ITC is deeply
involved in the preservation of one of India’s precious cultural heritage -
Hindustani classical music. At a time when the continued absence of royal patronage was
beginning to threaten the perpetuity of this art form, ITC pioneered a unique initiative
of corporate patronage to preserve and nurture this legacy. The ITC Sangeet Research
Academy (ITC-SRA) was set up in 1978 as a public charitable trust for the preservation and
propagation of Hindustani classical music. In this farsighted endeavour, ITC established a
modern ‘Gurukul’ to revive India’s traditional ‘Guru-Shishya
Parampara’.
ITC Sangeet Research Academy is proof that corporates can make an invaluable contribution
to preserving India's great heritage for future generations.
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The Guru-Shishya Parampara is the very soul
of India's oral tradition. At ITC-SRA, the Shishya learns the art from the Guru with
reverence and trust. To the Shishya, the Guru is an epitome of the art itself. For the
Guru, the Shishya signifies the continuity of the art. The list of ITC-SRA's Gurus and
scholars is like a veritable 'Who's Who' of the world of Hindustani classical music.
ITC-SRA's teaching draws from the system of
musical training of the gharanas. Every gharana has a soul of its own. While a vocalist
represents a particular gharana, the ITC-SRA environment provides a rich cross-gharana
exposure which shapes the artist's evolution.
The Academy selects each scholar on the
basis of talent and dedication. A scholar spends 10 to 12 years learning from the Guru.
ITC-SRA has an Expert Committee consisting of knowledgeable, committed |
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and experienced musicians who are responsible for selecting and assessing each scholar.
The appraisal involves voice reproduction, gayakee, riyaaz and peshkari. The Academy also
has a Scientific Research Department to study all the elements that have an impact on
sound and music. It conducts systematic and scientific research into the structure and
materials of all musical traditions to continuously enrich its music training. ITC-SRA
also houses a library of books and manuscripts on music and a sophisticated recording
studio.
ITC-SRA's website,
www.itcsra.org, endeavours to take the rich heritage of Hindustani classical music to |
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the larger Indian diaspora in a comprehensive, informative and interactive form.For music lovers, ITC-SRA is an invaluable institution. For ITC, it
is a corporate tribute to the great tradition of Indian classical music.
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