Keshari Prasad Mishra was born in Kabir Cowra, Banaras in 1934, the son of the well-known sarangi player, Sitaram Mishra. He also learned from his grandfather Biri Maharaj and from Kishori Prasad Mishra. I first knew Kesari Prasad, a sweet Purab ang sarangiya, in the 1970s in Banaras. Later he secured employment at the Bhatkhande Sangeet Mahavidyalaya (Music College) in Lucknow where I met him again in April 1997. He had an interesting introverted quality—only sometimes showing the pleasure that he took in music.
The first video is of rag Todi:
-
Then a rendition of Mishra Bhairavi in thumri style.
-
Then a piece which I did not recognise, perhaps a bhajan:
-
Then something akin to rag Kalashree:
-
The last thing he played was a beautiful Chaiti, a song of Springtime:
-
Then we talked about his life and music:
-
