one of the most definitive accounts on the Mysore royal family in recent times. The book was nominated for the Crossword Vodafone Award among the best non-fiction titles of 2008. Vikram was also awarded the prestigious 'Global 30 under 30 Award' by the BITS Alumni Association and BITS-Pilani for excellence in the field of literature.


More at http://vikramsampath.com/



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