Ustad Amir Khan
Encyclopedia
Ustad Amir Khan was a well-known Indian classical
vocalist. He is considered one of the most influential figures in Hindustani classical music
, and the founder of the Indore Gharana
.
, India
. His father, Shahmir Khan, a sarangi
and veena
player of the Bhendibazaar gharana
, served at the court of the Holkars of Indore. His grandfather, Change Khan, was a singer in the court of Bahadurshah Zafar. Amir Ali's mother died when he was nine years old. He had a younger brother, Bashir, who became a sarangi player at the Indore station of All India Radio
.
He was initially trained in the sarangi by his father. However, seeing his interest in vocal music, his father gradually devoted more time to vocal training, focusing on the Merukhand technique. Amir Ali was exposed at an early age to many different styles, since just about every musician who visited Indore would come to their house, and there would be mehfil
s at their place on a regular basis. Also, he learnt the basics of tabla
playing from one of his maternal uncles, who was a tabla player.
Amir Khan moved to Bombay in 1934, and there he gave a few concerts and cut about half a dozen 78-rpm records. Following his father's advice, in 1936 he joined the services of Maharaj Chakradhar Singh of Raigadh Sansthan in Madhya Pradesh, but he stayed only about a year. Amir Ali's father died in 1937. Later, Khansahib lived for some time in Delhi
and Calcutta, but after the partition of India
he moved back to Bombay.
(taans) and Aman Ali Khan (merukhand). This unique style, known as the Indore Gharana, blends the spiritual flavor and grandeur of dhrupad
with the ornate vividness of khyal
. He presented an aesthetically detailed badhat (progression) in ati-vilambit laya (very slow tempo) using bol-alap, followed by gradually speeding up sargams
with various ornamentations, taans
and bol-taans, including Merukhandi patterns, and finally a madhyalaya or drut laya (medium or fast tempo) chhota khyal
or a ruba'idar tarana
. He had a rich baritone voice with a three-octave range. His performances had an understated elegance, reverence, restrained passion and an utter lack of showmanship that both moved and awed listeners. According to Mohan Nadkarni's book "Great Masters: Profiles in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music", Bade Ghulam Ali Khan's music was extroverted and exuberant, whereas Amir Khan's was an introverted, dignified 'darbar' style. Amir Khansahib believed that poetry was important in khyal compositions, and with his pen name, Sur Rang ("colored in swara
"), he has left several compositions.
Amir Khan helped popularize the tarana
, as well as khyalnuma compositions in Persian
. He often used the taals
Jhoomra and Ektaal, and generally preferred a simple theka (basic tabla strokes that define the taal) from the tabla accompanist. As in the case of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Amir Khan's initial sarangi training was important in establishing him as a great singer. Even though he had been trained in the sarangi, he generally performed khyals and taranas with only a tanpura and tabla for accompaniment. Sometimes he had a subdued harmonium
accompaniment, but he almost never used the sarangi.
Characteristics of his style include:
Besides singing in concerts, Amir Khan also sang film songs in ragas, in a purely classical style, most notably for the films Baiju Bawra, Kshudhita Pashan, Shabaab
, and Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje. He also sang a ghazal
Rahiye Ab Aisi Jagah for a documentary on Ghalib.
Khansahib's disciples include Pandit Amarnath
, A. Kanan, Srikant Bakre, Singh Brothers, Mukund Goswami, Gajendra Bakshi, Kankana Banerjee, Pradyumna Kumud Mukherjee and Poorabi Mukherjee, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Akhtar Sadmani, Amarjeet Kaur, Ajit Singh Paintal, Bhimsen Sharma, Munir Khan, and Kamal Bose. His style has also influenced many other singers and instrumentalists, including Prabha Atre, Bhimsen Joshi
, Rashid Khan
, Mahendra Toke, Shanti Sharma, Rasiklal Andharia, Gokulotsavji Maharaj, Nikhil Banerjee
and the Imdadkhani gharana
. Although he referred to his style as the Indore Gharana, he was a firm believer of absorbing elements from various gharanas.
Amir Khan was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
in 1967 and the Padma Bhushan
in 1971.
