Ronu Majumdar
Encyclopedia
Ronu Majumdar is a noted India
n flautist
in the Hindustani Classical Music
tradition.
on June 22, 1963, Ranendranath Majumdar, popularly known as Ronu was trained under his father, Dr. Bhanu Majumdar, and later learned vocal music with the late Pt. Laxman Prasad Jaipurwale at whose behest he reverted to the flute. Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao, a music scholar, groomed Ronu into a concert flautist.
The bansuri
flute was brought into the fold of Hindustani Classical music barely half a century ago by Pt Pannalal Ghosh
, before which it was considered as a folk instrument. Ronu's speciality is the "Shank Bansuri
", a 3 foot (0.9144 m) of his own
design, which adds an extra dimension at the lower scales.
competition, and the President's Gold Medal.
In 1996,Ronu received a Grammy nomination for his work on the album Tabula Rasa with Bela Fleck
, the American banjo virtuoso. He has associated with Pandit Ravi Shankar in albums like Passages, and Chants of India. He has more than 30 audio releases to his credit. He has won prestigious Aditya Vikram Birla Award for the year 1999 for his dedication to music.Sahara India Pariwar
felicitated him with life-time achievement award on occasion of Jyoti Diwas 2001.
Today, Ronu Majumdar is among the more popular musicians on this instrument, and is especially popular with the younger generation for his creative improvisations. Pt Majumdar's music is rooted in the Maihar gharana which has musicians of eminence like Pt Ravi Shankar
and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan
to its credit. Apart from his concerts all over India in different music festivals, he also participated in the Festival of India in Moscow
and Asiad '82 in New Delhi
. He has toured extensively in Europe, the USA , Canada, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.
Pt. Majumdar is also known for a number of collaborations and jugalbandis with other leading instrumentalists. An innovative composer, he has also composed several pieces in a fusion
of Hindustani classical with other forms of music, particularly Western Classical Music, including the projects Carrying Hope (Music Today), A Traveller's Tale, Song of Nature (Magnasound), Kal Akela Kahan (Plus Music).
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 flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
in the Hindustani Classical Music
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
tradition.
Early life and training
Born in VaranasiVaranasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
on June 22, 1963, Ranendranath Majumdar, popularly known as Ronu was trained under his father, Dr. Bhanu Majumdar, and later learned vocal music with the late Pt. Laxman Prasad Jaipurwale at whose behest he reverted to the flute. Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao, a music scholar, groomed Ronu into a concert flautist.
The bansuri
Bansuri
The bansuri is a transverse alto flute of Bangladesh, India and Nepal made from a single hollow shaft of bamboo with six or seven finger holes. An ancient musical instrument associated with cowherds and the pastoral tradition, it is intimately linked to the love story of Krishna and Radha, and is...
flute was brought into the fold of Hindustani Classical music barely half a century ago by Pt Pannalal Ghosh
Pannalal Ghosh
Pannalal Ghosh , also known as Amulya Jyoti Ghosh, was a Bengali Indian flute player and composer. He was a disciple of Allauddin Khan, and is credited with giving the flute its status in Hindustani classical music....
, before which it was considered as a folk instrument. Ronu's speciality is the "Shank Bansuri
Bansuri
The bansuri is a transverse alto flute of Bangladesh, India and Nepal made from a single hollow shaft of bamboo with six or seven finger holes. An ancient musical instrument associated with cowherds and the pastoral tradition, it is intimately linked to the love story of Krishna and Radha, and is...
", a 3 foot (0.9144 m) of his own
design, which adds an extra dimension at the lower scales.
Awards, Nominations, and Music Collaborations
In 1981, Ronu Majumdar won the first prize at the All India RadioAll India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
competition, and the President's Gold Medal.
In 1996,Ronu received a Grammy nomination for his work on the album Tabula Rasa with Bela Fleck
Béla Fleck
Béla Anton Leoš Fleck is an American banjo player. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, he is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.-Early life and career details:Fleck was born in...
, the American banjo virtuoso. He has associated with Pandit Ravi Shankar in albums like Passages, and Chants of India. He has more than 30 audio releases to his credit. He has won prestigious Aditya Vikram Birla Award for the year 1999 for his dedication to music.Sahara India Pariwar
Sahara India Pariwar
Sahara India Pariwar is an Indian multi-business conglomerate with diversified business interests that include financial services, housing finance, mutual funds, life insurance, city development, real estate activities, print and television media, film production, sports, information technology,...
felicitated him with life-time achievement award on occasion of Jyoti Diwas 2001.
Today, Ronu Majumdar is among the more popular musicians on this instrument, and is especially popular with the younger generation for his creative improvisations. Pt Majumdar's music is rooted in the Maihar gharana which has musicians of eminence like Pt Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar , often referred to by the title Pandit, is an Indian musician and composer who plays the plucked string instrument sitar. He has been described as the best known contemporary Indian musician by Hans Neuhoff in Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.Shankar was born in Varanasi and spent...
and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan
Ali Akbar Khan
Ali Akbar Khan , often referred to as Khansahib or by the title Ustad , was a Hindustani classical musician of the Maihar gharana, known for his virtuosity in playing the sarod...
to its credit. Apart from his concerts all over India in different music festivals, he also participated in the Festival of India in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Asiad '82 in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. He has toured extensively in Europe, the USA , Canada, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.
Pt. Majumdar is also known for a number of collaborations and jugalbandis with other leading instrumentalists. An innovative composer, he has also composed several pieces in a fusion
Fusion (music)
A fusion genre is music that combines two or more styles. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm, i a sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided...
of Hindustani classical with other forms of music, particularly Western Classical Music, including the projects Carrying Hope (Music Today), A Traveller's Tale, Song of Nature (Magnasound), Kal Akela Kahan (Plus Music).