Music by Hindustani maestros in digital format

New Delhi, Jul 29 () The distinct styles of Pandit

Mani Prasad

and

Pandit Dalchand Sharma

, proponents of

Hindustani

classical music, captured in a series of recordings by the

Indira Gandhi National Centre

for the Arts (IGNCA) are now available for music lovers in a digital format. The recordings of the duo are part of the arts organisation's initiative 'Masters of Hindustani Classical Music' series that aims to map and showcase the richness of the centuries-old musical traditions. The series is part of a research project led by noted Hindustani vocalist

Meeta Pandit

, and has recorded 25 artists so far. These archived recordings establish India's perennial traditions of music that have lived on through the efforts of artists, scholars, scions of gharanas, as also dedicated disciples of legendary gurus, according to IGNCA. The DVDs on

Pandit Prasad

and

Pandit Sharma

are the ninth and tenth in the series which has featured artists such as Harmonium legend

Pandit Purushottam Walawalkar

, sitarist

Pandit Arvind Parikh

, doyen of the Gwalior Gharana Laxman Rao Pandit; violinist N Rajam;

Shanno Khurana

, a renowned exponent of the

Rampur

gharana; Thumri exponent Savita Devi; the late

Ustad Faiyaz Khan

and

Ustad Gulam Sadiq Khan

of the Rampur Seheswan Gharana. Pt

Dalchand Sharma

, one of the greatest proponents of

Pakhawaj

is a Grade A artist who currently teaches at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music at the Delhi University. He learnt the instrument from stalwarts, Pandit

Tota Ram Sharma

and Pandit Purushottam Das. Pt Mani Prasad, one of the well-known exponents in

Khayaal

style of singing. One of the well-known exponents in khayaal style of singing. Belonging to a musical family of

Bikaner

in Rajasthan. His family has been nurturing the

Dhrupad

and Khayaal styles for centuries. According to

Sachchidanand Joshi

, Member-Secretary, IGNCA, the DVDs were not intended for commercial purposes, but were meant as a resource for music lovers and researchers. "We have a treasure trove of art, music and culture in India and traditions that have lived on for centuries. We will have failed in our mission if we do not preserve these for the next generation," he says. MORE ANS TRS ANS