Amritpal Rasiya

Percussion Tabla

Amritpal Rasiya

3 minute read

Amritpal Singh Rasiya is a leading UK-based tabla player, renowned as a representative of the Ustad Allarakha legacy and a senior disciple of Pandit Yogesh Samsi. Specialising in the Punjab Gharana, he is recognised as one of Europe’s prominent tabla players.

He has performed at prestigious events such as the BBC Dance Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, BBC Young Dancer, and the Darbar Festival at Southbank Centre, where he led a four-tabla ensemble. Known for his deep understanding of rhythm and versatility, Amritpal excels in solo performances, accompaniment for Indian classical dance and music, and collaborations across genres like Western classical, jazz, fusion, and meditative music.

A dedicated educator, he conducts workshops, classes, and lecture demonstrations worldwide. Amritpal also works as a sound therapist with StressManagement.co.uk and the Institute of Mindfulness and Transpersonal Psychology, hosting wellbeing retreats internationally.

In September 2024, Amritpal Singh Rasiya performed at Darbar ‘s St Martin-in-the-Fields concert series, Trafalgar Square, London, alongside vocalist Sach Dhanjal and harmonium player Siddhie Kapshikar. This performance showcased his masterful tabla artistry in an evocative concert, blending tradition and innovation to create a deeply immersive musical experience.

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Ranjani & Gayatri | Raag Chandrakauns

Recorded at Darbar Festival 2015, on 18th September at London's Southbank Centre. Musicians: - Ranjani & Gayatri (vocals) - HN Bhaskar (violin) - Sai Giridhar (mridangam) - Giridhar Udupa (ghatam) - Mithila Sarma & Kiruthika Nadarajah (tanpuras) Renowned for the lyrical luminosity and purity with which they continue to present Carnatic music to audiences around the world, Ranjani and Gayatri’s performance from this Darbar Festival 2015 video is a firecracker that will be remembered for years to come. Learn more about the music: The sisters perform six pieces beginning with a kriti composed by Saint Purandara Dasa (1484-1564), the devotional singer, composer, philosopher and devotee of Lord Krishna. ‘Jaya Jaya Janaki Kantha’ is set to Raag Nattai and the hymn praises Lord Vishnu’s human avatar Rama. Pegging short tonal sentences (swarakalpanas) around the composition, the duo gives a lively start to their performance. The second composition set to Raga Arabhi, was written and composed by Saint Thyagaraja (1767-1847). Ranjani takes the lead to introduce the alapana in crisp and steady rapid notes accentuated by oscillations. Each note is welded to the other in smooth switch-overs as they flow and ebb in a series of synchronised, rhythmless melodic tides. ‘Nada Sudha Rasam Bhilanu’ gives a stunning metaphor of Rama as a personification of the supreme, divine medium of music. The third piece set to Kharaharapriya is set to Misra Chapu talam. ‘Navasiddhi Petralum’ compares an accomplished man without faith to the husk surrounding a grain - an absolutely useless residue that is thrown away. Composed by Neelakanta Sivan (1839-1900), Ranjani and Gayatri structure this kriti around a magnificent scheme of tunes and rhythm. Thereafter, they pivot to the ragam tanam pallavi in Shubhapanthuvarali. A detailed alapana followed by tanam preludes the pallavi. The sisters explore the raga extensively and perform the pallavi set to Chatusra Jati Triputa talam in 16 beats. An engaging ragamalika ensues followed by a percussion duet that lends exponential beauty to this performance. The next piece, a Tamil ‘viruttham’ (sanskrit hymn with no rhythmic accompaniment) set to Raga Sindhu Bhairavi flows seamlessly into a composition in praise of the duality of Lord Shiva by Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer (1844-1893). The sisters end their recital with a resounding abhang set to Raga Chandrakauns in an extraordinary trade of energies between themselves and their accompanists on stage. Subscribe to the Darbar Player to access the full, uncut performance.