Author Archives: savethesitar

Ghulam Sarwar (b. 1948) is a matka player from Gujranwala. He plays the matka, a percussion instrument which is a large clay pot which produces an energetic and lively sound when played. Even though his family used to be blacksmiths, he felt an inclination towards music, and taught himself how to play the matka atContinue reading “Ghulam Sarwar”

Farhan Iqbal (b. 1987) is a tabla and harmonium player who was born in Lahore. His paternal grandfather, Ustad Inayat Ali Khan, who hailed from Amritsar, was the son-in-law of the legendary Ustad Mian Qadir Bakhsh, the Khalifa, or head, of the Punjab gharana. Interestingly, he is the brother of Waqar Hussain, another of ourContinue reading “Farhan Iqbal”

Ali Billa (b. 1964) is a harmonium-maker who was born in Lahore. Unlike many others in the field of classical music, his family members were not musicians: in fact, his father was a driver. When he was in sixth grade, he became interested in playing the sitar and went to Bombay Music Store in BansanwalaContinue reading “Ali Billa”

Waqar Hussain (b. 1980) is a tabla player who was born in Lahore. He belongs to the Punjab gharana, or school, of tabla, with the tabla player Ustad Mian Qadir Bakhsh being his great-grandfather. (Ustad Mian Qadir Bakhsh was the Khalifa, or head, of the Punjab tabla gharana and teacher of Ustad Allah Rakha). HisContinue reading “Waqar Hussain”

Mazhar Ali (b. 1971) is a pianist and harmonium player who was born in Lahore who associates himself with the Patiala gharana, or school of music. His father, Wasir Hussain Haideri, who was from Delhi, used to play the harmonium. At the age of 18, Mazhar Ali began to learn the harmonium from his father,Continue reading “Mazhar Ali”