Lalmani Misra

Lalmani Misra(11 August 1924 – 17 July 1979) was anIndianclassical musician.

Initiation into music

Lalmani learntDhruvapada (Dhrupad)Dhamarin the tradition of Shankar Bhatt and Munshi Bhrigunath Lal. He learntKhayalsinging with Ustad Mehndi Hussain Khan, a disciple of Ustad Vazir Khan of Rampur Seni Gharana. He received training in Dhruvpad, Bhajan andTablafrom Swami Pramodanand and insitarfrom Shri Shukdev Roy. Under the tutelage of Ustad Amir Ali Khan, he heavily improved his playing of several other musical instruments.

Lalmani was appointed to the post of assistant music director in Shehanshahi Recording Company, Calcutta at the age of twelve. He worked on several films for the following two years. His interaction with fellow cast and film crew members kindled an interest for orchestration in Lalmani.

Making music work

Performing in Berlin, with a troupe, April 1932

Lalmani returned to Kanpur in 1940 after his father's death, Lalmani Misra administrated educational initiatives to teach music to children. He opened several "Bal Sangeet Vidyalaya" – music schools for children. He also modified the syllabus according to the needs of the learner, in both academic and informal situations. At this time, he started an orchestra society. He established the reputed institution of the region, "Bharatiya Sangeet Parishad", and a music college known as "Gandhi Sangeet Mahavidyalaya".

Creating Raga-s

Dr Pushpa Basu has documented following Raga-s in her book.

1. Madhu Bhairava.Hexatonic Raga ofBhairava Angperformed in early morning.
2. Shyam Bihag.Penta-heptatonic Raga of KalyanThaatandAng,performed in late evening.
3. Madhukali.Penta-heptatonic Raga blendingMadhuvanti,MultaniandRamkali,played in early evening.
4. Sameshwari.Penta-heptatonic Raga blendingRageshriandKalavati,played in early evening.
5. Baleshwari.Hexa-hexatonic Raga blendingBageshwariandBilaskhani Todi,played before noon.
6. Jog Todi.Hexa-heptatonic Raga blendingJogandTodi,played any time due its light nature.
7. Anand Bhairavai.Revived through research. Kind ofBhairavicalledMadhyam-Pradhan(subdominant centric), which shunsRishabh(supertonic)

Sources and links

1. Nada Rupa,Sharma, Dr. (Miss) Premlata, Ed. College of Fine Arts, B.H.U., Varanasi: 1961. Special Issue with Supplement, Vol I, No. 1, January 1961
2. Sangeetendu Pandit Lalmani Ji Misra: Ek Pratibhavan Sangeetagya,Tewari, Laxmi Ganesh.Swar Sadhana, California, 1996.
3. Shruti Aur Smriti: Mahan Sangeetagya Pandit Lalmani Misra,Chourasiya, Omprakash,Ed. Madhukali Prakashan, Bhopal, August 1999.
4. Sangeetendu Acharya Lalmani Misra.Vidushi Premlata Sharma
5. EthnomusicologistDr. Laxmi Ganesh Tewari
6. Sindura on Vichitra Veena, a short movie clip onOnline Music Education
7. Celestial Music of Pandit Lalmani Misra.DVD. Santa Rosa, California: Svar Sadhana, 2007.
8. Raga-Rupanjali.Ratna Publications: Varanasi. 2007.A collection of Compositions of Sangeetendu Dr. Lalmani Misra by Dr. Pushpa Basu.
9. Raga Vibodh: Misrabani.Dr. Ragini Trivedi. Hindi Madhyam Karyanvaya Nideshalaya: Delhi. 2010.
10. Sitar Compositions in Ome Swarlipi.Dr. Ragini Trivedi.2010.
11. Links to musical pieces
12. Madhukali – Organization in memory of Sangeetendu Dr. Lalmani Misra