My Music Diary

Imdadkhani-Etawah Gharana, also fondly known as Vilayatkhani Gharana, after the name of Ustad Vilayat Khan, is one of the oldest and most illustrious gharanas of Indian Classical Music which has produced the biggest names of Instrumental Music through each generation. This gharana traces its origin back through an unbroken line of celebrated and respected musicians to the golden era of Emperor Akbar the Great. Obviously this is the most influential and most innovative schools stylics of Indian Music. Sarojan Singh Ji of this gharana was an invited singer of Moghal darbar in Delhi. His son Turab Khan (previously known as Baddu Singh) and grand son Sahabdad Khan (previously known as Saheb Singh)were also musicians of great caliber. Sahabdad Khan was brother in law of great vocalist Ustad Haddu Khan of Gowaliyar Gharana and also learnt vocal music from him. He applied his music on vocal music, jaltarang and sarangi. Afterwards he started to play Sitar and he was the inventor ...

Author with Ustad Vilayat Khan The main focus of this note is to analyze Ustad Vilayat Khan’s sitar style, the way he revolutionized Sitar Baaj and his contribution in Indian Classical Instrumental Music.  This note has been written from my realization on Vilayatkhani baaj which I am achieving with experience of playing Sitar from my childhood, receiving talim on the treasure of ImdadKhani Etawah gharana from two of Vilayat Khan’ most senior and distinguished disciples, Pt. Arvind Parikh and Pt. Kashinath Mukherejee, along with my father, more over, with direct interaction of Ustad Vilayat Khan himself in person.  One of Ustad Vilayat Khan's contemporary musician paid his tribute to Khan Sahib by referring him as ‘A great musician’. How ever this is far from sufficient to describe genius of Ustad Vilayat Khan. In fact, Khan Sahab occupies the pre-eminent place in the world of Hindustani Classical Music being a legend by virtue of his exceptional musicianship, match...

Ustad Imdad Khan (middle), Ustad Enayet Khan (left), Ustad Wahid Khan (right); Ustad Vilayat Khan ( Sitar), Ustad Imrat Khan (Surbahar) The Vilayatkhani Style or Vilayatkhani baj is a lucid and methodical amalgamation of the lmdadkhani and Enayetkhani baj, added to which, are the new dimensions introduced by Ustad Vilayat Khan. This Gharana has all the unique facets of the great lmdad Khan Saheb, the melodious and introspective Vision of the saintIy Ustad Enayet Khan and of course the great contribution of innovative dimensions of Ustad Vilayat Khan. No discussion on lmdadkhani or Vilayatkhani baj would be complete without dwelling Upon the remarkable contributions made by great Ustads and masters of this gharana viz Ustad Sahabdad Khan (lmdad Khan’s father), Ustad lmdad khan, Ustad Enayet Khan his brother Ustad Wahid Khan and the illustrious Ustad Vilayat Khan. Ustad Imdad Khan with his contemporary musicians and sons. Imdad Khan Saheb followed in the fo...