Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar is an Indian classical singer of the

dhrupad Dhrupad is a genre in Hindustani classical music from the Indian subcontinent. It is the oldest known style of major vocal styles associated with Hindustani classical music, Haveli Sangeet of Pushtimarg Sampraday and also related to the South I ...

genre and the son of dhrupad singer Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar. Since the death of his father and later, his uncle, Wasifuddin has been singing solo. He was awarded the

Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is confe ...

in 2010.

Life and training

Wasifuddin Dagar is the son of Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar, and the nephew of Nasir Zahiruddin Dagar, of the

Dagar vani The Dagar gharana (or Dagar vani) is a tradition of the classical dhrupad genre of Hindustani classical music spanning 20 generations, tracing back to Swami Haridas (15th century), and including Behram Khan of Jaipur (1753-1878). For some generation ...

. Dagar received most of his training under his father, and younger uncle, the

Junior Dagar Brothers The Junior Dagar Brothers were Nasir Zahiruddin (1933–1994) and Nasir Faiyazuddin (1934–1989), a pair of Indian singers of the classical dhrupad genre. They were the 19th generation of an unbroken chain of the Dagarvani Dhrupad tradition. T ...

, since he was five years old. Additionally he has had opportunity to receive instructions from his grand uncle, A. Rahimuddin Dagar, his elder uncle, Nasir Aminuddin Dagar (who, along with Nasir Moinuddin Dagar, comprised the Senior Dagar Brothers), as well as some of his cousin uncles,

Zia Fariduddin Dagar Zia Fariduddin Dagar (15 June 1932 – 8 May 2013) was an Indian classical vocalist belonging to the Dhrupad tradition, the oldest existing form of north Indian classical music (Hindustani classical music). He was part of the Dagar family of ...

, Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar and

H. Sayeeduddin Dagar Ustad Hussain Sayeeduddin Dagar (20 April 1939 – 30 July 2017), popularly known as Saeed Bhai, was an Indian classical vocalist belonging to the Dhrupad tradition, the oldest existing form of north Indian classical music ( Hindustani classic ...

. Between 1989 and 1994, he was trained by his uncle, Zahiruddin Dagar, with whom he used to sing

jugalbandi A jugalbandi or jugalbandhi is a performance in Indian classical music, especially in Hindustani classical music but also in Carnatic, that features a duet of two solo musicians. The word jugalbandi means, literally, "entwined twins." The duet ca ...

s (duets).

Major recordings

Wasifuddin Dagar's public career began on 25 February 1989, a few days after his father's death, when he gave his first performance. He sang with Zahiruddin Dagar. Wasifuddin's first major recording were in Switzerland, India and Japan, in 1992. He has since recorded in Switzerland, India, and America with major recording labels. A French television company made a film based on their life and music. Wasifuddin Dagar has toured North America performing dhrupad solo since 2000. He first performed live in New York in 2000, where he gave a rendition of

raga A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradition, and as a ...

Bihag Raga Bihag is a Hindustani classical raga belonging to the Bilaval Thaat. It is a melodious Raaga for beginners as well as experts. Raga Bihag uses all seven music swars. In Bihag, both the Madhyams (Shuddha & teevra) are used. The Shuddha Madhy ...

. He has since performed at the UN, the Smithsonian Institutions, Yale, the City of Chicago, University of Washington, Seattle, Stanford University, University of California, Los Angeles, and several other prestigious venues.

References

External links

Darbar Festival biographyNYC Radio Live
Podcast featuring a musical interview with Wassifuddin Dagar. Originally aired in New York City on WKCR 89.9 FM-NY {{DEFAULTSORT:Dagar, Wasifuddin 1969 births Dagarvani Hindustani singers Living people People from Udaipur Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts