The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art presents The Legacy Series: Pioneering Performing Arts at the Gandharva Mahavidyala at Kamani Auditorium on the 9th of February 2024 at 6:30 PM. The series shines a spotlight on multi-generational families in the arts and the stories behind them. The first of the series celebrates the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, the illustrious Mudgal Family and their rich contribution to the cultural landscape of Delhi through performance and conversation. The program duration will be 2 hours.

The Gandharva Choir

The Gandharva Choir has successfully experimented with classical and folk styles of music. It not only specializes in difficult classical forms such as Dhrupad, Dhamar, Varnam, Kriti and Tarana, but is equally adept at patriotic, devotional and folk forms. Its extensive repertoire includes hymns from the ancient Vedas, compositions in the Hindustani as well as Carnatic styles of music, Rabindra Sangeet and modern experimental works involving the use of harmony.

The Choir will present a selection from their repertoire. The performance duration will be 30 minutes.

Panel Discussion

The panel will consist of:

Pandit Madhup Mudgal - Principal of the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and Hindustani Classical vocalist, composer and conductor of the Gandharva Choir.

Vidushi Madhavi Mudgal - One of India’s seniormost Odissi exponents, teacher and choreographer.

Sawani Mudgal - A talented young Hindustani vocalist, teacher and Pandit Madhup Mudgal’s daughter.

Arushi Mudgal - A brilliant young Odissi dancer and teacher and Pandit Madhup Mudgal’s daughter.

The discussion will be moderated by Aditi Jaitly, Senior Curator, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. The panel discussion will be 20 minutes.

Vistar: Odissi Group Performance

This dance presentation offers an experience of the traditional form of Odissi with a contemporary sensibility. It explores the possibilities that come to life when weaving the major strands of classical music, poetry and rhythm, each highlighting different aspects to create a multi-layered tapestry. Movement patterns explore spatial possibilities, the poetic aspect enables rasanubhuti and aural designs highlight the architectonics unique to each musical genre.

The group will perform the following pieces:

Ranga Stuti: A meditative invocation of the stage, a sacred space that is the source of artistic endeavour and makes possible the creation and experience of Rasa. With verses from Abhinaya Darpan, the dancers seek blessings for a fulfilling journey with the audience.

Abhinaya: A poem written by the 18th Century Oriya poet Kavi Surya Baladeva Ratha is excerpted from his work “Kishore Chandranan Champu”. The text consists of 34 songs. The special feature of this work is that each song begins with a particular consonant, and its subsequent lines also begin with that particular letter. The group presents the Kha champu.

Sphuran: This piece is a transcreation of musical impulse and motifs into dance movement and forms. Its basic impulse emerges from the musical note gandhara in Raga Jog, the vibration gradually transferring to the bodies in dance. At first sedate, the momentum gradually builds up, ending in a cascade. The overarching impression is that of an endless journey with ever new landscapes.

The performance duration will be 30 minutes.