Pandit Divyang Vakil
Encyclopedia
Pandit Divyang Vakil is a India
n tabla
guru
(teacher), composer, spiritual guide and healer.
, Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan of Delhi gharana
and Ustad Allarakha Khan of Punjab gharana
.
Over 10 years ago, Vakil renounced his career as a tabla performer to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to teaching, composing and his spiritual practices.
Vakil teaches the latest and modern styles of Tabla playing as well as the classical and traditional methods, which he has mastered. His students produce a harmonious compilation of modern and classical aspects of Indian classical music. They don't only learn the commercial and popular form of Tabla but also distinguish spiritual aspects of it.
Vakil has composed several full-length instrumental ensemble pieces for the international stage. One of his most difficult works is Ardha Taal Chakra (literally meaning "circle of half rhythms"). Ardha Taal Chakra explored half-beat Indian rhythm cycles. Created in 2006, it was recomposed and renamed in 2010 to become Ardha Taal Chakravyuha.
In 2011, he collaborated with renown South Korean musician Yu Kyung-hwa. Vakil composed a piece for Yu to play on the traditional Korean instrument, the cheolhyeongeum, and set it to popular Indian rhythms. The piece debuted in February 2011 at Rhythm Riders Music Institute in Ahmedabad, India. The collaboration was such a success that Vakil was invited to Seoul the following month to compose and teach Indian rhythms and theory to Korean artists in an international music exchange program.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
(teacher), composer, spiritual guide and healer.
Musical career
Vakil began his musical career from early childhood. At the age of 3, he gave his first performance as the youngest drummer in Gujarat performing with a Gujarati orchestra. He formally trained in classical tabla under three Gurus - Pandit Sudhirkumar Saxena of Ajrada gharanaAjrara gharānā
Ajrara gharana or Ajrada gharana is one of the six main traditional schools in tabla drum. This school was founded in the nineteenth century by Miru and Kallu, disciples of Sitab Khan of the Delhi gharana, at the Ajrara village, in Uttar Pradesh....
, Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan of Delhi gharana
Delhi gharana
The Delhi Gharana is the oldest of all tabla gharanas, and is also the first to establish improvisation rules. It was founded in North-East India, and is easily one of the most, if not the most, common Gharana used today.-History:...
and Ustad Allarakha Khan of Punjab gharana
Punjab gharana
Punjab Gharānā , is a style and technique of Tabla playing that originated in the Punjab region of what is now split in present day Pakistan and India. The Punjab Gharana is possibly the oldest of the six Tabla Gharanas...
.
Over 10 years ago, Vakil renounced his career as a tabla performer to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to teaching, composing and his spiritual practices.
The Tabla Guru
In 2009, Vakil (affectionately known as “Guruji” to his students) completed his 30th year of teaching tabla. He is the founder of Rhythm Riders Music Institute in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. An affiliate institute of Rhythm Riders Music Institute is the Taalim School of Indian Music in the US, which is run by American disciples of Vakil. Students of Vakil have also established tabla schools in places such as Australia, Korea, UK and the US.Vakil teaches the latest and modern styles of Tabla playing as well as the classical and traditional methods, which he has mastered. His students produce a harmonious compilation of modern and classical aspects of Indian classical music. They don't only learn the commercial and popular form of Tabla but also distinguish spiritual aspects of it.
The Composer
Vakil is most well-known for his contemporary classical tabla ensemble Tālavya. Through his compositions, Vakil has given a modern form to classical tabla playing. Tālavya currently performs Vakil's latest group tabla composition entitled Tabla Ecstasy. Previous group works include Tabla Tarkhat, Tabla Taandav, Tabla Triveni, etc. In 2007, his tabla duet called Power of Tabla was the first musical performance by Gujarati artists to be performed in the history of IIM-Ahmedabad Chaos Festival.Vakil has composed several full-length instrumental ensemble pieces for the international stage. One of his most difficult works is Ardha Taal Chakra (literally meaning "circle of half rhythms"). Ardha Taal Chakra explored half-beat Indian rhythm cycles. Created in 2006, it was recomposed and renamed in 2010 to become Ardha Taal Chakravyuha.
In 2011, he collaborated with renown South Korean musician Yu Kyung-hwa. Vakil composed a piece for Yu to play on the traditional Korean instrument, the cheolhyeongeum, and set it to popular Indian rhythms. The piece debuted in February 2011 at Rhythm Riders Music Institute in Ahmedabad, India. The collaboration was such a success that Vakil was invited to Seoul the following month to compose and teach Indian rhythms and theory to Korean artists in an international music exchange program.