Girija Devi
| Girija Devi | |
|---|---|
 Devi performing in Pune in 2006 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born | 1929 (age 82–83) Varanasi, United Provinces, British Raj |
| Genres | Hindustani classical music |
| Instruments | singing |
| Years active | 1949–present |
Girija Devi (Hindi: गिरिजा देवी; IAST: Girijā Devī) (born 1929) is an Indian classical singer of the Banaras gharana. She performs classical and light classical music and has helped elevate the profile of thumri.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Girija Devi was born in Varanasi, India in 1929.[1] Her father played the harmonium and taught music, and had Devi take lessons in singing khyal and tappa from vocalist and sarangi player Sarju Prasad Misra starting at the age of five.[2] She starred in the movie Yaad rahe aged nine and continued her studies under Sri Chand Misra in a variety of styles.[2]
[edit] Performing career
Devi made her public debut 1949 on All India Radio Allahabad, after getting married to a businessman circa 1946, but faced opposition from her mother and grandmother, because it was traditionally believed that no upper class woman should perform publicly.[1][2][3] Devi agreed not to perform privately for others, but gave her first public concert in Bihar in 1951.[2] She studied with Sri Chand Misra until he died in the early 1960s, worked as a faculty member of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata in the 1980s and of the Banaras Hindu University during the early 1990s, and taught several students to preserve her musical heritage.[2] Devi often toured and continues to perform in 2009.[2][4]
Devi sings in the Banaras gharana and performs the purabi ang thumri style typical of the tradition, whose status she helped elevate.[3][5] Her repertoire includes the semi-classical genres kajri, chaiti, and holi and she sings khyal, Indian folk music, and tappa.[3][6] The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians states that her semi-classical singing combines her classical training with the regional characteristics of the songs of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.[2]
[edit] Awards
Devi was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 1989, received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 2010.[7][8]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Ramnarayan, Gowri (2008-11-11). "Queen of thumri". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/11/11/stories/2008111150320600.htm. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dutta, Amelia (2001). "Devi, Girija". In Sadie, Stanley. The New Grove dictionary of music and musicians. 7 (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers. pp. 265–266. ISBN 0333608003.
- ^ a b c Tandon, Aditi (2004-02-17). "Future of folk music uncertain, warns Girija Devi". The Tribune. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040218/punjab1.htm#28. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
- ^ Trivedi, Sukumar (2009-01-05). "Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia works a charm with his magic flute". The Indian Express. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pandit-hariprasad-chaurasia-works-a-charm-with-his-magic-flute/406772/0. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
- ^ Dorian, Frederick; Broughton, Simon; Ellingham, Mark; McConnachie, James; Trillo, Richard; Duane, Orla (2000). World Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides. p. 91. ISBN 1858286360. http://books.google.com/books?id=QzX8THIgRjUC&pg=PA91.
- ^ Kumar, Raj (2003). Essays on Indian music. Discovery Publishing House. ISBN 8171417191. http://books.google.com/books?id=wwwX6DWfn3gC&pg=PA10.
- ^ "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php?start=10&award_year=&state=&field=&p_name=Devi&award=All. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
- ^ "Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards - Hindustani Music - Vocal". Sangeet Natak Akademi. http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist-music.htm. Retrieved 29 December 2009.[dead link]http://www.sangeetnatak.org/files/Press%20Release%20for%20Sna%20Awards_2010_english.pdf
[edit] Further reading
- Mishra, Yatindra (2006). Girija: A Journey Through Thumri. Rupa. ISBN 8129108577. http://books.google.com/books?id=EbPIAAAACAAJ.
