CURRICULUM – VITAE
Dr. V. Balaji is a well-known artiste of Violin & Vocal, belonging to the fifth generation of a renowned family of musicians. His training in Carnatic Music began when he was only five years old under the watchful supervision of his grandfather Late Sri. V. N. Krishna Iyengar and his father Late Sri V. K. Venkata Ramanujam. In 1975 Balaji began to study Hindustani Music at Banaras Hindu University under the tutelage of Padma Bhushan Dr. (Smt) N. Rajam and received his doctoral degree in 1986. The recipient of many awards presently Professor (Violin), Ex- Dean, Faculty of Performing Arts, Banaras Hindu University Varanasi. Dr. Balaji’s technique and innovations reflect near perfection. His musical expressions has the power to transport his listeners to a realm far beyond everyday consciousness. While developing ragas on his instrument, he embellishes his deft melodic nuances with crisp rhythmic designs making a deep impression by his rich and novel variety of musical ideas. Endowed with a creative faculty, he has also developed an interesting technique of holding the bow which gives a lift that makes the pass as soft as pulling out a hair from a proud of butter. Dr. V. Balaji has given performances at different places in India as well as in Foreign Countries. His Performances have been greatly appreciated by one and all.
Field of Specialization: Violinist and Vocalist, eminent in both the style of Indian Classical Music (North Indian and South Indian style of Music)
Few Awards:
● Doyen of the Music world by the Honorable President of Sri Lanka His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena – 2016 ● U.P. Sangeet Natak Academy award. ● Chhatrapati Shivaji Award ● Gold Medal, Banaras Hindu University for standing 1st in both Bachelor and Master Degree.
(with the President of Sri Lanka)
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Important Titles: ● Violin Chakravarthy – Sri Lanka – 2016 ● Kashi Kala Ratna - 2013 ● Kashi Ratna Alankarna – 2010. ● Sangeeta SriRatnam – 2009. ● Sangeeta Bhushanam – 2009. ● Life time Achievement Award – 2009. ● Sangeeta Vibhuti – 2008. ● Sangeeta Sudhakara – 2007. ● Navarasa Vachaspati – 2006. ● Sangeeta Ratna – 2000. ● City Pushpa Award – 2000.
Inventions:
● Invented 15 Stinged Viola with Double Ribs – Rajam Bela ● Invented 13 Stinged Violin with Triple Ribs – Shanti Bela ● Invented 13 Stringed Violin – Malviya Bela ● Invented 11 Strings Violin – Bala Bela (Named by Padmavibhushan Late. Pt. Kishan Maharaj). ● Invented 25 Strings Viola – Triveni Bela. ● Invented 30 Strings Viola – Shringara Bela.
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Balabela Trivenibela Shringarbela
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Malviya Bela Rajam Bela
Citations: Following are the book that elaborates his contribution in the field of music by different individuals from different countries.
Biography of Prof. V. Balaji:
•Ethnomusicology of the individual Vishnuchittan Balaji between Tradition and Innovativeness - Svanibor Pettan (Faculty of Arts University of Ljubljana, Slovenia) and Lasanthi Manaranjanie Kalinga Dona (independent researcher, Slovenia). •The Singing Body: The Embodiment Process in the Transmission of Musical knowledge - A case study of Prof. V. Balaji.
Articles on Prof. Balaji:
1.Kashi ki Sangeet - Parampara, Sangeet jagat ko Kashi ka Yogdaan - Pt. Kameshwarnath Mishra 2.Bharatiya Saangeetik jagat me Varanasi ka yogdaan - Dr. Renu Johri 3.Pt. Omkarnath ji Thakur evam unki Shishya-Parampara - Dr. Lavanya Kirti Singh - Kavya 4.Strings Magazine, U.S.A. - Mr. James Wimmer
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Documentary films :
1. A Documentary Film on him & his Friend cum Disciple Gilles Apap Teaching Method of Indian Music as well as Western Music along with many more Eminent Artist of Our Country as well as Western Musician in French Language "Renegade Fiddler" – Apap masala Directed by Max Jourdan, Production : Ideal audience, 6 Rue de I agent Bally 75009 Paris year 2002. 2. "Raga – Ranga" – Surabhi – National Telecast – T.V. Serial – Mumbai.
