Imdad Khani Gharana
Imdadkhani Gharana, as its name suggests, was named after Ustad Imdad Khan, the great grandfather of my Guru Ustad Shujaat Khan, , from whom I am receiving my training for over a decade. Ustad Imdad Khan, a legendary Sitar and Surbahar player, was a court musician at Indore.
Ustad Shahabdad Hussain, the father of Ustad Imdad Khan, was closely related to Haddu Khan of the Gwalior Gharana. He was brought up in Haddu Khan's house and was taught Khayal singing by him. He also used to play sitar.
Ustad Imdad Khan was first initiated into vocal music and subsequently into sitar by his father, Ustad Shahabdad Hussain. Later he heard and learnt from a number of music stalwarts and developed a completely new style of Surbahar and Sitar playing, when compared to the then prevalent Senia Gharana, which was widely acclaimed by the then connoisseurs, resulting in the advent of a new era in Surbahar and Sitar playing. This was not only adopted by his children and students, but also had its impact on other contemporary schools of music.
Thus came into being the 'ImdadKhani Gharan', named after Ustad Imdad Khan. His two sons, Ustad Wahid Khan and Ustad Inayat Khan, followed his tradition of music. Ustad Inayat Khan was also the court musician at Gauripur. Ustad Vilayat Khan, son of Ustad Inayat Khan, greatly developed the Khayal Gayaki Ang on the Sitar. In his style of playing, there is stress on playing the first (baj) string and the chikari strings. He removed the lower pitched strings and put brass strings instead of steel ones. He also raised the bridge, strengthened the Tar Gahan, and introduced a thicker Tabli. Developing a greater range in the Meend allowed playing longer pieces in the Khayal and Thumri styles. Ustad Vilayat Khan also introduced complicated playing techniques on the Chikari strings, and it is struck thrice in eight matras. He specialized in playing the Khayal bandishes on Sitar as well. His son, Ustad Shujat Khan, further contributed towards the development the Imdadkhani Gharana.
Other notable exponents of this Gharana include Ustad Imrat Khan (Ustad Vilayat Khan’s brother), Nishat and Irshad Khan (Ustad Vilayat Khan’s nephews) and Rais Khan. Also noteworthy are Pandit Buddhaditya Mukherjee (His father was a disciple of Ustad Inayat Khan) and Ustad Shahid Parvez (Grandson of Ustad Wahid Khan).
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Ustad Shahabdad Hussain, the father of Ustad Imdad Khan, was closely related to Haddu Khan of the Gwalior Gharana. He was brought up in Haddu Khan's house and was taught Khayal singing by him. He also used to play sitar.
Ustad Imdad Khan was first initiated into vocal music and subsequently into sitar by his father, Ustad Shahabdad Hussain. Later he heard and learnt from a number of music stalwarts and developed a completely new style of Surbahar and Sitar playing, when compared to the then prevalent Senia Gharana, which was widely acclaimed by the then connoisseurs, resulting in the advent of a new era in Surbahar and Sitar playing. This was not only adopted by his children and students, but also had its impact on other contemporary schools of music.
Thus came into being the 'ImdadKhani Gharan', named after Ustad Imdad Khan. His two sons, Ustad Wahid Khan and Ustad Inayat Khan, followed his tradition of music. Ustad Inayat Khan was also the court musician at Gauripur. Ustad Vilayat Khan, son of Ustad Inayat Khan, greatly developed the Khayal Gayaki Ang on the Sitar. In his style of playing, there is stress on playing the first (baj) string and the chikari strings. He removed the lower pitched strings and put brass strings instead of steel ones. He also raised the bridge, strengthened the Tar Gahan, and introduced a thicker Tabli. Developing a greater range in the Meend allowed playing longer pieces in the Khayal and Thumri styles. Ustad Vilayat Khan also introduced complicated playing techniques on the Chikari strings, and it is struck thrice in eight matras. He specialized in playing the Khayal bandishes on Sitar as well. His son, Ustad Shujat Khan, further contributed towards the development the Imdadkhani Gharana.
Other notable exponents of this Gharana include Ustad Imrat Khan (Ustad Vilayat Khan’s brother), Nishat and Irshad Khan (Ustad Vilayat Khan’s nephews) and Rais Khan. Also noteworthy are Pandit Buddhaditya Mukherjee (His father was a disciple of Ustad Inayat Khan) and Ustad Shahid Parvez (Grandson of Ustad Wahid Khan).
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