Bade Ghulam Ali Khan: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 10:22, 16 December 2009

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (Devanagari: बड़े ग़ुलाम अली ख़ान, Shahmukhi: بڑے غلام علی خان, Template:Lang-ur) (c. 1902 – 25 April 1968) was an Indian classical singer. Khan is considered to be an important representative of the Hindustani music tradition in the early and mid 20th century. He belonged to the Patiala Gharana of Hindustani classical music.^[1]

Khan was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Padma Bhushan in 1962.^[2]^[3]

Early life and background

Bade Ghulam Ali was born in Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan.^[4] His father was a famous singer, Ali Baksh Khan, in a West Punjabi family of musical heritage.

At the age of seven, he learned sarangi and vocal from his paternal uncle Kale Khan, who was a singer, and after his death he trained under his father.^[5] He also took vocal lessons from Baba Shinde Khan.

Singing career

Khan started his career by playing sarangi. He became popular after his debut concert in Kolkata. By 1944, in the age of personalities like Abdul Karim Khan, Alladiya Khan and Faiyaz Khan, he was considered by many to be the uncrowned king of Hindustani music.^[6]

Khan amalgamated the best of four traditions: his own Patiala-Kasur style, the Behram Khani elements of Dhrupad, the gyrations of Jaipur, and the behlavas (embellishments) of Gwalior. His voice had a wide range, spanning three octaves, effortless production, sweetness, flexibility and ease of movement in all tempi.^[7]

After the partition of India in 1947, Khan returned to his home in Pakistan, but returned to India later to permanently reside there. He did not approve of the partition, stating: "If in every home one child was taught Hindustani classical music this country would never have been partitioned." In 1957, he acquired Indian citizenship and lived at various times in Lahore, Bombay, Calcutta, and Hyderabad.

He was reluctant to sing for films, but sang two songs based on ragas Sohni and Rageshree for the 1960 film Mughal-e-Azam, in which his voice was represented as Tansen's by the music director Naushad. To dissuade Naushad, he demanded a high price, reportedly Rs. 25,000/- per song, when the rate for popular playback singers such as Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi was below Rs. 500/- per song.

Khan was married to Ali Jiwai, who died in 1932. Khan's son, Munawar Ali Khan (1930-1989), was a classical singer. His grandson, Raza Ali Khan, is also a Hindustani classical singer.

Khan died in Hyderabad at Basheerbagh Palace in 1968, after a prolonged illness which left him partially paralyzed in his last years. He continued to sing and perform in public with the support of his son Munawar until his death.

The legacy

Today, the Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Yaadgar Sabha, founded by his disciple Malti Gilani, keeps his music and memory alive. It aims to promote Hindustani classical music and organises many concerts to this end. Its primary aim, however, is to provide medical aid to ailing musicians. The Sabha organises a Sabrang Utsav every year in the memory of the maestro. Under his pen name, Sabrang, Khan left numerous compositions.

Discography

Mehfil - Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan - Times Music
Golden Milestones - Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan
Classical Vocal - Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan
Sab Rang

Footnotes

^ http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/11/12/stories/2007111251220800.htm
^ "Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards - Hindustani Music - Vocal". Sangeet Natak Akademi. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
^ "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology). Retrieved 2009-05-16.
^ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_2-1-2003_pg3_2
^ http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003030200330500.htm&date=2003/03/02/&prd=mag&
^ World Music, The Rough Guide Volume Two; London, 2000; pg. 92
^ Bade Ghulam Ali Khan - Tribute to a Maestro

References

Manuel, Peter L (1990). Ṭhumrī in historical and stylistic perspectives. Motilal Banarsidass Publisher. ISBN 9788120806733. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |nopp= ignored (|no-pp= suggested) (help)

External links

http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1915/19151250.htm

[1] ttp://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/11/12/stories/2007111251220800.htm

[2] "Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards - Hindustani Music - Vocal". Sangeet Natak Akademi. Retrieved 2009-09-18.

[3] "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology). Retrieved 2009-05-16.

[4] ttp://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_2-1-2003_pg3_2

[5] ttp://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003030200330500.htm&date=2003/03/02/&prd=mag&

[6] World Music, The Rough Guide Volume Two; London, 2000; pg. 92

[7] Bade Ghulam Ali Khan - Tribute to a Maestro

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 After the [[partition of India]] in 1947, Khan returned to his home in Pakistan, but returned to India later to permanently reside there. He did not approve of the partition, stating: "If in every home one child was taught Hindustani classical music this country would never have been partitioned." In 1957, he acquired Indian citizenship and lived at various times in [[Lahore]], [[Bombay]], [[Calcutta]], and [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad]].
-He was reluctant to sing for films, but sang two songs based on [[raga]]s Sohni and Rageshree for the 1960 film ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]'', in which his voice was represented as [[Tansen]]'s by the music director [[Naushad]]. To dissuade Naushad, he demanded a high price, reportedly [[Rupee|Rs.]] 25,000/- per song, when the rate for popular [[playback singer]]s such as [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and [[Mohammed Rafi]] was below Rs. 500/- per song.
+He was reluctant to sing for films, but sang two songs based on [[raga]]s [[Sohini|Sohni]] and Rageshree for the 1960 film ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]'', in which his voice was represented as [[Tansen]]'s by the music director [[Naushad]]. To dissuade Naushad, he demanded a high price, reportedly [[Rupee|Rs.]] 25,000/- per song, when the rate for popular [[playback singer]]s such as [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and [[Mohammed Rafi]] was below Rs. 500/- per song.
 Khan was married to Ali Jiwai, who died in 1932. Khan's son, [[Munawar Ali Khan]] (1930-1989), was a classical singer. His grandson, [[Raza Ali Khan]], is also a Hindustani classical singer.