Interview - Baithak by the Bay 2019 Artist, Sarangi player Rohan Misra
This year’s Bathak by the Bay features a special guest artist on Sarangi, Rohan Misra from New York . Both Charlotte Moraga’s and Nilan Chaudhuri’s solos will be accompanied by Rohan Misra. He is the son and disciple of the great Sarangi maestro Pandit Ramesh Misra, who played for decades with both Pandit Chitresh Das and Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. Come see this budding artist carrying on the lineage of his family.
INTERVIEW WITH ROHAN MISRA
Your family has a long history with both Pandit Chitresh Das and Maestro Swapan Chaudhuri, can you talk about those relationships?
Rohan Misra (RM) Pandit Chitresh Das is my Jhetu (uncle), my father and Chitresh Jhetu had a history together. They were childhood friends. My grandfather had accompanied both Chitresh Jhetu and his father in performances. Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri is also my Jhetu he is like an elder brother of my father. Swapan Jhetu guided my father in the music world and was actually the first person to introduce my father as an accompanist to vocal in a concert without my father’s knowledge. At that time my father was very upset and angry with Swapan Jhethu but he realized that it was necessary for my father to grow as an artist. He is also related to my mom.
Whenever I think of my uncles there is always a very clear memory that always pops into my head. Last time I was in California for a concert with Chitresh Jhetu, he didn’t critique my playing or scold me for being of tempo or out of tune. He only said “did you have fun? Because that’s all that matters.” Every concert I go to I always get very motivated by that. Even now whenever I perform with others I always say, this concert will be fun, and it turns out alright. With Swapan Jhetu I remember it was an all-night concert and I was still very young; he was insistent on taking me on stage to perform lehera/nagma with him. He said, “I don’t want your father, I want to play with you on stage.” At that time, I was too nervous and scared to perform in front of anyone, forget about performing with someone of his stature.
How do you feel about performing with Nilan Chaudhuri and Charlotte Moraga?
RM I am very excited to perform with both Nilan bhai and Charlotte Didi. I have seen Nilan bhai’s videos online and I am very excited to perform with him. I have seen Charlotte Didi from a very young age and now I will be performing with her, and I feel honored as well as excited.
This is the first time you have performed in California since 2006, what are you most looking forward to?
RM Meeting many people who I haven’t seen in a very long time to seek blessings and practice to learn more about Indian Classical Music.
How is it different to play for Kathak and for Tabla?
RM Tabla solos I usually start with an aalap (introduction to the piece) and then begin the nagma. I am still gaining experience from tabla solos and have been asked to perform in the middle of the solos with short spells to give the audience a chance to take a breath before the next kaida starts on the Tabla.
In kathak, not only is there an aalap and nagma, there are sometimes also songs that need to be played with improvisations that tie in with the mood of the kathak dancer’s movement and what they are attempting to show the audience. I would say performing with kathak is a little more difficult.
What do you think is special about Sarangi as an instrument?
RM Since a young age, I have been taught to “try and produce as many colors as you can.” Sarangi or Sau-rangi is translated to 100 colors, when listeners are shown the colors of the sarangi it triggers their emotions. The colors can sway a person’s feeling from happiness to sadness it can also turn sadness into happiness. If an instrument has that kind of effect on people, wouldn’t you say it’s special. The ambience that comes with the sarangi effects the concert or presentation of the arts. The sounds of the sarangi supports vocals, percussion, instruments and also dance. When they are put together it can elevate the experience of the performance as well as create a bond with musicians from Maestros to students. The sarangi can be used for all types performances not limited to Indian Classical music, the sarangi is also shown and heard in Indian cinemas as well as different genres of music ex, Jazz, Rock, Flamenco music… When I play, I also feel closer to my father Pandit Ramesh Misra as I feel him and try to emulate my own colors to show him as well.
Come see Charlotte Moraga, kathak solo, Nilan Chaudhuri, tabla solo accompanied by Rohan Misra on Sarangi and Prasant Radhakrishnan on Indian classical saxophone. Saturday, November 23, at 7pm at Starbright Theater in Campbell Link for Tickets
ROHAN MISRA BIOGRAPHY
Rohan Misra is a promising young musician, specializing in the unique Indian bowed instrument called the Sarangi (translation: An instrument with a hundred colors). As the son and disciple of great Sarangi virtuoso Pandit Ramesh Misra, Rohan has inherited many of his father-Guru’s specialties, including tonal quality and aesthetic approach.
Rohan Started learning the Sarangi from his father at the age of six. His exposure to music since early childhood attracted him to learn other Indian instruments as well. He has been learning Tabla from the renowned maestro Samir Chatterjee. Rohan is also pursuing his education in western music, particularly focusing on the Piano and Clarinet. Coming out of the family of nine generations of Sarangi players, Rohan aspires to be successful as the 10th generation in his lineage. He also wishes to further his musicality by blending certain aspects of western music into his heritage of Indian classical music to emerge with a unique musical expression.
Rohan has performed at the Carnegie Hall, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., California and North Carolina. He has performed with luminaries such as Pt. Birju Maharaj, Smt. Kumudini Lakhia, Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, Samir Chatterjee, among others.
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