Books written by him:
1. "Swara Shringarawali" 2. "Bhartiya Shastriya Sangeet Ki Do Dharaon Ka Ek Roopi Sanga" 3. Anekta mai Ekta
Symposia – Performances:
● Swar Sandhya - Chandigarh ● Bhatkhande Sangeet Samaroh - Lucknow ● President House – Sri Lanka ● Rupawahini Channel of Music – Colombo ● Department of Cultural Affairs - Colombo ● Univ. of Sri Jayewardhenepura – Sri Lanka ● Univ. of Colombo – Sri Lanka ● Live – Oak Festival – California.
● Juneau – Music Festival – Organized by Alaska – Folk – Festival – Alaska.
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● An Evening of Indian Classical Music – Via – Campobello – California. ● Tajmahotsava – Agra. ● Cerri Foundation day Pilani - Rajasthan. ● Poorva Charya Sangeeta Samaroh BHU, Varanasi. ● Sankatmochan 7 days Music Festival – 2009 – Varanasi.
(Live – Oak Festival) (Live – Oak Festival - Workshop)
Details of Cassettes, CD’s and VCD:
● Comparative Playing (Violin) of North & South Indian Classical Music – C.D. Produced Kavi Alexender, Water Lilly Accoustics. ● Madurai, Multan, Morrocco (Middle Eastern Music) ▪ Artist – Prof. V. Balaji Vocal & Violin – Karnatic style ▪ Ustad Shafqat Ali, S/o Ustad Salamat Ali Khan – North Indian Music Style. ▪ Ustad Abdul Latif – Middle Eastern Music. ▪ (Trio Vocal & Violin Recording of C.D.) Produce by Kavi Alexender, ▪ WaterLilly Accoustics – California. ● “Raga” – Cassettes – Violin Solo of mine in North Indian Style of Indian Music – California. ● Rereleased in CD of Raga Yaman 2010 ● VCD of Raga Bhimpalasi (Dedicated to Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya Ji on the occasion of th 150 Malviya Jayanti 2010.
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Achievements:
I had the Privilege of playing violin with some of the great Maestros of our Country:
● Violin Duet along with My Father and Guru Late. V.K. Venkata Ramanujam. ● Violin Support to Padmabhushan Dr. (Smt). N. Rajam. ● Smt. Jaya Biswas, Sri. Abba Sahib Jalgoankar, Late. Pt. Jagannath, Sri. Partho Das, Ustad Zakir Husain, Sri. T.V. Gopala Krishnan, Late. Hari Shankar & Sri. Vikku Vinayaka Ram in the Taalvadaya Kacheri composed by Bharat Ratna Late Pt. Ravi Shankar.
Violin accompaniment to:
● Padmashri Pt. Siyaram Tiwari (Dhrupad). ● Late Pt.Harishankar Mishra ● Late Pt. Mahadev Prasad Mishra ● Late Pt.Ramashraya Jha ● Lata Balasaheb Poonchwale ● Pt.Ganesh Prasad Mishra ● Padmavibhushan Smt. Girija Devi ● Padmashri Pt. Balwant Rai Bhatt. ● Late Kashinath Bodas ● Ustad Gulam Mustafa Khan ● Late Bageshwari Devi ● Shri Sukhdev and Kailash Pawar (Dhrupad) ● Prof.Vanmala Parvatkar(at AIR) (With Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravishankar ji) ● Smt Savita Devi ● Smt. Shruti Sadolikar ● Pt. Satyasheel Deshpande ● Ustad Ahamad Husian & Mohammad Husian. ● Prof Chitranjan Jyotishi ● Late Smt. M.L. Vasant Kumari ● PadmaBhushan Veena Sahasrabudhe ● Surendra Shankar Awasthi
In my musical career I had an opportunity to perform violin solo concert with Eminent Tabla
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Artistes Padmavibhushan Late. Pt. Kishan Maharaj & Padmabhushan Late. Pt. Shamta Prasad alias Gudai Maharaj, the Great pillars of Banaras Gharana.
(With Shruti Shadolkar) (With Vidwan late. V.K.V. Ramanujam & Padmavibhushan Late. Pt Kishan Maharaj)
Contact Info.:
Dr. V. Balaji B4/ 18 Hanuman Ghat (Near Kamakotishwar Temple) Varanasi – 221001 Uttar Pradesh, India.
Mob: +919455005059 Landline: +915422275077
Mail id: [email protected]
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