Farrukhabad Gharana is one of six prominent playing styles or
gharana
In Hindustani music (North Indian classical music), a ''gharānā'' is a system of social organisation in the Indian subcontinent, linking musicians or dancers by lineage or apprenticeship, and more importantly by adherence to a particular mus ...
s of North Indian
tabla
A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల ...
, in
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, si ...
, and derives its name from
Farrukhabad
Farrukhabad is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Farrukhabad tehsil. The city is on the banks of river Ganges and is from the national capital Delhi and from the state capital Lucknow.
...
in
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
state.
History
The Farrukhabad Gharana of Tabla was created in the 11th Century by a Rajput Court musician Akaasa who later had to convert to Islam and became a Muslim (Dastaan-e-akasa). He also changed his name from Akaasa to Mir Akaasa. He was the first to introduce bols into tabla playing. The first bols introduced in tabla were "TAT-DHIT-THUN-NAN".
Mir Akaasa died in the year 1189 AD (Need Citation). He was succeeded by nine sons and one daughter. He passed on his legacy to his eldest son, Ustad Bilawal Khan, who in turn passed the torch of the gharana to Ustad Ali Baksh (famous for his kran bols). This tradition continued till the 26th descendant, Ustad Haji Vilayat Ali Khan (1779-1826). It was he who named this ‘gharana’ after the province in which he used to live viz. Farrukhabad.
Ustad Haji Vilayat Ali Khan (1779-1826) gave this gharana the name of the province where he used to live, which was Farukkabad.
Ustad Haji Vilayat Khan got the title of Haji after his completion of 7 haj ( Islamic pilgrimage). Vilayat Khan got famous after his famous battle of Tabla gats with Ustad Salaali Khansaheb, who has challenged Ustad Bakshu Khansaheb of Lucknow gharana, In order to save his pride Bakshu Khansaheb requested Vilayat Khan, who was also Salaali Khansaheb's uncle, to fight the battle of tabla Gats with Ustad Salaali Khansaheb. This battle continued for almost 15 days where many gats (authentic composition of the gharanas) and jodas (pairs of such compositions) were exchanged. On the 15th day Vilayat Khan played a unique Gat (Gat of Gazi) whose joda (pair) Ustad Salari Khansaheb could not produce. Thus Vilayat Khan was declared the winner. Ustad Bakshu Khansaheb as a reward got Vilayat Khan married to his daughter and reputedly gave him 500 tabla compositions (although some sources say only 12 compositions). Vilayat Khan on the other hand gave Salaali Khansaheb his daughter in marriage and along with that he gave 14 authentic Gats known as jahezi gats to Ustad Salaali Khan as dowry.
Ustad Haji Vilayat Khan's sons, Hussain Ali Khan & Amaan Ali Khan became Tabla artist of repute. Amaan Ali Khan in his old age suffered from some contagious disease. His family members neglected him at that time. At that he left for Jaipur and decided to educate others instead of his own family members. Pandit Jailal Misra, eminent kathak performer & teacher, "grabbed this opportunity. He took lot of care of Ustad and Ustad trained him wholeheartedly."
The lineage of Farrukhabad is still carried on by the descendants of This Gharana. The Present Khalifa (head) of this Gharana is the great tabla exponent Ustad Aslam Faqir Hussain Khan who is the 33rd generation of this Gharna
There is a huge variety in the repertoire of compositions, owing to the tremendous and creative output of great composers such as Haji Vilayat Ali Khan and Amir Hussain Khan, nephew of Munir Khan, himself a disciple of Nisar Hussain Khan. In addition, a large number of gats (compositions).
Repertoire
The Farrukhabad gharana is among the oldest gharanas (i.e. schools) of Tabla, the other one being Delhi Gharana. It belongs to the wider "Purbi Baj", or "eastern way of playing", which regroups Lucknow, Farrukhabad and Ajrada styles. Hence it is characterized by an extensive use of resonant strokes played on the sur of the
daya reminding the Pakhawaj, but also, in the case of Farrukhabad gharana, by delicate strokes.
The repertoire is replete with a varied and intriguing compositions, makes great use of open resonant
baya strokes, and contains many unique stroke combinations. There is a greater wealth and emphasis of gats, chalan, and rela compositions than on qaida or peshkar. There is a prominent use of certain bols, notably DhereDhere/KitaTaka/TakitaDha.
.
Exponents
19th Century
*
Vilayat Ali Khan (1779-1826), co-founder of Farukhabad gharana. Son-in-law and disciple of Miyan Bakshu Khan of
Lucknow gharana
The Lucknow Gharānā, also known as "Purab Gharâna" for tabla, is a discipleship tradition (" gharana") with a tabla legacy and Kathak legacy. These two traditions are known for being one of the six major gharanas of tabla and three gharanas of ...
.
*
Hussein Ali Khan, son and disciple of Vilayat Ali Khan.