. From this marriage, which eventually failed and ended in separation, he had a daughter, Farida. His second marriage was to Munni Bai, who gave birth to a son, Ekram Ahmed. Around 1965, Khansaheb married Raisa Begum, daughter of the thumri
singer, Mushtari Begum of Agra. He had expected that Munni Begum would accept the third wife; however, Munni disappeared and it is rumored that she committed suicide. With Raisa he had a son, Haider Amir, later called Shahbaz Khan.
Khansahib died a premature death in a car accident in Calcutta, and was buried at Calcutta's Gobra cemetery.
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
vocalist. He is considered one of the most influential figures in Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
, and the founder of the Indore Gharana
Indore Gharana
Indore gharana is one of the vocal gharanas of Indian classical music. It was founded by Ustad Amir Khan, who studied the styles of Abdul Wahid Khan, Aman Ali Khan, Rajab Ali Khan and Abdul Karim Khan and amalgamated the essence of the styles of these four maestros with his own intellectual...
.
Early life and background
Amir Khan was born in a family of musicians in IndoreIndore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. His father, Shahmir Khan, a sarangi
Sarangi
The Sārangī is a bowed, short-necked string instrument of India which is originated from Rajasthani folk instruments. It plays an important role in India's Hindustani classical music tradition...
and veena
Veena
Veena may refer to one of several Indian plucked instruments:With frets*Rudra veena, plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music*Saraswati veena, plucked string instrument used in Carnatic musicFretless...
player of the Bhendibazaar gharana
Bhendibazaar gharana
-History and features:The Bhendibazaar gharana was founded around 1890 by brothers Chhajju Khan, Nazir Khan and Khadim Hussain Khan in the Bhendi bazaar area of Mumbai...
, served at the court of the Holkars of Indore. His grandfather, Change Khan, was a singer in the court of Bahadurshah Zafar. Amir Ali's mother died when he was nine years old. He had a younger brother, Bashir, who became a sarangi player at the Indore station of All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
.
He was initially trained in the sarangi by his father. However, seeing his interest in vocal music, his father gradually devoted more time to vocal training, focusing on the Merukhand technique. Amir Ali was exposed at an early age to many different styles, since just about every musician who visited Indore would come to their house, and there would be mehfil
Mehfil
A mehfil is a gathering or evening of courtly entertainment of poetry or concert of Indian classical music and dance, performed for a small audience in an intimate setting....
s at their place on a regular basis. Also, he learnt the basics of tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
playing from one of his maternal uncles, who was a tabla player.
Amir Khan moved to Bombay in 1934, and there he gave a few concerts and cut about half a dozen 78-rpm records. Following his father's advice, in 1936 he joined the services of Maharaj Chakradhar Singh of Raigadh Sansthan in Madhya Pradesh, but he stayed only about a year. Amir Ali's father died in 1937. Later, Khansahib lived for some time in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
and Calcutta, but after the partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
he moved back to Bombay.
Singing career
Amir Khan developed his own singing style, influenced by the styles of Abdul Waheed Khan (vilambit tempo), Rajab Ali KhanRajab Ali Khan
Ustad Rajab Ali Khan was an Indian classical vocalist....
(taans) and Aman Ali Khan (merukhand). This unique style, known as the Indore Gharana, blends the spiritual flavor and grandeur of dhrupad
Dhrupad
Dhrupad is a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still in use in that musical tradition. Its name is derived from the words "dhruva" and "pada"...
with the ornate vividness of khyal
Khyal
Khyal is the modern genre of classical singing in North India. Its name comes from an Arabic word meaning "imagination". It is thought to have developed out of the qawwali singing style. It appeared more recently than dhrupad, is a more free and flexible form, and it provides greater scope for...
