Dhrupad is a classical style of North Indian music which developed during the medieval period. It has a peaceful and meditative atmosphere, created by lingering notes in consonance with the tanpura lute. There is a prominence of overtones and subtle microtonal variations of pitch. The music progresses from slow to fast, with a final lively movement accompanied by the pakhawaj drum.

Nancy Kulkarni is an award-winning cellist who has devoted the last 25 years to the performance of Indian classical music on the cello. Nancy studied two years with dhrupad vocalist Dr. Ritwik Sanyal and five years in Mumbai with the renowned veena master Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. For the last ten years, she visits India annually for further dhrupad cello study with Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar.

Before pursuing dhrupad, Nancy was Co-Principal Cellist of the Rome Festival Orchestra and Section Cellist with the Chicago Civic Orchestra and Orchestra del Maggio Musicale of Florence, Italy. In 1982, Nancy first came to India on a holiday from the Florence Orchestra. She began studying dhrupad on her cello with Dr. Ritwik Sanyal in Varanasi, and soon decided to dedicate herself only to the study and performance of dhrupad.

Since then, she has given over 200 recitals and lecture/demonstrations at American universities and halls, and in major cities in India. She was twice awarded the Senior Performing Arts Fellowship by the American Institute of Indian Studies, and was the featured artist in the film, "Through My Eyes" by Mani Kaul. Nancy has been featured several times on National Public Radio, All-India Radio, and has released solo CDs on India Archive and Dhrupad labels.

Nancy has made several modifications to her cello for Indian music. She has added two extra strings which are plucked in the chikari style of the veena. Her four playing strings pass over a sloping elk-horn nut, modeled after the veena to produce a ringing tone. She has adopted the Indian posture, holding the cello while seated on a carpet. She plays without vibrato, so that subtle ornaments are clearly articulated.

Nancy currently teaches World Music at the University of Wisconsin, and resides in the Washington D.C. area. She is available for recitals, workshops, master classes and teaching.

Raga Bageshree, 2007
release. 67 minutes.

Ragas Multani and
Bhupali, 1998
release. 69 minutes

*** CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK ***

Ragas Bihag and
Puria Dhanashri, 1996
release, 65 minutes.