Gangubai Hangal: Quotes about music

“Peace of mind is very essential in anything that you do--particularly in music. But in my case, it was just the opposite. What new things could I learn when I was constantly disturbed and unhappy? And I tell you, this whole concept of getting lost in music and forgetting the world around you, is a myth. In my case, I can openly say that my troubles and problems were not forgotten by just holding the tanpura in my hand. When I would sit down for riyaz, I would, on the contrary, break down and cry over the daily scene. Over the question of just surviving through the next day. And it wasn't for me that I was worried, but for the entire family that I supported. I personally never thought of becoming rich, of having a new car or house. Those ambitions never entered my mind. All I knew then was the money was not enough. There were many humiliations I had to face because of this. A certain lady musician in Pune invited me over to her house one day. Her mother asked how much I charged for a concert. I told her Rs 125. She suggested that I move over to Pune and accept all her daughter's rejected programmes. They knew I was very badly off. I was insulted by this suggestion and left their house immediately. But later I thought that maybe they were trying to be helpful.”

Gangubai Hangal

In "On Gangubai Hangal by Sabina Sehgal Computer Science & Engineering - University of Washington".

Money , World , Family , Peace

“It’s a hard life, she said, and not everyone can bear the hardships that are part of a life of music.”

Gangubai Hangal

In Legacy of Two Rich Voices - Upholding tradition without being traditionalists http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100425/jsp/opinion/story_12359659.jsp

Life , Music , Parting

“It was 12.30 in the night when I got two congratulatory telegrams - Indira Gandhi's and Jagjivan Ram's. Who has ever sent congratulatory telegrams to me? I went and woke him (Uncle) up and he came and sat with me. What did we do? We cried till dawn. Because of music…all that we had gone through…The joy was real. But we thought of the past.”

Gangubai Hangal

Her reaction after hearing the news of the first National Award of Padma Bhushan, in "Excerpts of an interview from C.S. Lakshmi's The Singer and the Song – Conversations with Women Musicians Vol 1 (2000)"

Music , Past , Joy , Night

“Music, for Gangubai, was an expression of faith and the note had to be searched and discovered each time a phrase was attempted. …In her case, a penetrating search for the note was more important than ornamentation. She could never achieve the sweetness, smoothness or the delicate artistry of tones that the Kirana was noted for, but with inherited talent, scrupulous cultivation and years of struggle what she achieved was unbelievable.”

Gangubai Hangal

Deepa Ganesh, in "Gangubai's search for perfection"

Music , Faith , Time , Search