Wednesday, April 08, 2015

Climbing the Chords #3

Driven out of curiosity, I started asking how Krishna Ballesh stepped into music. However, I knew my question was sheer senseless, as the Ballesh family had been rendering music service over 300 plus years as I have read. Krishna Ballesh learnt shehnai under the distinguished tutelage of the world renowned Shehnai Maestro, Bharat Ratna, Ustad Bismillah Khan Saheb .
Born as the Second child to the Ballesh couple, on 5th November in M.K.Hubli (Belgaum district) Karnataka , learnt his initial musical classes and trainings from his grandfather Shehnai Vidhwan Pandit Sanna Bharamanna ji. The classes would start with initial “Sa Re Ga Ma” and slowly would transcend to “Om Nama Shivaya” .The classes would start as early as 04.30am ! ! Krishna Ballesh humbly expresses his reverence to his grand father and fore father who forms the bas for  his musical knowledge
He gently recalled, his early child hood days. When he was six years of age he learnt Hindustani vocal in kirana gharana from Dr. DP.Hiremath for several years. The association with Pandit.Hiremath was so touching that the guru had to leave his bases and shift for this child – a sincere student ! Krishna continued Patiyala Gharana khayal gayaki from Hyderabad Nizam’s Court Asthan Vidhwan’s Maharasthra Maha Pandit Sri. Kodhanda Salunke Maharaj and Pandit Sri. Prakash Salunke has been training him very much in the past years and still training continues..
Krishna Ballesh, travels down his memory lane when his eidetic memory flashes upfront his eyes. He started playing Shehnai without the knowledge of his father. Having heard of Ustad Bismillah Khan, his childhood days were just filled with Shehnai Mastero Ustad’s performances. He smiles shyly, briefing upon how he got caught while performing shehnai. Once, when Pt.Ballesh went for a concert, Krishna as a child, started playing shehnai. He was shocked to see his father returning from the concert. The astonished father and scared son - their expression was beyond transcending to words. It was then the father came to know that his son could play shehnai! And, the official classes for shehnai, started for Krishna from his father on a fine vijayadasami day ! From then on, serious sessions of practice continued. Krishna, with a naughty smile, acknowledges, his father to be a “Strict” guru. Additionally, he also reminds of the “Good” house owners, who had let him to practice day and night and never considered the sounds from his reed as a disturbance!
 Krishna Ballesh gave his first public appearance accompanying his father Pandit S.Ballesh in Ustad Ahmed Hussain Khan Music Circle in Chennai and started his music tour. And 2nd performance in Ganayogi Panchakshara Sangeet Sammellan in Chennai and received the blessings from Dr. Pandit Puttaraj Gawai ji.
As a child, he used to listen to Ustad Bismillah Khan Ji, and would ask his grand dad, when would be his chance of meeting the Sahenshah of Shehnai. For every question of his, he got a reply that he would have his day to meet the Mastero!
At last the much awaited moment arrived!! “To perform shehnai before Ustad Bismillah Khan Saheb!”
 It so happened that Krishna Ballesh accompanied his father to Banares to meet Shehnai Shahenshah. The excited Krishna was planning, preplanning and rehearsing what all he must talk to his Manaseeka Guruji. But, at that moment, nothing could be done.
I was thrilled to hear more from him about his association with Ustad Bismillah Khan, for whom they have arranged a tribute “Ras Barse Utsav” on 11th of April 2015, at Chinmaya Heritage Centre, Chennai. If you want to witness the colors of Hindustani raags and Riyaz, join the team, and jam with all the Tansen academy folks!
Will continue in my next post to say about the associateship of Pandit Krishna Ballesh with Ustad Bismillah Khan. 

Until then,

Lots of Love,

Riya. J

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