Masterclass : The Art of Bandish by Omkar Dadarkar

A raga is never truly heard until it is held within a bandish. In this masterclass, vocalist and scholar Omkar Dadarkar guides you through the intricate relationship between composition and raga identity — showing how a well-crafted bandish is not merely a vehicle for melody, but its very architecture.

Through two compositions in Raag Desh, set in the contrasting rhythmic cycles of Rupak (7 beats) and Teentaal (16 beats), you will trace how rhythm, lyric, and melodic phrase conspire to reveal a raga’s deepest character. Special attention is given to the tarana form, illuminating how even non-lexical syllables carry the weight of raga grammar.

This session moves beyond performance into the craft of musical thinking — unpacking uchhar (pronunciation), vowel colour, and the semantic layers of lyrical text. You will learn how the mukhda, the anchoring opening phrase, gives a composition its gravitational centre, and how alap, taan, sargam, and bol work together as a single expressive arc. Whether you are a student of Hindustani music, a practising musician, or a devoted listener, this masterclass offers a rare and generous window into the technical and spiritual dimensions of one of India’s most enduring classical traditions.

Notations will be provided before the class

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What you will learn in this 3 hour Masterclass:

1- Two Compositions in Raag Desh

• A composition set in Taal Rupak (7-beat rhythm cycle)
• A composition set in Teentaal (16-beat rhythm cycle)

2- Understanding the Essence of Raag Desh

• Exploration of key phrases and characteristic movements
• A Tarana composition in Teentaal (16 beats)

3- The Art and Science of Bandish

• The importance of bandish in raga interpretation
• Technical insights into uchhar (pronunciation), vowel usage, and language
• Understanding lyrical meaning and composition notation

4- Presentation Techniques

• Developing a bandish through alap, taan, sargam, and bol
• The significance of the mukhda (opening phrase) in anchoring the composition