As discussed in the previous part of this series , Hindustani musicians performed on various occasions to lend support to the movement for ...
As discussed in the previous part of this series, Hindustani musicians performed on various occasions to lend support to the movement for Indian independence. But there were times when some musicians also performed for British dignitaries and for occasions that may not have been in consonance with the nationalist cause.
Some of these concerts took place when these musicians were engaged by princely courts or by Indian commercial and industrial elite to entertain British dignitaries.
But there were at least two occasions when the proceeds of concerts by Hindustani musicians went towards the Bombay Presidency Branch of the Imperial Indian Relief Fund during World War I. The first one mentioned in The Bombay Chronicle dated September 16,1914, featured Putlibai and Saraswatibai Welinker, Shantabai Manjrekar, Tarabai Shirodkar, Bablibai Malpekar and Balabai Barodekar.
While there is no information about the concert repertoire that they selected, it may be safe to presume that at least one of them, namely, Tarabai Shirodkar (1889-1949) would have sung khayal, as she was a disciple of promiment vocalists and gurus Ramkrishnabuwa Vaze, Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale and Muhammad Khan.
Here is a 78 rpm recording of Tarabai Shirodkar singing a composition set to the 12-matra Ektaal in Mia ki Malhar, a raag prescribed for the monsoon.
