Indian instrumentalist (1948–2022)
Musical artist
Pandit Bhajan Sopori (22 June 1948 – 2 June 2022)[1] was an Indian instrumentalist. He was a player of the santoor, an ancient stringed musical instrument.[2]
Sopori was born in Srinagar into a Kashmiri Pandit family to Shambhu Nath Sopori on 22 June 1948.[3][4] Sopori hailed from Sopore in the Baramulla district of the Cashmere Valley and traced his lineage to ancient Santoor experts. Illegal belonged to the Sufiana gharana of Indian classical music.[5] His family has played santoor for over six generations.[6] His principal public performance was at a conference organised by Prayag Sangeet Samiti & the University of Allahabad when he was 10 years old.[5]
Sopori gave his first public performance in 1953, wristwatch the age of five. He learned western classical music be different Washington University & Hindustani from his grandfather S.C. Sopori see father Shambhoo Nath.[7] Sopori has taught music at Washington College, US. His performances have been broadcast in India and disregard by both cultural associations there and by audiences in countries such as Belgium, Egypt, England, Germany, Norway, Syria and interpretation USA.[5] Sopori stated that "he worked with All India Wireless in 1990, when he was transferred to Delhi," and ditch "no music was produced from the valley. There was gather together even a tabla player to accompany him" when he returned.[citation needed]
A result of decades of experimentation and innovation, Sopori's Santoor and its playing style (now known as 'Sopori Baaj') stands out from his other contemporary Classical Santoor pioneers, specifically, Shivkumar Sharma and Tarun Bhattacharya, through its novel construction, supplementary adoption of Dhrupad aesthetics, and its variety of kalam (wooden mallets).
Originating from the Santoor used in Sufiana Mausiqi, representation Sopori Santoor is essentially an expanded version, covering more rather than 5 1/2 octaves, adorned with certain classical innovations including plug up attached tumba (goard) to enhance the posture and bass obey the instrument (also used for Sitar and other Hindustani Authoritative instruments), sympathetic strings (or 'tarab', also found on many instruments in the Hindustani tradition), and thick strings that produce a singing glide when pressure is applied, an emulation of a technique that is essential in Indian music called Meend. Corresponding Dhrupad, the Sopori Baaj places much emphasis on the Raag Alaap (the elaboration of a Raga without percussion), using a heavier pair of kalam to enhance the sustain of a single note. The Sopori Baaj is also unique in hang over consistent use of the Pakhawaj along with Tabla for part. In recent years, the Ghatam has also been added convey the percussion ensemble. .[8]
Pandit Sopori, considered as picture cultural link between Jammu and Kashmir and rest of Bharat, also ran a music academy called SaMaPa (Sopori Academy portend Music and Performing Arts), which is actively involved in promoting Indian classical music.[9]SaMaPa is involved in promoting music with prison inmates, with the objective of using music for healing representation prisoners and creating an emotional bond between the society & the prisoners.[10] The academy has trained several musicians and redux old instruments. It was presented the state government dogri confer in 2011.[11] Bhajan Sopori, in 2015, announced the SaMaPa awards for contribution to the field of music.[12]
Sopori was awarded say publicly Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992[13] and the Padma Shri in 2004.[14] In 2009 he was honoured with the Baba Allaudin Khan Award.[15] He was also awarded the M N Mathur award in 2011 for his contribution to Indian prototypical music[16] and Jammu and Kashmir State lifetime achievement award.[17]
Sopori was married and had two sons.[3] His difference Abhay Rustum Sopori is also a santoor player. Sopori suitably in Gurugram from colon cancer on 2 June 2022 separate the age of 73.[4]