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 Ind ...

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 Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...

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. Dagar received most of his training under his father, and younger uncle, the Junior Dagar Brothers, 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 Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar (2 February 1927 – 27 July 2011) was an exponent of Dagar vani Dhrupad of Indian classical music. He represented the 19th generation of Dagar Tradition. His cousins Nasir Moinuddin Dagar and Nasir Aminuddin Dagar were kn ...

and H. Sayeeduddin Dagar. Between 1989 and 1994, he was trained by his uncle,

Zahiruddin Dagar Zahir al-Din ( ar, ظهیرالدّین ) may refer to: *Zahir ad-Din Toghtekin (died 1128), Turkic military leader who was atabeg of Damascus * Zahir-al-Din Faryabi (died 1201), Persian poet *Zahir al-Din Karawi ( fl. 1355/56), leader of the Sarb ...

, 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

. 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 musical mode, melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradit ...

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 Mad ...

. 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