There are few constants in life, but one is my devoted passion for Indian Classical music – a love so vast and consuming that it is impossible to pick favorites among the many contributors to its traditions. That said,  the renderings of ragas in the hands of Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar fall among the top tier. Zia Mohiuddin, who lived from 1929 until 1990, was among the most highly regarded rudra veena players in the instrument’s illustrious history – widely credited with being responsible for its revival as a solo concert instrument, after a substantial period of neglect. He was a member of the 19th generation of Dagar family, among the oldest and most highly regarded gharanas of Dhrupad, an ancient school of practice and thought within the Hindustani tradition of Indian Classical music.

Zia Mohiuddin Dagar was a player of profound depth, favoring sparse and slow realizations of ragas. His notes, now lingering on recordings, are drowned in humanity, displaying a range of emotion which is impossible to render in description. I’ve spent a lot of time with his records, going back to them again and again, which, for obvious reasons, compelled me to pursue further documents of his work. There are a plenty of live recordings (on Youtube etc) – far more than official releases, but very few of his performances seem to have been captured on film. For the sake of convenience and devotion, I have gathered what I’ve been able to find below, hoping to allow the master’s depth to unfold. The final few also feature his brother, the equally noted Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar

-Bradford Bailey

 

An extract from a performance by Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, taken from the archives of the Asian Music Circuit.

 

Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, – Vina Solo – Raga Suddha Todii – Filmed in Seattle 1975, by Robert Garfias

 

Zia Mohiuddin Dagar with Raja Chhatrapati Singh – Raga Suddhatodi, Chautal Filmed in Seattle in 1976 by Robert Garfias

 

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar – Raag Yaman, part 2

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar – Raag Yaman, part 3

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar – Raag Yaman, part 4

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar – Raag Yaman, part 5

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar – Raag Yaman, part 6

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar – Raag Yaman, part 7

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar – Raag Yaman, part 8

 

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar demonstrating the taan and its use in alap and bandish.
From the movie “Dhrupad”, by Mani Kaul (1982).

 

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar & Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar – Raag Jog Part 1

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar & Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar – Raag Jog Part 2

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar & Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar – Raag Jog Part 3