Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya
Santoor (Shatatantri Veena)
Already at the age of four Tarun Bhattacharya, born in 1959 in Kolkata, received his first lessons from his father, Pandit Robi Bhattacharya, and later on from Pandit Dulal Roy. In 1982, no one less than luminary Pandit Ravi Shankar accepted him as his student. His demanding education has been honoured with awards and performances in radio and television throughout the world.
In order to be able to play the meends (gliding tunes) in a better way, Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya equipped his instrument with thicker strings. This modification meant one further step on the way towards the shatatantri veena, described in classical texts as the "hundred-stringed veena". Over and above, he developed a technique to tune the more than one hundred strings of his instrument in a quick and uncomplicated procedure.
He is regularly featured at the Doverlane Music Conference in Kolkata, already played twice in the Royal Albert Hall in London and once in the Kremlin.
Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya´s album "Nomad Christmas" was nominated for the Grammy.
Press Review - Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya (Santoor):
Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya is one of the best Santoor players of the world. On his dulcimer-like instrument he plays classical Indian melodies.
- tz Munich, April 19th, 2004
In April Tarun Bhattacharya will elicit from his Santoor, an instrument related to the Bavarian dulcimer, a firework of rhythms and tunes at the Ayurveda Centre Kreuzberg.
- KGS Berlin, April 2004
Publications - Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya (Santoor):
- Raga Yaman Kalyan, Dhun - Tabla: Bikram Ghosh - CD A97020 MUSIC TODAY
- Raga Gujari Todi, Raga Bhairavi - Tabla: Abhijit Banerjee - IAM CD 1013 INDIA ARCHIVE MUSIC
- Raga Basant Mukhari, Raga Mishra Todi - Tabla: Bikram Ghosh - IAM CD 1052 INDIA ARCHIVE MUSIC
- Raga Kalavati, Dhun - Tabla: Ramkumar Mishra - CD 014 SENSE WORLD MUSIC
- Raga Malkauns, Dhun - Tabla: Bikram Ghosh - BIS 29 BISWAS
- Mental Bliss - Tabla: Bikram Ghosh - MIND OF LIGHT RECORDINGS
- Raga Puria Kalyan, Raga Rageshree, Dhun - Tabla: Sabir Khan - CD NM 008 NATARAJ MUSIC
- Raga Megh, Dhun - Violine: V. G. Jog / Tabla: Sabir Khan - CD NM 011 NATARAJ MUSIC
- Raga Basant Mukhari - Tabla: Shivshankar Roy - ETERNAL RECORDS
- Raga Jana Sammohini, Dhun - Tabla: Tapan Bhattacharya - LCR054CD THEKA RECORDS
- Dance of Gods - Sitar / Sarode / Flute / Shehnai / Sarangi / Keyboard / Octopad / Vocal / Tabla / Pakhawaj - CAFE NAZ