. He presented an aesthetically detailed badhat (progression) in ati-vilambit laya (very slow tempo) using bol-alap, followed by gradually speeding up sargams
Sargam (music)
In Hindustani music, sargam refers to singing the notes instead of the words of a composition, with use of various ornamentations such as meend, gamak, kan and khatka, as part of a khyal performance. This is generally done in medium-tempo as a bridge between the alap and taan portions...
with various ornamentations, taans
Taan (music)
Taan is a virtuoso technique used in the vocal performance of a raga in Hindustani classical music. It involves the singing of very rapid melodic passages using vowels, often the long "a" as in the word "far", and it targets at improvising and to expand weaving together the notes in a fast tempo...
and bol-taans, including Merukhandi patterns, and finally a madhyalaya or drut laya (medium or fast tempo) chhota khyal
Khyal
Khyal is the modern genre of classical singing in North India. Its name comes from an Arabic word meaning "imagination". It is thought to have developed out of the qawwali singing style. It appeared more recently than dhrupad, is a more free and flexible form, and it provides greater scope for...
or a ruba'idar tarana
Tarana
Tarana is a type of composition in Hindustani classical vocal music in which certain words and syllables based on Persian and Arabic phenomes are used in a medium-paced or fast rendition...
. He had a rich baritone voice with a three-octave range. His performances had an understated elegance, reverence, restrained passion and an utter lack of showmanship that both moved and awed listeners. According to Mohan Nadkarni's book "Great Masters: Profiles in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music", Bade Ghulam Ali Khan's music was extroverted and exuberant, whereas Amir Khan's was an introverted, dignified 'darbar' style. Amir Khansahib believed that poetry was important in khyal compositions, and with his pen name, Sur Rang ("colored in swara
Swara
The seven notes of the scale , in Indian music are named shadja, rishabh, gandhar, madhyam, pancham, dhaivat and nishad, and are shortened to Sa, Ri or Re , Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, and Ni and written S, R, G, M, P, D, N. Collectively these notes are known as the sargam...
"), he has left several compositions.
Amir Khan helped popularize the tarana
Tarana
Tarana is a type of composition in Hindustani classical vocal music in which certain words and syllables based on Persian and Arabic phenomes are used in a medium-paced or fast rendition...
, as well as khyalnuma compositions in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
. He often used the taals
Tala (music)
Tāla, Taal or Tal is the term used in Indian classical music for the rhythmic pattern of any composition and for the entire subject of rhythm, roughly corresponding to metre in Western music, though closer conceptual equivalents are to be found in other Asian classical systems such as the notion...
Jhoomra and Ektaal, and generally preferred a simple theka (basic tabla strokes that define the taal) from the tabla accompanist. As in the case of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Amir Khan's initial sarangi training was important in establishing him as a great singer. Even though he had been trained in the sarangi, he generally performed khyals and taranas with only a tanpura and tabla for accompaniment. Sometimes he had a subdued harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
accompaniment, but he almost never used the sarangi.
Characteristics of his style include:
- slow-tempo ragaRagaA raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
development - improvisation mostly in lower and middle octaves
- tendency towards serious and expansive ragas
- emphasis on melody
- judicious use of pause between improvisations
- bol alap and sargam using merukhand patterns
- sparing application of murki
- use of kan swaras (acciaccatura) in all parts of performance
- controlled use of embellishments to preserve introspective quality
- rare use of tihaiTihaiThe tihai is a polyrhythmic technique used in Indian classical music often used to conclude a piece.The basic format of the tihai is 3 equal repetitions of a rhythmic or melodic pattern, usually interspersed with 2 equal rests, calculated to fall on a significant point in the tala most often the...
- careful enunciation of text of bandishBandishBandish, Cheez or Gat is a fixed, melodic composition in Hindustani vocal or instrumental music. It is set in a specific raga, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a tabla or pakhavaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a sarangi, violin or harmonium. There are different ways of...
- actual bandish as sung may or may not include antara
- multiple laya jatis in a single taan
- mixture of taan types in a single taan
- use of ruba'idar tarana (considered similar to chhota khyal)
Besides singing in concerts, Amir Khan also sang film songs in ragas, in a purely classical style, most notably for the films Baiju Bawra, Kshudhita Pashan, Shabaab
Shabaab
Shabaab is a 1954 Bollywood movie. Made in the Hindi language and directed by M. Sadiq, it stars Bharat Bhushan and Nutan.-Cast:*Bharat Bhushan*Nutan*Shyam Kumar*Wasti*Badri Prasad*Yashodra Katju*Asant Kumar-Music:...
, and Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje. He also sang a ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
Rahiye Ab Aisi Jagah for a documentary on Ghalib.
