Nikhil Banerjee Raga Bageshree Live in Germany 1971

[@JamesBarrett23]

Panditji had a way with forming the sounds, shaping them and letting them take on a life of their own. They hang in the air like fantastic coloured formations of gossamer and translucent shell. The control he had over the instrument is astounding. The way he can lift a section of the raga up and just explore it in perfect time with total precision, just sublime.Then his speed and dexterity with the strings and frets, my god.....nobody has come close to him. I had the privilege of witnessing a 7 hour performance by Pt. Ravi Shankar in 1990 (he broke for a meal midway, which had been prepared for him beside the stage - at St Francis Xavier in Mumbai). I was 21 and was so impressed I decided I wanted to learn to play the sitar. I bought one and spent years practicing and playing. Then I heard Pt. Banerjee. I sold my sitar and gave up. I learned that I would never give the instrument what it deserved and I never would reach even a decent level of skill and union with the instrument. I am glad now just to be able to listen.

[@nuanced8225]

I know exactly what you mean! Well put

[@Coltvikk]

On the contrary, I took up sitar after listening his yaman. I play sitar everyday now to convey my prayers to the sitar samrat. My guruji has almost regards for pandit nikhil banerjee ji.

[@ach557]

I think you may like to again take up sitar playing in your own way, given the kind of love and understanding you seem to have about the instrument. 😊🙏

[@zainudheenmoopan7834]

❤

[@priyadarshanpathaktunes]

Listening Pandit ji is a GREAT feeling.

[@ShyamLala9]

There are no words..... and the eyes are in tears..... the tongue is speechless...... its not music, its beyond music, pure devotion, pure love, sanctifying, sacred, heart stirring, humble and above all feels so close to experiencing Eternal God Consciousness. My prostrations to our beloved Nikhil Banerjee. He is One with Him no doubt. Thank you for such a divine experience.. Thank you for the upload...

[@bobaldo2339]

Beautifully stated. I agree. For me, this is the pinnacle of music.

[@DurantaRangan]

Wonderful expression

[@bnkghanti2790]

Very factual ever true feelings of many music lovers world over., expressed here.

[@sajidrafique375]

Banerjee is awesome !!

[@rohanshivadekar]

Pt. Nikhil Banerjee is supreme, superlative. He makes the listeners experience heaven. In each of his performances there are certain places which are quite unbelievable and can only be when God performs. Example 19:20 to 20:00, simply great. What else does one need. शत शत नमन।

[@genecross4358]

I studied with him in Berkeley in 1967 and 1968. A wonderful teacher and players.

[@mdhalam6662]

you are extremely lucky

[@rahulsingh-lh7sb]

Wow 🙏🙏🙏

[@arupratanhaldar8123]

He is the greatest sitar player ever. Epitome of absolute divinity in music. Plays with the mind of a sage, dexterity of a Gandharva.

[@davidmorris7530]

Being so fortunate as to hear Pandit Nikhil Banerjee with a young, brilliant Fayyaz Khan around this time, the experience has never really left me! Great as others are, my deepest musical bliss has been in resonating with this master’s profoundly deep music - so moving to hear him again. Thank you. He came a number of times to play in an intimate, purely acoustic setting at the University in my home town ( Bath UK), for the curating of which, I am grateful to the late Nandu Kamat.

[@prasenjitsarcar8415]

Hey Dave.... am seriously jealous. Do you have the recordings by Lt. Nandu Kamat? If yes, is there any way you can share them. Am at [e-mail]. Many thanks, prasenjit

[@rahulsingh-lh7sb]

Wow 🙏🙏🙏

[@MrSA1829]

There is something magical about the Sitar. It"s as if it comes directly from heaven itself. It provides an immediate connection to the divine..... There is nothing else like it in the physical world. I love this.....thanks for posting.

[@nirmalkumarpal1695]

Very nice to enjoy, always in both, pleasure or in off-mood! Who was the accomplished on Tabla? He deserves lot of credits, thanks, as well as blessings of God? Plz, let us know the great person.

[@parthachatterjee9027]

I am an unlettered person with no background of classical music whatsoever, but I loved this music. Pristine & heavenly !

[@sirajghosh]

Your love is only background you will ever need. And we are all unlettered men in comparison to this true son of God. :).

[@MusiGig]

All you need is the ability to surrender

[@kkuchiku]

Same here

[@davidmorris7530]

@@MusiGig Simply just That!!

[@abhijeetchakraborty5137]

Pandit Nikhil Banerjee was one of the greatest musicians of this earth ,Thanks for uploading,My Heartfelt pranams to you Panditji where ever you are.

