Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia Biography and Works.

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia was born on July 1, 1938. A player of the bansuri, he is an Indian classical instrumentalist. Pandit Chaurasia has made a conscious effort to reach out and expand the audience for classical music.

His father was a wrestler and his mother died when he was four. Born in Varanasi, he had to learn music without his father’s knowledge, as his father wanted him to become a wrestler.

Though he started going to the akhada for training with his father, he also started learning music and practising at his friend’s house. Pandit Chaurasia often credits his wrestling training for giving him the immense stamina and lung power that helps him in his flute playing.

Hariprasad Chaurasia started learning vocal music from his neighbour, Pandit Rajaram at the age of 15. He switched to playing the flute under Pandit Bholanath Prasanna. Later, he received guidance from the reclusive Annapurna Devi, daughter of Baba Allaudin Khan, while he was working for the All India Radio.

Chaurasia is considered a rare combination of innovator and traditionalist. Apart from classical music, he has made a mark as a music director for Indian films along with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. He formed a group called Shiv-Hari. Chaurasia also collaborated with various world musicians in experimental cross-cultural performances, including the fusion group, Shakti.

Trivia

He serves as the Artistic Director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory in the Netherlands.