Khansahib's disciples include Pandit Amarnath
Amar Nath
Pandit Amar Nath was an Indian classical vocalist. He was the first and closest disciple of Ustad Amir Khan.Amar Nath was born in 1924 in Jhang in Punjab, now in Pakistan. He learned music from B.N. Datta of Lahore from 1942 to 1947. He moved to Delhi after the partition of India...
, A. Kanan, Srikant Bakre, Singh Brothers, Mukund Goswami, Gajendra Bakshi, Kankana Banerjee, Pradyumna Kumud Mukherjee and Poorabi Mukherjee, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Akhtar Sadmani, Amarjeet Kaur, Ajit Singh Paintal, Bhimsen Sharma, Munir Khan, and Kamal Bose. His style has also influenced many other singers and instrumentalists, including Prabha Atre, Bhimsen Joshi
Bhimsen Joshi
Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi ; February 4, 1922 - January 24, 2011) was an Indian vocalist in the Hindustani classical tradition. A member of the Kirana Gharana , he is renowned for the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music...
, Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan
Ustad Rashid Khan is an Indian classical musician in the Hindustani music tradition. He belongs to the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana, and is the great grandson of Gharana founder Ustad Inayat Hussain Khan.He is married to Joyeeta Bose, from the illustrious family of Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose.In a...
, Mahendra Toke, Shanti Sharma, Rasiklal Andharia, Gokulotsavji Maharaj, Nikhil Banerjee
Nikhil Banerjee
Nikhil Ranjan Banerjee was a Hindustani classical musician of the Maihar Gharana who played the stringed instrument sitar.-Early life and background:...
and the Imdadkhani gharana
Imdadkhani gharana
The Imdadkhani gharana is a North Indian school of sitar and surbahar music, stemming from the very ancient Gwalior gharana. It was created by Imdad Khan , and is also known as the Etawah gharana, after a village outside Agra where Imdad lived...
. Although he referred to his style as the Indore Gharana, he was a firm believer of absorbing elements from various gharanas.
Amir Khan was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
in 1967 and the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
in 1971.
Personal life
Amir Khan's first marriage was to Zeenat, sister of the sitar player, Ustad Vilayat KhanVilayat Khan
Ustad Vilayat Khan was one of India's well known sitar maestros, born in Gauripur in Mymensingh, Bengal...
. From this marriage, which eventually failed and ended in separation, he had a daughter, Farida. His second marriage was to Munni Bai, who gave birth to a son, Ekram Ahmed. Around 1965, Khansaheb married Raisa Begum, daughter of the thumri
Thumri
Thumri is a common genre of semi-classical Indian music.The text is romantic or devotional in nature, and usually revolves around a girl's love for Krishna. The lyrics are usually in Uttar Pradesh dialects of Hindi called Poorbi and Brij Bhasha...
singer, Mushtari Begum of Agra. He had expected that Munni Begum would accept the third wife; however, Munni disappeared and it is rumored that she committed suicide. With Raisa he had a son, Haider Amir, later called Shahbaz Khan.
Khansahib died a premature death in a car accident in Calcutta, and was buried at Calcutta's Gobra cemetery.
Movies
- Baiju Bawra (Music director: NaushadNaushadNaushad Ali was an Indian musician. He was one of the foremost music directors for Bollywood films, and is particularly known for popularizing the use of classical music in films.His first film as an independent music director was Prem Nagar in 1940...
)- 'Tori Jai Jai Kartar' (raga Puriya Dhanashree; alternate version here)
- 'Sargam' (raga Darbari)
- 'Langar Kankariya Ji Na Maro' (raga Todi, with D. V. Paluskar)
- 'Aaj Gaawat Man Mero Jhoomke' (raga Desi, with D. V. Paluskar)
- 'Ghanana Ghanana Ghana Garjo Re' (raga Megh)
- Kshudhita Pashan (Music director: Ali Akbar KhanAli Akbar KhanAli Akbar Khan , often referred to as Khansahib or by the title Ustad , was a Hindustani classical musician of the Maihar gharana, known for his virtuosity in playing the sarod...
)- 'Kaise Kate Rajni' (raga Bageshree, with Protima Banerjee)
- 'Piya Ke Aavan Ki' (thumriThumriThumri is a common genre of semi-classical Indian music.The text is romantic or devotional in nature, and usually revolves around a girl's love for Krishna. The lyrics are usually in Uttar Pradesh dialects of Hindi called Poorbi and Brij Bhasha...
in raga Khamaj) - 'Dheemta Dheemta Derena' (tarana in raga Megh)
- ShabaabShabaabShabaab is a 1954 Bollywood movie. Made in the Hindi language and directed by M. Sadiq, it stars Bharat Bhushan and Nutan.-Cast:*Bharat Bhushan*Nutan*Shyam Kumar*Wasti*Badri Prasad*Yashodra Katju*Asant Kumar-Music:...
(Music director: NaushadNaushadNaushad Ali was an Indian musician. He was one of the foremost music directors for Bollywood films, and is particularly known for popularizing the use of classical music in films.His first film as an independent music director was Prem Nagar in 1940...
)- 'Daya Kar He Giridhar Gopal' (raga Multani)
- Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (Music director: Vasant DesaiVasant DesaiVasant Desai was a Indian film music composer, most remembered for his score in V. Shantaram film, like Do Aankhen Barah Haath , Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje , Vijay Bhatt's Goonj Uthi Shehnai and Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Guddi .-Early life:He born in 1912 into a wealthy family in Sonwad village,...
)- Title song 'Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje' (raga Adana)
- Goonj Uthi ShehnaiGoonj Uthi ShehnaiGoonj Uthi Shehnai is 1959 Hindi film directed by Vijay Bhatt, with Rajendra Kumar, Ameeta, Anita Guha and I.S. Johar as leads. The film has music by Vasant Desai and lyrics by Bharat Vyas, and the duo created numerous hits like Jivan Men Piya Tera Sath Rahe sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd...
(ragamala with Bismillah KhanBismillah KhanUstad Bismillah Khan was an Indian shehnai maestro. He was the third classical musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna , the highest civilian honour in India and gained worldwide acclaim for playing the shehnai for more than eight decades....
)- Bhatiyar
- Ramkali
- Desi
- Shuddh Sarang
- Multani
- Yaman
- Bageshree
- Chandrakauns
- Ragini
- 'Jogiya Mere Ghar Aaye' (raga Lalit)
Public and private recordings
- Abhogi - two versions
- Adana - longer performance of 'Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje' title song, two other versions
- Ahir BhairavAhir bhairavAhir Bhairav is a Hindustani classical raga. It is a mixture of Bhairav and the ancient but now rare raga Ahiri or Abhiri, or perhaps a mixture of Bhairav and Kafi.-Arohana and avarohana :ArohanaS r G m P D n S'AvarohanaS' n D P m G r SKey:...
- three versions - Amirkhani
- BageshreeBageshreeBageshri is a Hindustani classical raga.It is a popular raga of the late night, which is meant to depict the emotion of a woman waiting for reunion with her lover...
- Bageshree Kanada
- Bahar
- BairagiBairagi-External links:* * *...
- two versions - BarwaBarwaBarwa is a Hindustani classical raga. It is similar to raga Desi .-External links:****...
- Basant Bahar
- BhatiyarBhatiyar- Theory :Writing about the musical theory of Indian classical music is fraught with complications. First of all, there have been no set, formal methods of written notation...
- three versions - BhimpalasiBhimpalasiBhimpalasi is a Hindustani classical raga.-Theory:Writing about the musical theory of Indian classical music is fraught with complications. First of all, there have been no set, formal methods of written notation...
- BihagBihagBihag is a Hindustani classical raga.- Theory :Writing about the musical theory of Indian classical music is fraught with complications. First of all, there have been no set, formal methods of written notation...
- Bilaskhani Todi - two versions
- Chandni Kedar
- Chandrakauns
- Chandramadhu
- Charukeshi
- Darbari - nine versions
- Deshkar - two versions
- Gaud Malhar
- Gujari Todi - three versions
- Hansadhwani - two versions
- Harikauns
- Hem Kalyan
- Hijaz Bhairav (a.k.a. Basant Mukhari)
- Hindol Basant
- Hindol Kalyan
- Jaijaiwanti
- Janasanmohini - three versions
- JogJog (Raga)Jog is a Raga in Hindustani classical music belonging to Kafi thaat. It is one of the more popular ragas appearing often in films.-Structure:...
