Rudra Veena recital by Carsten Wicke from Germany mesmerised audience at ICCR Kolkata

Partha Roy, Kolkata: Rudra Veena recital by Carsten Wicke from Germany mesmerised audience at ICCR Kolkata on 5th August 2023. Carsten Wicke was accompanied by Mithun Chakraborty on Pakhawaj and Atreyee Day on Tanpura.

Rudra Veena is a classical Indian string instrument which is popularly known as mother of Indian string instruments amongst musicians. Keeping with mood of the rainy season, in the first half the musicians presented the Raga Miyan ki Malhar, associated with the Monsoon season. After Alap, Jor and Jhala on the Rudra Veena, the artists presented a Dhrupad composition in Chautala.

In the second half, the musicians presented the mid night Raga Malkauns with a fast Dhrupad Bandish in Sooltala. Carsten Wicke and other artists received wide appreciation from the audience for their performance.

Beside his musical work, Carsten Wicke develops new Rudra Veenas in collaboration with Indian craftsmen, to counter the present shortage in the manufacturing and supply of this rare instrument. ICCR has awarded him with the Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan Senior Fellowship for Music to honour his dedication for Rudra Veena. Rudra Veena and her music are rediscovered by a growing international audience.