[@sundarshayammukherjee2921]

About 20 years ego I got this CD of Bageshwari , and thousand times I heard this number . Probably I can recognize every stroke but still it remains new to me .

[@udaybhanughosh2846]

What a great music raga bagesree. U day

[@VISHUDDHATMA]

The great song of life is that which allows one to connect with the Self within. Here the greatest sitar player of the century accomplishes that, as if he has become the instrument himself, through which he connects every listener with that eternal divine space within. This is divine poetry and prayer that transcends all words.

[@govindarajulu-kasturi9614]

Excellently composed sharing of thoughts on a wonderful piece of music like this which all listeners cannot express so vividly. Yes, nothing but Divine music it is. Thanks

[@tapanmukherji3430]

VISHUDDHATMA 1

[@musiman0124]

Pt. Nikhil Banerjee's sitar-playing is the best ever, better than Pt. Ravi Shanker's, although both had different styles, but both were disciples of the same Guru- Ustad Allaudddin Khan of Senia-Maihar Gharana. Credit goes to the great Guru who produced 2 Gems in two different styles in Sitar-playing.

[@SuperIndranil007]

I do agree with your opinion and it is purely my personal opinion.I don't HURT any person's sentiment. Thank you.

[@pt.shailendrachaudhary672]

Thanks for the comments for your information Annapurna and Ali Akbar and Dr girindra father of mine were also in the list.maihar gharana is best.for producing many quality students. thanks for your help with this great opportunity for me to get a chance to speak

[@mdhalam6662]

Yes, i agree with you

[@vsgs2226]

Agreed!

[@tanmoybhattacharjee3989]

As you said sir ved prakash... You have put your opinion here.... But with all due respect let me please put this and yes you will also agree. Please do not compare the legends. Legends are never compared sir. They are legends of there own kingdom of music.

[@johnlancaster2165]

The absolute definition of awesome. Pandit Nikhil Banerjee is unquestionably one of the greatest musicians ever.

[@pgrnair]

I am in complete agreement. IMHO, the greatest Sitarist ever to grace the planet earth. I wish many more of his recordings were uploaded here.

[@pgrnair]

Supreme rendition of Bageshree by the greatest Sitarist of last century. No living or dead musician can match his virtuosity Thank you risky.

[@AnishGupta1]

PGR Nair *rliesky

[@VithalNadkarni]

That's your opinion. i have heard half a dozen old men ... all dead now...who, in my opinion, have surpassed this bagshri ;-D

[@sitarhead1806]

i disagree too, I dont understand the godly reverence given to players from the 50s-80s

[@dipayanbairagi616]

Names please!!! If all are Sitari in your list then you have a treasure trove of musical experience. Awaiting Reply.

[@arkarupgangopadhyay5081]

so please make a chance for us to hear them !!!

[@arnabuk]

A Maestro playing with supreme perfection and devotion of a saint!! What better can you expect to feel the presence of God. May late Nikhilda's soul rest in the heavenly abode of God. Heartfelt pranams to you Panditji.

[@prabuddhasinha1108]

A truthful fact ... GOD deaparts but his creation is and will still ALIVE... and it's a universal truth.

[@mbangroo]

🙏🏻

[@craigwood1776]

This is one of the finest performances of Indian classical music that I have ever had the good fortune of listening to. Absolutely exquisite. Thank you for the upload!

[@amitimsc]

Perfection at it's best, my weekend nights get blessed with these old gems.

[@xwarx1000]

please no " thumbs down" show your respect to this/his genius ...dont make it like other YT channels.Enjoy the music.

[@amlankusumroy7827]

i do not remember how many times i heard this. but every time i like it better. what melody, what effect, what class. True master. No words enough. Just divine. Surely Panditjee did not get the deserved recognition.

[@ricardodhanv]

listening to Panditji I can feel that heaven exists...God is there..this music is the bridge between Earth and Heaven...

[@ilovemahler8348]

The three Bs of world music: Bach, Beethoven, Banerjee!

[@sajidullah]

Add Bismillah Khan if you dont know him ... and Why leave some other satlwarts Ravi Shankar , Vilayat Khan, Zia Mohiuddin Dagar , Ram Narayan , Sultan Khan .. Latif Khan , Assad Khan etc many more.

[@TheCeembee]

and mozart and autechre

[@ranjit2289]

bhai tum toh senti ho gaye

[@shlarry3184]

Brahms

[@ilovemahler8348]

Lew Sutt Thanks for getting the allusion.

