Author Archives: savethesitar

Sitar Players from the Delhi Gharana

He felt like a child in a candy-store. Everything was enticing. His father sat quietly to one side and started talking to the deferential shop keeper; it was not every day that Ustad Ahmadi Khan, the finest sarangi player from the venerable Dehli gharana walked into his shop. The young boy thought for a while,Continue reading “Sitar Players from the Delhi Gharana“

Sitar Players from the Indore Gharana

As he was talking to Farhan Khan, a young man in his twenties, Ali Ayub constantly had one eye on the door. He was acutely aware of the prolonged and awkward silences.  Finally, an immaculately dressed gentleman, Ustad Rais Khan, walked in with the traditional adab. He seemed to be from a bygone era, whereContinue reading “Sitar Players from the Indore Gharana“

Sitar Players from Kapurthala’s Dhurpad Rababi Tradition

As soon as the performance ends, the whole hall erupts into applause. The great yet deaf master has his eyes closed as if in a trance. He finally opens his eyes to feast on the energy of his rapturous audience. This great master is not Beethoven, but Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, the finest exponent ofContinue reading “Sitar Players from Kapurthala’s Dhurpad Rababi Tradition“

The Tanpura

So far we have mostly talked about glamourous and well-known—well, at least comparatively well-known—musical instruments. The tabla, the sitar, the sarangi – all of these take centre stage in any classical music performance. Yet for every much-acclaimed star performer there are dozens of unthought of and ignored people working patiently backstage. The world of classicalContinue reading “The Tanpura”