Rajeev Taranath (Kannada: ರಾಜೀವ್ ತಾರಾನಾಥ್)(born 17 October 1932) is an Indian classical musician who plays the sarod. Taranath is a disciple of Ali Akbar Khan.^[1]

Career[link]

Rajeev Taranath was born in Bangalore on 17 October 1932. He received his initial training in vocal music from his father Pandit Taranath. He gave his first public vocal performance when he was nine years old. Rajeev was singing for the All India Radio before he was twenty.^[2]

Although Rajeev held a PhD in literature, he soon decided to give up his career as a Professor of English Literature and moved to Calcutta, where he began his musical training under the tutelage of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Rajeev continued to learn from his Guru till Khan Saheb's demise in 2009. He has also had guidance from Pt. Ravi Shankar, Smt. Annapurna Devi, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee and Ustad Aashish Khan. In 1999-2000 he received the Indian's government's highest award in the arts from the Sangeet Natak Akademi. He researched and published the Teaching Techniques of the Maihar-Allauddin Gharana, as a Ford Foundation scholar (1989 to 1992).

He is respected for his in-depth understanding as he unfolds the raga, the tonal quality and power of his strokes. His distinctive style shows technical excellence, imaginative power and emotional range. According to the New York Times, "RAJEEV TARANATH'S sarod improvisations Sunday at Soundscape mixed the spiritual and the spirited". ^[3][4] Rajeev performs extensively in India and the world. He has toured Australia, Europe, Yemen, the United States, and Canada.^[5] He has composed the music for many internationally acclaimed Indian films Samskara (film), Kanchana Sita and Kadavu. He has also served as the head of the Indian music program at the World Music Department of the California Institute of the Arts from 1995 to 2005. He currently lives and teaches in Mysore, Karnataka.^{[6] [7]}

Discography[link]

Taranath has several recordings published:^[8]

• Manan "Meditation": Ragas Bihag and Bhairavi (2008)
• Harmony: Sindhu Bhairavi Raagmala (2007)
• Raga Kafi: Some Facets (2007)
• Rasarang (2004)
• Reflections Around Noon : Ragas Todi and Kafi (2003)
• The Call of Love, The Art of Persian and Indian Improvisations (2002)
• Daybreak and a Candle End (2002)
• Indian Classical Music (2001)
• Rag Nat Bhairo, Rag Kaushi Bhairavi, Bhairavi (1995) [1]
• Over the Moon : Raga Chandranandan (1993)
• Raga Ahir Bhairav/Raga Charukeshi (1991)
• The Magnificence of Yaman Kalyan (1987)
• In the Master's Tradition : Rag Basant Mukhari, Rag Kirwani (1987)
• Rag Kafi (????)
• Rag Komal Durga (????)
• Rag Puriya Dhanashri (????)

Awards and recognitions[link]

• The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1999–2000
• Sangeetha Rathna Mysore T. Chowdiah Memorial Award 1998 (Government of Karnataka, India)
• Sangeet Nritya Akademi Award, 1993
• Karnataka Rajya Prashasti, 1996
• Kempe Gowda Award, 2006
• Sangeet Kalaratna from the Gayana Samaja
• Jyothi Subramanya Award
• Brahmaramba N Nagaraja Rao Gold Medal
• V T Srinivasan Memorial Award

References[link]

External links[link]

• "Rajeev Taranath". Official website. http://www.rajeevtaranath.com/. 
• Rajeev Taranath at Allmusic
• Rajeev Taranath at the Internet Movie Database
• New York Times Review
• Concert Review in The Hindu newspaper 2006
• Article in The Hindu 2007
• Interview by Kavita Chhibber
• Concert Review, India 2006
• Article in The Hindu 2007
• Concert review Los Angeles Times
• Interview in Deccan Herald Newspaper 2005
• Article - Celebrating Taranath's Birthday
• Article in The Hindu - Strings of Success 2011
• Article in the Star of Mysore newspaper 2010
• Press release on University of Mysore Honorary Doctorate 2010
• Article - Book on Rajeev Taranath's life on bestseller list
• Article - Concert in Shimoga 2010