[@ilovemahler8348]

IMHO a supreme example of an instrument transcending the human voice in its humanity. Supreme Bageshree! Only NB......

[@TheMalodu]

Perfect description.

[@tgugdevil]

The best rendition of Baageshri I have heard. There is no parallel to Pt. Nikhil Banerjee and his artistry. This is ecstasy.

[@niloyjdeb]

Let’s also give a lot of credit to the sound recordist for preserving this piece of heavenly music. Germany in the 70’s was the center of manufacture of classy recording machines. I bet they still do.

[@rohanshivadekar]

Absolutely. This is amongst the best recordings even compared to today's digital recordings. This is absolute gem by the person who has recorded it and the equipments used

[@veetguitar]

Recorded by state radio. Certainly they used the equipment available and had the best sound engineers.

[@AuraRascon]

Such a genius he was... No other sitar player like him... Hypnotizing! Tabla is amazing as well

[@suvrat]

I have never seen such elegance and ease with 7 beats! All those upaj tihaees are mind blowing! He is truely a legend! 🙏🏼

[@chowdhuryanuradha53]

Each & every strokes of Nikhilda touched my inmost feelings.The appearance of the raga Bageshree gained accomplishment in this rendition.He had left us too early.We had many more to listen from him.My earnest pranam to him.

[@shubhavarma1910]

Truly no words. Concentrated Shringar Ras in this masterpiece! Very moving music.!!

[@prodeepghosh5169]

Nikhil Babu's abiity to coax surreal music from the sitar is unparalleled. His notes are pure, clear and divine. He eschewed flamboyance and showmanship for just doing what he is arguably the greatest at - make unbelievable music. This Bageshree is by far the best I have heard in an instrumental format

[@sisutirthabkp7576]

The whole rendition sounded fantastic and not certain parts of the whole rendition...!! This is undoubtedly the best Bageshree ever!!! Every note is connected with each other forming a beautiful chain of music which is extremely pleasing to the ears!!! He has his place among the greats, no doubt about that!!!🙏🙏🙏

[@shlarry3184]

I looked for a night raga by my favorite, Banerjee, and this was easy to find. It's a midnight raga. Loving every last crystal drop of sound and musicianship. Many thanks, shanti shanti om friends :)

[@shlarry3184]

Dynamics and phrasing are utterly mindblowing in this performance, probably my favorite of his so far. Beautifully transcendental.

[@sagnikpaul233]

@@shlarry3184 please refer to him as "Pandit Nikhil Banerjee." Unless you are his close friend or a family member.

[@shlarry3184]

@@sagnikpaul233 I meant no disrespect, Pandit Nikhil Banerjee still warms my ears. Thank you for correcting me.

[@swamiaseem]

for me, his clear, his melodic way of playing - make him the greatest, the finest sitar master, I've ever heard. !

[@MrSuchasoorma]

100% agree

[@somdebchakrabarti]

The BEST rendering of raag Bageshree on instrument by one and only Pandit Nikhil Banerjee

[@nksrinivasan1]

Great rendering of Bageshree by Nikhilji! This concert will live for ever!!

[@somjeetkho51]

what a performance as smooth as flow of water. really a great inspiration. must listen

[@abhiruparoy2048]

Bageshree at its best in the hands of a blessed son of God

[@witten7berg]

I agree , he is the best, it does'nt matter what he is playing , it all sounds heavenly

[@Rankirisl]

I am with Swami Aseem, I like Nikhil Banerjee over all the other sitarists for these very qualities. Would have to be the greatest sitarist that lived.

[@hryathiraj]

What a great divine and soulful music. Bageshree and Nikhil Banerjee is a deadly combination, sheer enjoyment to the hilt. Thanks for uploading.

[@allroy9985]

....

[@allroy9985]

,,

[@sourabhpal8445]

Eyes full of tears is the result of listening. Pronam.

[@jaydipmukhopadhyay9958]

I am an occasional listener of classical indian music. But most of the time I loose my patience during such long aalap . But this time I am really in a separate mood. I listened the whole composition.and waooo what a composition by sitar mastero.

[@prasenjitsarcar8415]

Welcome Jaydip.... you are not alone

[@subhadeeplahiri8784]

Jaydip Mukhopadhyay , I recommend you to listen to Maru Behag by Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, it has got a exquisitely beautiful Alap

[@malaymandal5716]

He is such a genius. How easily he plays with your emotion just by his fingers on strings. Kudos Pandit Nikhil Bannerjee

[@yatharthsehgal886]

out of the world. Every time I listen to it I find new things.

[@zaksherzad]

A musician of divine quality, he invites the higher music to be emanated not to attempt to get to it!

