- Jitendra Abhisheki
Infobox Musical artist
Name = Jitendra Abhisheki
Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = solo_singer
Alias = Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki
Birth_name =
Born = birth date|1929|9|21
Origin =India
Died = death date and age|1998|11|7|1929|9|21
Instrument =
Voice_type =
Genre = Classical, semi-classical, devotional, natya sangeet
Occupation = Singer, composer, music teacher
Years_active = 1929–1998Jitendra Abhisheki ( _mr. जितेंद्र अभिषेकी;
September 21 ,1929 –November 7 ,1998 ), popularly and reverentially addressed asPandit Jitendra Abhisheki, was a performer of classical, semi-classical, and devotional music in Maharashtra, India. He was also known for adapting the operatic style of musicals to Marathi theatre.Jitendra Abhisheki learnt vocal music from Pandit Jagannathbua Purohit and
Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan of AgraGharana and Shri Gulubhai Jasdanwala of the Jaipur Gharana. He developed distinct style of singingKhayal . He is also well known for his rendering ofMarathi Natyasangeet (songs from Marathimusical play s) and devotional songs.Career
Pt. Abhisheki was born in a priestly
Padye family in Mangeshi, Goa. His family was traditionally attached to theMangeshi Shrine ofLord Shiva inGoa . His father, Balwantrao aka Bikambhat, was the temple priest and aKirtankar . Hence Pandit Abhisheki was proficient in bothSanskrit andMarathi . This later helped him immensely in his work in the field ofMarathi Natya Sangeet (stage music). Balwantrao Abhisheki (nephew and disciple of the legendary MasterDeenanath Mangeshkar ) also taught his son the basic principles of Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet (classical music).By the time he had reached adolescence Pandit Abhisheki, contrary to pursuing the family vocation of a "Kirtankari", expressed his wish to travel to
Pune in pursuit of a mentor in music. The decision to take up a career in music had therefore already been made, and this propelled the quest to learn from a guru who could instruct him adequately in his chosen vocation.After a degree in Sanskrit literature, Pandit Abhisheki joined
All India Radio (AIR) atMumbai for a brief period. His stint with the radio not only put him in contact with several musicians, but also gave him the opportunity to exploit his own musical talents by composing several pieces for radio programmes etc.It was at around this time that he started training under the renowned teacher
Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan . What followed were scholarships by the Indian Government for advanced training inHindustani classical music , as well as several compositions forMarathi theatre.Pandit Abhisheki composed vocal as well as background scores for as many as twenty-five Marathi plays. In the late sixties, Pandit Abhisheki, after having received the coveted
Homi Bhabha fellowship, taught at the music school run by the renowned sitar maestroPandit Ravi Shankar in the USA.Death
He died in 1998 and left behind many admirers, particularly in
Goa andMaharashtra .Legacy
Pandit Abhisheki imparted outstanding training in traditional music to many disciples, some of whom are now leading performers of Indian Classical Music, such as:
*
Ajit Kadkade
*Asha Khadilkar
*Devaki Pandit
*Prabhakar Karekar
*Raja Kale
*Ramdas Kamat
*Shounak Abhisheki (son)
*Shubha Mudgal
*Vijay Koparkar
*Hemant Pendse
*Mahesh Kale Discography
* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000024I3 Hymns from the Vedas and Upanishads, Vedic Chants] (1996)
Awards and recognitions
*
Homi Bhabha Fellowship (1969)
*Natyadarpan Award (1978)
*Padma Shri (1988)
*Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1989)
*Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar (1990)
*Gomantak Marathi Academy Award (1992)
*Balgandharva Puraskar (1995)
*Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Award (1996)
*Master Deenanath Smriti Puraskar (1996)
*Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar (1996)
*Balgandharva Puraskar (Natyaparishad, (1997)
*Puraskar(Kailas Math Nasik, 1997)External links
* [http://jitendraabhisheki.com/ Official Home page]
* [http://www.ideasnext.com/marathimusic/Jitendra%20Abhisheki/index.htm Songs by Jitendra Abhisheki-Free To Listen]
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