‘Taalam’ a sublime evening

'Taalam', an evening of Indian classical music held at Ellerslie War Memorial hall on the 21st February at 7pm. The show had many spectacular performances by the students of the Puratan Kala Punjab Gharana Tabla Vadan Sikhya Kendra of Hoshiarpur.

Rabab Singh son of Ustad Kulwinder Singh (disciple of legendary Ustad Alla Rakha), opened the show with a tabla solo in teen taal. Rabab played many traditional compositions of Punjab Gharana. He played a composition called Harimander Parn which amazed the audience. Rabab was accompanied by Simranjit Singh on Dilruba playing lehra, and Guljinder Singh on harmonium playing lehra.

Next, Simranjit Singh performed Indian classical vocal in raag Hamswadhani. His melodious voice and spectacular compositions hypnotized the audience. Simranjit Singh was beautifully accompanied by Auckland's very own talented harmonium player Samir Bhalodhkar, and Simranjit was accompanied by Rabab Singh on tabla.

The third performance was done by young maestros of the Punjab Gharana Institute. They performed a tabla jugalbandhi in teen taal. The young maestros of Punjab Gharana Institute were: Gurjit Singh, Onkar Singh, Harmeet Singh and Harjot Singh. The tabla jugalbandhi was accompanied by Simranjit Singh with Dilruba, and Guljinder Singh on harmonium for lehra.

The last performance was done by Gurjit Singh. He played light music taal Kehrwa (8 beats). Kehrwa taal is usually played on tabla for accompaniment. For the first time the Auckland audience heard the Kehrwa solo pefromance on tabla.

These students were students of Ustad Kulwinder singh, who himself is traditional Ustad Alla Rakha Khan. Ustad Kuwinder Singh ji is also a founder of Punjab Gharana Tabla vaadan Sikhya Kendra in Hoshiarpur.

Mehak Sharma did a fabulous job as a master of ceremony for the evening.

Director of Rhythm School of Indian Music, Manjit Singh, and Daljeet Kaur thanked the audience and performers for a fantastic evening. Dr Inderpal Singh, Ranvir Singh Lali, Dr Gregg Booth, and Lester Silver, awarded the students of Punjab Gharana Institute.