Ramashreya jha

Infobox musical artist
Name = Pandit Ramashreya Jha



Img_capt = Pandit Ramashreya Jha
Img_size =
Background = composer
Birth_name = Ramashreya Jha
Alias =
Born = August 11, 1928
Genre = Hindustani Classical Music
Occupation = Hindustani Classical Vocalist, Composer, Professor & Head of the Dept of Music, Allahabad University 1980-1989

Ramshreya Jha

Pandit Ramashreya Jha is a famous composer in Hindustani Classical music. He was the Head of the Department of Music in Allahabad University from 1980 to 1989. He has created many ragas and is the author of a five-volume anthology [http://www.underscorerecords.com/artists/details.php?art_id=26 Abhinava Geetanjali] . It encapsulates critical analysis of ragas with numerous traditional and self-conceived compositions. More popularly known to musicians, students and music lovers by his "nom de plume" ‘Ramrang’, Ramashreya Jha's compositions display a sensitive, comprehensive and scholastic approach to music.

Brief Life History

Ramashreya Jha was born on August 11, 1928, near Darbhanga in the Mithila region of Bihar. His early mentors were his father, Sukhdev Jha, and his uncle, Madhusudan Jha. After that, most of his learning was in the 25 years he spent in Allahabad at the ashram of his guru, Bholanath Bhatt. Ramrang mastered the fundamentals of all the forms of classical music, namely, Dhrupad, Dhamar, Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, and Tappa. He also had the benefit of instruction from other gurus such as B.N. Thakar of Allahabad and Habib Khan of Kirana. He also spent about 15 years of his youth with a drama company in Varanasi, which helped widen his musical vistas and gave him a taste of the popular folk music as well.

Achievements

Among the first to notice Jha-sahab's magnificent compositions and parlay them was the famous maestro, the late Jitendra Abhisheki, who sang and taught Ramrang's many compositions.

In 1968, he was appointed to the faculty of Allahabad University and later in 1980 promoted to the position of Head of the Music Department. This move by the University was in recognition of genuine merit because Ramrang holds no formal college degrees. He retired from his active professorial career in 1989.

In 2005, Ramrang received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Pandit Jha is especially known for his beautiful musical compositions, readily identified by his colophon "Ramrang." Now 79 years old, his creative genius remains undiminished. He is also an effective teacher and among his well-known disciples are Shubha Mudgal and Geeta Banerjee.

Additional Links

* [http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit08112003/musicarts.asp Ramrang - A Life in Music]
* [http://www.parrikar.org/images/RamrangMehfil/index.html Mehfil-e-Ramrang, a photo album]
* [http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit05012000/musicarts.asp Ramrang - A Bouquet of Compositions]
* [http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit11132000/musicarts.asp A Stroll in Ramrang's Garden]