Music
His forte was vocal music.
His father,Vishwanath believed that unless one received proper training under qualified instructors, one could not earn competency in music.
He himself gave Naren his first training in music, and, at Raipur (1877-79) he taught him many religious songs.
After the family's return to Calcutta, he arranged for Naren's training in classical vocal and instrumental music under masters like Beni Gupta (AKA Beni Ostad) and, later, under the latter's Mohammedan teacher, Ahmad Khan.
According to the Life of Swami Vivekananda by his eastern and western disciples, some contend that Beni Ostad's real name was Beni Adhikari. From Ahmad Khan, Narendra learnt many Hindi, Urdu and Persian songs, most of them devotional.
Ujir Khan, Senior and Junior Dunni Khan, Kanailal Dhendi and Jagannath Mishra are also named as his music teachers.
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| Pakhawaj | Tabla |
It was said that Kasi Ghoshal, who played the Pakhawaj at the Adi Brahmo Samaj, taught him Pakhawaj and Tabla; but its possible that Beni Ostad taught him these instruments. Or possibly both did.
It was said that Naren learnt Esraj from Jagannath Mishra.
Esraj
As a teenager, he practiced music for hours in a small room on the first floor of his maternal grandmother's house, or at the house of a friend.
His companions would assemble to listen. Naren's family was also charmed with his voice, and he often sang to his father.
Narendranath was an authentic theoretician of music. A compilation of songs with a treatise on music, entitled Sangita-Kalpataru, in Bengali, published by Shri Chandicharan Basak in 1887 was said to be mainly compiled by Narendranath, and later completed by Vaishnavcharan Basak.
In its Introduction (which may have been written by Naren), aspects of the science and art of vocal and instrumental Indian music are discussed.
The major part of the book named Sangita-Sangraha contains devotional and inspirational songs composed in various languages of India. In the appendix, biographical information is provided about the composers of the songs. .
Although Narendra and his family were facing dire poverty, it has been suggested that he helped compile this book solely to assist the struggling publisher and without remuneration.
- www.vivekananda.net edited by Frank Parlato Jr.