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BORN in 1960, Deepak Ram began his formal training in music (Flute and Tabla) in 1975 at Tolstoy Farm, Johannesburg, under Jeram Bhana. In 1977 he made his first trip to Bombay and met India’s master flute-maker Shri Suryakant V. Limaye, from whom he learned many practice techniques and theory.
Instrumentation:
flute
Genre:
jazz, traditional / indigenous
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During this period he spent a short while under flautist Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao. Deepak returned to South Africa and started performing in community concerts and teaching privately, while being influenced in community concerts and teaching privately, while being influenced and monitored by his musician brothers Rabindranath and Vivek.
In 1981 Deepak returned to Bombay and became the disciple of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, the celebrated flautist of the Hindustani tradition. He also studied tabla under Shri Shridhar Y. Padhye and theory under Pandit Rajaram Shukla. During this time he lived with flute maker Shri Suryakant V. Limaye.
Deepak became a full professional musician in 1985, when he began conducting classes and workshops at universities and community-based centres throughout South Africa. Deepak performs regularly in concerts throughout South Africa. In 1987 he accompanied his teacher Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia in three concerts in Switzerland.
Influenced by his musician brothers, he also developed an early interest in jazz and its improvisational nature. This led to many collaborations with jazz pianist Melvin Peters, successful tours and a recording with Tananas, and performances and a recording with Darius Brubeck in Gathering Forces.
From 1990 to 1994 Deepak lectured full-time at the Department of Music at the University of Durban-Westville. During this time he wrote many compositions based on elements of Indian music. These include choral works, two extended compositions for a flute quartet (Western flute, violin, viola and cello), and a few pieces for jazz groups. He has also completed a number of commissions for theatre productions and television.
Besides performing and composing, Deepak often does lecture demonstrations on Indian music. He has published a booklet introducing Indian music to beginners, using the harmonium as a medium.
FROM THE PRESS:
He provides a round even tone, with a purity which commands a gamut of dynamics. No speed is too fast if the music demands it, and any player would envy his flutter-tonguing.
- GROCOTTS MAIL, GRAHAMSTOWN: 1989
He is able to make this deceptively simple looking instrument do astonishing things. At first recitative, with impeccable phrasing, it is soon clear that he is equally at home with turns and runs.
- NATAL WITNESS, PIETERMARITZBURG: 1990
He does not play his instrument, he is his instrument. It seems as though the breath of a melody was passing through the air which he simply reached up and caught in his flute.
- DAILY NEWS, DURBAN: 1991
The music was almost therapeutic. Its melodies seemed to occupy an element somewhere between water and air.
- RHODEO, GRAHAMSTOWN: 1989
South African composer Deepak Ram’s score is rich and haunting innovative without straying too far from its ancient roots.
- CAPE TIMES: 1987
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