Laxmi Ganesh Tewari
Encyclopedia
Pandit Laxmi Ganesh Tewari (born 8 September 1938) is a renowned Hindustani vocalist from India
. He is an exponent of the Gwalior gharana
(tradition) of vocal music. After studying with Dr. Lalmani Misra
at Banaras Hindu University
in Varanasi
, he pursued education and teaching opportunities in America. At Sonoma State University
since 1974, his career has combined performance, scholarship and teaching.
, India, Tewari studied at Banaras Hindu University with Dr. Lalmani Misra, Pandit Madhav Vaman Thakar, and professor B. R. Deodhar, earning a doctor of music degree in 1967. He moved to the United States to study at Wesleyan University
, where he earned a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology in 1974.
created by Dr. Lalmani Misra to preserve the notes of Samagana
of Sama Veda period. He has conducted field research in India, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, Thailand, Fiji, Ghana, and Zimbabwe. In addition to his books and recordings, Tewari's articles have appeared in South Asia Research, South Asia Journal, and Asian Folklore Studies.
Documentary Recordings from Field Research
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He is an exponent of the Gwalior gharana
Gharana
In Hindustani music, a gharānā is a system of social organization linking musicians or dancers by lineage or apprenticeship, and by adherence to a particular musical style. A gharana also indicates a comprehensive musicological ideology. This ideology sometimes changes substantially from one...
(tradition) of vocal music. After studying with Dr. Lalmani Misra
Lalmani Misra
Lalmani Misra , M.A., Ph.D., D. Mus. , M.Mus. , B.Mus. , Dean & Head, Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, was an eminent Indian classical musician known as much for his art as for his scholarship.-Initiation into music:Lalmani learnt Dhruvapada Dhamar in the...
at Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is a public university located in Varanasi, India and is one of the Central Universities of India. It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 24,000 students in its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya under the Parliamentary...
in Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
, he pursued education and teaching opportunities in America. At Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
since 1974, his career has combined performance, scholarship and teaching.
Early life and education
Born in 1938 in Kanpur, Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, India, Tewari studied at Banaras Hindu University with Dr. Lalmani Misra, Pandit Madhav Vaman Thakar, and professor B. R. Deodhar, earning a doctor of music degree in 1967. He moved to the United States to study at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, where he earned a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology in 1974.
Academic career
Tewari has been on the faculty of Sonoma State University in California since 1974. Today he is one of the leading ethnomusicologists with an exemplary body of work on Indian, Buddhist, Arabian and Gamelan music. He has also made numerous recordings of his music; chief amongst them is his rendering of Sameshwari, a RagaRaga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
created by Dr. Lalmani Misra to preserve the notes of Samagana
Samagana
Sām is composition of words in Rigvedic hymns from notes. The hymns of Rigveda form the base of Sāmagān. Sāmagān is not merely a name given to singing hymns of Veda but represents the philosophy and science of uniting thought, sound and music. Sāmagān is purpose of creation of Samaveda.-Sām...
of Sama Veda period. He has conducted field research in India, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, Thailand, Fiji, Ghana, and Zimbabwe. In addition to his books and recordings, Tewari's articles have appeared in South Asia Research, South Asia Journal, and Asian Folklore Studies.
Books by Laxmi G. Tewari
- A Splendor of Worship: Women's Fasts, Rituals, Stories, and Art. New Delhi: Manohar, 1991.
- Alhakhand ki Parampara. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademy, 1993.
- Folk Songs of Trinidad Indians. Port of Spain, Trinidad: SWAHA publications, 1994.
- Singitendu Pandit Lalmaniji Misra: Ek Pratibhavan Sangitagya. Santa Rosa, California: Svar Sadhana, 1996.
- Svar Sadhana. Santa Rosa, California: Svar Sadhana, 1998.
- Folk Songs from Uttar Pradesh, India. New Delhi: D.K. Printworld, 2006.
Discography
Personal Recordings- Laxmi G. Tewari: Master Indian Classical Vocalist. San Rafael, California: Alam-Madina, 1983.
- Background vocal music for Sacred Verses, Healing Sounds, by Deepak Chopra (two audio cassettes). San Rafael, California: New World Library, 1994.
- Morning Glory: Indian Classical Vocal Music. Santa Rosa, California: Svar Sadhana, 1995.
- Bhajan: A Rainbow of Devotional Songs. Santa Rosa, California: Svar Sadhana, 1998.
- Svaranjali. Santa Rosa, California: Svar Sadhana, 2002.
Documentary Recordings from Field Research
- Turkish Village Music. New York: Nonesuch Records, 1972.
- Folk Music of India: Uttar Pradesh. New York: Lyrichord Discs, 1975; reissued on CD with new material, 2006.
- Nectar of the Moon: Vichitra Vina Music of Northern India. Nonesuch Records, 1981.
- Folk Music of Uttar Pradesh, India. Traditional Music of the World Series. Berlin: International Institute for Comparative Music Studies, 1991.
- Vichitra Vina Music from South Asia. Anthology of Traditional Music. Paris: Auavidis/UNESCO, 1996.
- Trinidad: Music from the North Indian Tradition. Anthology of Traditional Music. Paris: Auavidis/UNESCO, 1999.
- Celestial Music of Pandit Lalmani Misra. Santa Rosa, California: Svar Sadhana, 2007.