My Music Diary

This article is a part of the small attempt to consolidate all the interviews of Ustad Vilayat Khan, so that his fans and followers get to know more about his musical views and ideas, in his own words. Indian & Foreign Interview – August 1, 1970. USTAD VILAYAT KHAN DREAMS AND DOUBTS OF A CELEBRATED INDIAN MUSICIAN Vilayat Khan speaks chaste Hindi and has a soft manner of speech, very appealing to the ears. And he obviously loves an argument. He grimaces, imitates, with an abandonment of a child involved in a naughty prank. The man behind the musician is a very likable person. The he sat relaxing. His hands busy preparing a ‘pan’. The same sensitive hands which could pluck strings of a sitar and make one almost weep. Reconciliation of two disparate words – one earthy another spiritual – within a single individual. Suddenly I found myself asking: How does it feel to live with so much music within yourself? (The question surprised Vilayat Khan) Extremely painful at...

This article is a part of the small attempt to consolidate all the interviews of Ustad Vilayat Khan, so that his fans and followers get to know more about his musical views and ideas, in his own words. Sitar legend's southern passion Ustad Vilayat Khan, legendary sitarist, visited Bangalore in January for a rare concert. In an interview, he spoke about his passion for south Indian music, and all things unpolluted Ustad Vilayat Khan is god to his admirers. It was this feeling of awe that pervaded his concert in Bangalore on January 15. "Do you see how people prepare themselves to listen to me?" he said when we met him at his Windor Manor suite the next day. The concert was, of course, long awaited. The last time he played here was some 15 years ago, and so it was a big event for lovers of his music in Bangalore. Chowdaiah Memorial Hall was full. The city is now famous as India's software capital, and pop and rock shows get more media attention than other...

This article is a part of the small attempt to consolidate all the interviews of Ustad Vilayat Khan, so that his fans and followers get to know more about his musical views and ideas, in his own words. The long development of Indian music over the last five thousand years has given rise to various regional varieties and schools. The main divisions of classical music in India are two -- south Indian music, also called Karnatak classical music and north Indian called Hindustani classical music. Both are based upon very ancient texts like the Natya Shastra of Bharata. However while the base is the same they are now fairly distinct. Apart from vocal music, there are several instruments also. Over the years, there arose distinct schools of playing music, called Gharanas in Hindustani classical music. To this day music is learnt by example and ear beside the teacher ( guru , ustad) . Among the accomplished players of the Sitar was late Ustad Vilayat Khan . He represented what i...

This article is a part of the small attempt to consolidate all the interviews of Ustad Vilayat Khan, so that his fans and followers get to know more about his musical views and ideas, in his own words. THE eleven-year-old was all tousled hair and crumpled clothes. From his home in Calcutta it had taken him ten days on several trains to stow away to New Delhi. Sneaking past the Pathan watchman the urchin entered the All India Radio Station with a sitar in his hand. That is where programme assistant Zafar Husain found him. Exhaustion coul not keep out the ringing pride in th boy's voice. "I am Vilayat Khan, son of the late Inayat Khan Saheb." "Beta!" cried Husain as he folded the boy into a fierce hug. 'Are you really my guru's son? What brings you here? Alone? In this state?" But neither to Husain nor later to AIR's director-general Z.A. Bokhari would the boy admit anything more than that he was a truant. "If you try to send me back...

This article is a part of the small attempt to consolidate all the interviews of Ustad Vilayat Khan, so that his fans and followers get to know more about his musical views and ideas, in his own words. ------------------------- Fifty-seven year old Ustad Vilayat Khan was the first sitarist to perform in the West. He has been giving public performances for the past 47 years and is one of the highest paid artistes. A controversial figure, Ustad Vilayat Khan has turned down awards from organisations like the All-India Sangeet Natak Akademi. He is believed to be arrogant, snubs journalists, does not care for other sitarists and avoids giving public performances as far as he can. The Ustad who is now grooming his 10-year-old-son in the art, recently performed in the Ravindralaya in Lucknow . The following are excerpts from an interview he gave to SUBHASH MISHRA Why do you avoid giving public performances? Who says this? This is a blatant lie. How can a professional artiste reject offers...