Wasifuddin Dagar

Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar is considered to be one of the foremost Dhrupad singers in India today. He represents the 20th unbroken generation of dhrupad singers in the Dagar family. Since the demise of his father and later, his uncle in 1989 and 1994 respectively, Wasifuddin has been singing solo.

Life and training

Wasifuddin Dagar was born in April 15, 1969. He is the son of the late Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar, and the nephew of the late Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar, the well-known junior Dagar brothers and therefore a [http://www.dagarvani.org/dagar-family-tree.html descendant] of the legendary Swami Haridas Dagar, Tansen's teacher.

The maestro received most of training directly under the tutelage of his father, and younger uncle, the junior Dagars, since he was five years old. Additionally he has had opportunity to receive instructions from his grand uncle, Ustad N. Rahimuddin Dagar, his elder uncle, Ustad Aminuddin Dagar (one of the two the elder Dagar brothers), as well as some of his cousin uncles, Ustad Fariduddin Dagar, Ustad Fahimuddin Dagar and Ustad Sayeeduddin Dagar, all of whom are great exponents of Dhrupad singing.

Between 1989 and 1994, he was groomed by his uncle, Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar, with whom he used to sing jugalbandis (duets).

A detailed biography of Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar is available on his website [http://www.dagarvani.org/page2.html http://www.dagarvani.org] . A list of major dhrupad recordings, including Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar's solo and duet recordings including track details is also available on [http://www.dagarvani.org/page12.html dagarvani.org] .

Major recordings

Wasifuddin Dagar's public career began in February 25, 1989, only a few days after his father's death, when he gave his first performance. He sang with Ustad Zahiruddin Dagar. Wasifuddin's first major recording were in Switzerland, India and Japan, in 1992. He has since recorded in Switzerland, India, and America with major recording labels. A French television company made a film based on their life and music.

Wasifuddin Dagar has toured north America performing dhrupad solo since 2000. He first performed live in New York in 2000, where he gave a rendition of Raga Bihag. He has since performed at the UN, the Smithsonian Institutions, Yale, the City of Chicago, University of Washington, Seattle, Stanford University, University of California, Los Angeles, and several other prestigious venues. The 2008 spring tour of his ensemble to North America is [http://www.dagarvani.org/events/invitation-2008.pdf scheduled] for April-June 2008. for A complete list of his recordings is at his website's [http://www.dagarvani.org/page12.html recording page] .

External links

* [http://www.dagarvani.org Dagarvani.org - Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar's official web site ]
* [http://www.dagar.org/ Dagar.org - The home page of the Mumbai branch of the Dagar family ]
* [http://www.musicalnirvana.com/hindustani/dagar_zm.html Musical Nirvana - Z M Dagar biography at Musical Nirvana]
* [http://www.dhrupad.org/teacher/index.htm Gundecha Brothers - The Gundecha Brothers' profile of Z M Dagar]

Video

* [http://aris.ss.uci.edu/rgarfias/kiosk/media.html Z M Dagar video] from Robert Garfias site