Kolkata based Carsten Wicke is regarded today as one of the world's most exceptional Rudra Veena maestros, whose music is carrying the almost lost
sound of the Rudra Veena from the thousands-of-years old tradition into the present.
Born in Germany, Carsten learned Violin and singing as a child. His journey into Indian music started in the 1990's, while studying India’s most
popular percussion instrument with the international renowned Tabla Maestro Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. Being fascinated by the old classical Dhrupad music,
Carsten meets India’s legendary Rudra Veena Master
Ustad Asad Ali Khan
whose musical family tradition goes back over many generations;
including outstanding Beenkars (Veena players) like
Sadiq Ali Khan, Musharraf Khan and
Rajab Ali Khan
.
Ustad Asad Ali Khan accepted him as one of his few
Veena disciples and taught him traditional Rudra Veena in Khandarbani Style. While studying the vocal tradition of the Dagarbani
Dhrupad
with
Ashish Sankrityayan, the current director and teacher at the Dhrupad Kendra in Bhopal, Carsten completed the musical versatility of his Veena playing.
Carstens presentation of the old classical Raga music unites in an unparalleled way the meditative depth in the Alap (introduction) -
the unparalleled fortitude of the Dagarbani
Dhrupad -
with the dynamic interpretation of the faster performance stages (Jor, Jhala) -
a distinguished characteristic of the Khandarbani style. While combining subtle melodic variations with complex rhythmical finger stroke
techniques his exceptional playing style creates a unique listening experience that is appreciated by Indian music lovers as well as the international audience.