[@pvjois]

How fortunate to be able to touch the instrument and play this RAGA-Heavenly is it not? Thank you Sir-Dr.PV.Jois

[@musiman0124]

Pt. Nikhil Banerjee's sitar-playing is superior to Pt. Ravi Shanker's in depth, technicalities of Sitar-playing including producing Sapaat Taans (which Ravi ji lacked),emotions, and above all in producing the real spiritual music above the superficial music.

[@nandlalchogal7508]

A fully agree with you. Though both are disciples of the same Guru, but Nikhil's Sitaar has no match.

[@Sareeeta]

Pandit Banerjee had a temperament to match his soulful playing. He had conquered his senses and in a way transcended the material world. This showed in his delicate aalaap, followed by the divine jod and jhalas. No wonder he attained moksha while he was still in musical harmony.

[@amitsengupta5753]

ved prakash I agree with you

[@mdhalam6662]

100% right

[@vsgs2226]

Completely agree

[@prasenjitsarcar8415]

Is this the best LIVE performance by Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, ever? IMHO, it is.

[@vrishik1]

Its heavenly listening to pundit ji. Its like from another world, though we listen to it many times seems so fresh each time. The thoughts and emotions it brings out are blissful

[@tanmoybhattacharjee3989]

This made my eyes filled with tears.... How beautifully he has played the bageshree.... Tumake shoto kuti pronam ❤❤❤

[@vedangnaware008]

Sublime music . You can't get enough of this.

[@DifferentSaturner]

Very good sound quality! This amazing classical helps to meditate, to write, to read! (Wed 10 Nov 2021 20h45)

[@soumyabanerjee2869]

Sailed through an eternal happyness along the entire stretch of music. Only who can connect himself with god can play such a soulful sitar play. I'm really speechless. Feeling an eternal happyness too.

[@barunghosh9660]

Panditji you are in heavenly abode. When we listen to you we feel we are somewhere in between. Regards. Regards

[@barunghosh9660]

I was never being able to learn music for being financially week. But trust me I was a good singer. Instrumental music used to bring me to heavenly abode when listening to them in dover lane sadarang and records. But trust me nikhilda was unparalel. His sudden demise shocked me like anything such also in case of rafi saheb. Are you all there in heaven and playing or singing?

[@redskywalker137]

WOW! What a Bageshree! The world will be a better place if everyone lets their heart be opened by such beauties as this :)

[@frankvisser893]

Great approach. Perfectly balanced. Stunning. For the first time ever I understood more from the inner sides of Raga Bageshree. Thank you very much indeed for that great Live Performance in Munich ...

[@SuperIndranil007]

Like,I'm praying The GOD through listening.

[@kariaudar]

What a mesmerizing performance! Nikhil Banerjee´s playing is probably the most spiritual music I´ve ever heard. If there is any such thing as musical perfection, this must come pretty close. :)

[@prasenjitsarcar8415]

can i give you 5 thumbs up for this comment :)

[@RB-fp8hn]

The sitar is extraordinarily melodious in the hands of Nikhil Banerjee. Every sound is transcendental.

[@dipendranathbhowmick6577]

Unfortunately Pt. ji passed away too early, at an immense loss to the music world. His mentor was vidushi Annapurna Devi, a maestro of Surbahar, of the highest order. Both were devotees of music and shunner of publicity.

[@ritachatterjee7391]

I am speechless.After a long time I heard such a wonderful piece.Thanks for mental satisfaction

[@ramabhattacharya2037]

The greatest Setarist Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, He was our India's Proud. We have heartiest respect for him. Very sad, that he has passed away to The God, by very short time .

[@prakashpethe4483]

Satisfying Sitar after very long time. This is called melody.

[@arungandhi875]

Pandit nikhil banerjee is still outstanding. When he plays sitar I forget the surroundings. The sound of his sitar is unique.

[@swarsur]

Clearly, Bageshree played Banerjee Da :) And I cried :)

[@sabyasachidey7119]

waaa...kya baat hai!!

[@sabyasachidey7119]

kya tariff ki hai aapne!

[@rvisual]

Most sublime. We are fortunate to have these recordings of the master.

[@blipblip88]

The way to approach describing this performance could only be spoken of in alien tongues. I'm speechless. I prescribe listening to this every day, perhaps several time a day! Encourage your local "classical" radio stations to start playing classical Hindustani music of this caliber!

[@sagnikch1]

A wonderful rendition of raag Bageshree!! Loved this heavenly playing by Panditji !!! What a genius...

