A Life in Three Octaves The Musical Journey of Gangubai Hangal
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Deepa Ganesh
Three Essays Collective
220 pages, Rs 600
Gangubai, born in 1913 to a family of traditional musicians in Dharwad, was one of the greatest vocalists of Hindustani classical music. Ganesh lays out the historical events which shaped Gangubai’s musical persona: the arrival of the gramophone in India, the rise of Marathi natyasangeet, and above all the Indian freedom struggle. She describes in detail Gangubai’s intimate relationships, especially those with her husband, her guru, and her daughter Krishna, which were to profoundly influence her musical practice and her personality.
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