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Lalmani Misra

Lalmani Misra
BornAugust 11, 1924
Kanpur, India
DiedJuly 17, 1979 (aged 54)
GenresIndian classical music
Instrument(s)Sitar, vichitra veena

Lalmani Misra (August 11, 1924 – July 17, 1979) was an Indian musician and musicologist known for his contributions to Hindustani classical music. He was proficient in instruments such as the sitar and the vichitra veena.[1] Michael Mondezie of Trinidad Express Newspapers credited Misra with his efforts to preserve and advance the playing techniques of the vichitra veena and his contributions to the development of a standardised system of musical notation in Indian classical music.[2]

Biography

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Misra was born in Kanpur, India.[1] He received training in Dhrupad and Dhamar under Shankar Bhatt and Munshi Bhrigunath Lal.[3] He also studied Khayal singing with Ustad Mehndi Hussain Khan, a disciple of Ustad Vazir Khan of the Rampur Seni Gharana. In addition to these vocal styles, Misra trained in various instruments, studying sitar under Shri Shukdev Roy and tabla under Swami Pramodanand.[4]

At the age of 12, Misra began working as the assistant music director at Shehanshahi Recording Company in Calcutta,[4] where he stayed for two years.[1]

Misra returned to Kanpur in 1940, following his father's death. He established music schools for children in Kanpur, called "Bal Sangeet Vidyalaya" and founded the institution "Bharatiya Sangeet Parishad," as well as a music college, "Gandhi Sangeet Mahavidyalaya."[5] He developed syllabi for both formal academic and informal learning environments. Around this time, he also founded an orchestral society.[1]

Creating Ragas

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Dr. Pushpa Basu documented the following Ragas in her book:[6]

  1. Madhu Bhairava: Hexatonic Raga of Bhairava Ang performed early in the morning.
  2. Shyam Bihag: Penta-heptatonic Raga of Kalyan Thaat and Ang, performed late evening.
  3. Madhukali: Penta-heptatonic Raga blending Madhuvanti, Multani and Ramkali, played early in the evening.
  4. Sameshwari: Penta-heptatonic Raga blending Rageshri and Kalavati, played early in the evening.
  5. Baleshwari: Hexa-hexatonic Raga blending Bageshwari and Bilaskhani Todi, played before noon.
  6. Jog Todi: Hexa-heptatonic Raga blending Jog and Todi, played any time due to its light nature.
  7. Anand Bhairavai: Revived through research; a type of Bhairavi called Madhyam-Pradhan (subdominant centric), which shuns Rishabh (supertonic).

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "India: Vicitra Vina: The Music of Pandit Lalmani Misra". Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  2. ^ Mondezie, Michael (23 September 2023). "'Fortune For All'". Trinidad Express Newspapers. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  3. ^ Vyas, Suneera Kasliwal (29 January 2025). "Indian Aesthetics and Fine Arts: Instrumentalists and Scholars of North India-1" (PDF). INFLIBNET CENTRE.
  4. ^ a b "The music of pandit Lalmani Misra" (PDF). INDIA: Vicitra Vina. 1996.
  5. ^ Sangeetendu Pandit Lalmani Ji Misra: Ek Pratibhavan Sangeetagya. Tewari, Laxmi Ganesh. California: Sangeetendu Pandit Lalmani Ji Misra: Ek Pratibhavan Sangeetagya, Tewari, Laxmi Ganesh. Swar Sadhana, California. 1996.
  6. ^ Raga Rupanjali. Basu, Dr Pushpa. Varanasi: Ratna Publications, 2007,
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