[@sisutirthabkp7576]

The best Bageshree recital I've ever heard.......

[@SoumyadityaNanda]

this is unbelievably awesome rendition of Bageshree.

[@govindarajulu-kasturi9614]

Beautiful salaams to the Great Artists God Bless them Thanks Kasturi G

[@satishgavai7244]

I was of the firm opinion that his meend kaam in his Ko Ri Asawari was his best until I heard this exposition of Bageshree. I have always believed that Pandit Nikhil Bannerjee was the best sitar player the world has produced to date and this recital confirms it. His genius has all the spirituality of his gurus, Ustad Alauddin Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and not least Annapurna Devi, condensed in his musical personality.

[@soumyakantipal4517]

Work of taans by pandit Banerjee will be unmatched forever.

[@bhuwanchanderpandey8450]

श्रेष्ठ!अति श्रेष्ठ । न भूतो न भविष्यति। साधु- साधु।।।

[@blipblip88]

I could listen to his alap for hours

[@deanmohan4837]

Many many thanks for uploading this concert........for me he is musicians musician

[@satyamaity]

Simply heavenly..... Was the table by Pt. Kishan Maharaj?..... Pt. Nikhil Banerjee was far ahead of many of his times... his untimely demise let many others rise to fame..... but he was simply outstanding..... my pranam to this sitar genius.....

[@prasenjitsarcar8415]

Tabla by Faiyaz Ah Khan, IMHO. Thanks,

[@ParthaSarathiDewanji-tu3oy]

Simply unique and eyes automatically closed and enjoying heavenly pleasure

[@vaskarchakraborty6345]

Pandit ji was having a distinct character of music which is rarely found in the classical music.

[@amitavabhattacharya2470]

Wonderful!!! My pronaams to him.

[@sisirakarunathilake3826]

Put. Nikhil banarjee is the finest musician on this earth.He is my God.

[@nirmalkumarsarkar2226]

মন ভরে যায়। কত পরিশ্রম কত সাধনার ফলে এমন করে সুরের মূর্ছনায় সকল-কে আবিষ্ট করে রাখে----এ তুলনা হীন।

[@prabirmitra2755]

So much entertaining and soulful. More than words.

[@manoranjandutta989]

One of the most versatile exponents of sitar with great melodius masterly hands.

[@ЕргШарма]

Моему восхищению нет предела, в благословенной Индии, разумеется, много замечательных музыкантов, и при всем моем уважении к Рави Шанкару, все-таки смею заявить, что Никхил где-то даже и лучше, интересней, трогательней... Безграничная творческая фантазия плюс неподражаемая виртуозная техника, и чувственность, чего пока недостает некоторым молодым музыкантам. Но у них еще все впереди. Успехов, верте в себя и все получится. Аминь

[@clairebennett7831]

I was listening to Ravi Shankar and a recommendation led me to listen to this musician. Amazing.

[@sirajghosh]

A recommendation worth a million dollars...:))

[@nilanjanroychaudhuri6346]

He was one of the greatest musician of Hindustani classical music, what he played were the expression from his heart, salute to him

[@Bhinnashadaj]

Great comment, completely agree with you. His melodic/vocalist style is simply unparalleled. And what a masterpiece this is - puts me into a trance! Thanks to rliesky56 for uploading such a gem.

[@abhirupsarkar3320]

This is one of the very best Bageshree I have ever heard. Closely comparable to the one I heard from Ustad Ali Akbar Khan at Dover Lane Music Conference in Kolkata in 1977 (or 1978). Shall be extremely grateful if someone could upload that gem.

[@hp.ramesh]

Listen to Shivkumar Sharma and Zakir Hussain in a live concert, in the album named "Nocturnal Fragrance". That is truly breathtaking.

[@venkaty2010]

Superbly played melody, creating as he played. Majestic.

[@mohankop]

Sir, your uploads are very precious

[@sushamaku8692]

What an experience!! As if the strings are touching our soul... 🙏🙏

[@arungandhi875]

No words to describe panditji. He is unique in his style.

[@SuperSaniyat]

plucks your heart strings...!

[@NetIdentity]

Magnificent performance!

[@tifaniz77]

Лучший из лучших!! Самый мой любимый! :)

[@ramendughoshmazumdar3709]

My iconic sitarist speaking into my subconscious mind untying the emotional knots.

[@boney16nxt]

Amazing.. running short of adjectives..

[@RingoLoadagain]

Listening to this is like watching a real magician make magic right before your very eyes.

[@raagajaunninair1907]

Ethereal bliss....bageshree!🙏

[@unity1206]

Heart healing!!!!!!.