- three versions - Kafi Kanada
- KalavatiKalavatiKalavātī is a modern pentatonic Hindustānī rāga; Re and Ma are omitted. Kalavātī belongs to the Khamāj thaat .- Aroha and Avaroha :ĀrohanaS G P D n S'...
- Kausi Kanada
- KedarKedar (raga)Kedar, also known as Kedara, is a Hindustani classical raga. Named after Lord Shiva, the raga is placed on a high pedastal in the realms of Indian classical music...
- Komal Rishabh Asavari - two versions
- LalitLalit (raga)Lalit is a raga in Hindustani classical music. It is commonly described as serene and devotional and is performed at dawn.The swara of Lalit put emphasis on the minor second and minor sixth , and include natural and sharp fourth , but omit the commonly used perfect fifth...
- seven versions - Madhukauns
- Malkauns - three versions
- 'Maru Kalyan'
- Marwa - two versions
- Megh - three versions
- Miya MalharMalharMalhar is an old raga in Indian classical music. Malhar is associated with the atmosphere of torrential rains.- Legend :According to the legend, Malhar is so powerful that when sung, rain falls from the sky....
- MultaniMultani (raga)Multani is a Hindustani classical raga. The newer raga Madhuvanti was inspired by Multani.-External links:* * *...
- Nand
- Nat Bhairav
- Poorvi
- PuriyaPuriya- External links :Examples* -Literature:...
- three versions - Puriya Kalyan
- RageshreeRageshreeRageshree is a Hindustani classical raga, from the Khamaj thaat.Aaroha 'n - S - G - m - D - n - S' Avroha S' - n - D - m - G - R - SVaadi GSamvaadi nPakad G - m - D - n - S, S - n - D - m - G - R - S-External links:****...
- two versions - Ramdasi Malhar - two versions
- RamkaliRamkaliRamkali is a raga from Hindusthani classical music which originated from Bhairav Thaat. In the raga, as like bhairav, second tune and sixth tune are flat. Flat nishad and sharp madhyama are used often....
- two versions - Ram Kalyan (a.k.a. Priya Kalyan or Anarkali)
- ShahanaShahanaShahana is an Indian classical raga, from the Todi thaat.In Carnatic Music, Shahana is janya of the 28th mela Harikambodhi. It is a vakra sampurna raga and an upanga raga characterised by soft, weighty sancharas. Emphasizing the rishabham, panchamam, dhaivatham, and shadjam lend particular beauty...
- three versions - ShreeShree (raga)Shree is a very old North Indian raga of the Purvi thaat said to have been related to Lord Shiva: it also appears in the Sikh tradition from northern India and is part of the Guru Granth Sahib. In the Guru Granth Sahib composition appear in 31 ragas and this is the first raga to appear in the series...
- Shuddh Kalyan - two versions
- Shuddh Sarang (with drut section in Suha)
- TodiTodi (raga)Todi is a Hindustani classical raga which gave its name to the Todi thaat, one of the ten modes of Hindustani classical music. Ragas from the Todi raganga include Todi itself, Bilaskhani Todi, Bahaduri Todi, and Gujari Todi....
- three versions - YamanYaman (raga)Yaman is a heptatonic Hindustani Classical raga of Kalyan Thaat.-Description:Yaman emerges from Kalyan Thaat.-Mechanics:...
- Yaman Kalyan - three versions
Awards and recognitions
- Sangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
in 1967 - Presidential Award in 1971
- Padma BhushanPadma BhushanThe Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
in 1971 - Swar Vilas from Sur Singar Sansad in 1971
External links
- Amir Khan recordings on www.sarangi.info
- Biographical documentary on Amir Khan, produced in 1970 by the Films Division of India
- Discography
- LP cover images
- Pandit Nikhil Banerjee's article on Amir Khan
- Dr. Ibrahim Ali's analysis of Amir Khan's gayaki
- Extracts from Pandit Amarnath's lec-dem on Amir Khan's gayaki
- Tribute from the ITC Sangeet Research Academy
- Forgotten Patterns - Preview of an article on Amir Khan by his disciple Thomas Ross
- Ustad Amir Khan (1912-1974) (scroll down)