* Choodiyanwale Imam Baksh, disciple of Vilayat Ali Khan. Noted
pakhawaj
The pakhavaj is a barrel-shaped, two-headed drum, originating from the Indian subcontinent, the oldest version of double sided drums and its descendants are mridangam of Southern India and kendang of Maritime Southeast Asia and other South As ...
player.
* Nesar Hussain Khan (1824-1877), son and disciple of Vilayat Ali Khan.
* Salari Khan, disciple of Vilayat Ali Khan.
* Mubarak Ali Khan, disciple of Vilayat Ali Khan.
* Channu Khan, disciple of Vilayat Ali Khan.
* Karam Ittal Khan, disciple of Vilayat Ali Khan. Brother of Ilaahi Baksh.
* Ilaahi Baksh, disciple of Vilayat Ali Khan. Brother of Karam Ittal Khan.
* Nanhe Khan (1847-1902), son and disciple of Nesar Hussain Khan.
*
Munir Khan (1863-1937), disciple of Hussein Ali Khan. Also learned from his father, Kaale Khan, and other maestros. Regarded as founding a sub-branch, "Laliana Gharana."
*
Masidullah "Masit" Khan (1872-1974), son and disciple of Nanhe Khan.
* Faiyaz Khan Moradabadi, son and disciple of Karam Ittal Khan. Maternal uncle of Ahmed Jan Thirakwa
*
*
20th Century
*
Ahmed Jan Thirakwa
Ustad Ahmed Jan Khan "Thirakwa" was an Indian tabla player, commonly considered the pre-eminent soloist among tabla players of the 20th century, and among the most influential percussionists in the history of Indian Classical Music.
He was k ...
(1892-1976), disciple of paternal uncle,
Sher Khan of
Lucknow gharana
The Lucknow Gharānā, also known as "Purab Gharâna" for tabla, is a discipleship tradition (" gharana") with a tabla legacy and Kathak legacy. These two traditions are known for being one of the six major gharanas of tabla and three gharanas of ...
, maternal uncle, Faiyaz Khan Moradabadi, and Munir Khan.
*
Shamsuddin Khan (1890-1968), disciple of Faiyaz Khan Moradabadi, MUnir Khan, and Tega Jaffer Khan of
Delhi gharana
The Delhi or Dilli Gharana, is a tabla discipleship tradition known for being the oldest. This tradition was founded by Sidhar Khan Dhadi in the early-18th Century. The tradition is regarded for establishing a distinction from pakhawaj repertoi ...
.
*
Amir Hussain Khan (1899-1969), disciple of maternal uncle, Munir Khan.
*
Azeem Baksh Khan, disciple of Nanhe Khan and Masit Khan.
*
Subraimama Ankolekar, disciple of Munir Khan.
*
Raichand Boral (1903-1981), disciple of Masit Khan. Best known as a film music composer.
*
Jagannathbuwa Purohit (1904-1968), disciple of Ahmed Jan Thirakwa. Primarily known as a vocalist of the
Agra gharana.
*
Jnan Prakash Ghosh (1909-1997), disciple of Masit Khan. Also learned from Firoz Khan of
Punjab gharana.
*
Vinayakrao Ghangrekar, disciple of Subraimama Ankolekar.
*
Pandharinath Nageshkar (1913-2008), disciple of Subraimama Ankolekar, Amit Hussain Khan, and Ahmed Jan Thirakwa.
*
Montu Bannerjee (1915-1980s), disciple of Jnan Prakash Ghosh and Masit Khan. Also learned from Abid Hussain Khan of
Lucknow gharana
The Lucknow Gharānā, also known as "Purab Gharâna" for tabla, is a discipleship tradition (" gharana") with a tabla legacy and Kathak legacy. These two traditions are known for being one of the six major gharanas of tabla and three gharanas of ...
, an
Natthu Khan. Primarily a
harmonium
The pump organ is a type of free-reed organ that generates sound as air flows past a vibrating piece of thin metal in a frame. The piece of metal is called a reed. Specific types of pump organ include the reed organ, harmonium, and melodeon. Th ...
player.
*
Taranath Rao (1915-1991), disciple of Shamsuddin Khan. Also learned from
Khaprumama Parvatkar and others.
*
Karamatullah Khan (1917-1977), son and disciple of Masit Khan.
*
Nikhil Ghosh (1918-1995), disciple of Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Amir Hussain Khan, and Ahmed Jan Thirakwa.
*
Lalji Gokhale (1919-2002), disciple of Ahmed Jan Thirakwa. Also learned from Malan Khan and Fakir Khan of
Punjab gharana and
Habibuddin Khan of
Delhi gharana
The Delhi or Dilli Gharana, is a tabla discipleship tradition known for being the oldest. This tradition was founded by Sidhar Khan Dhadi in the early-18th Century. The tradition is regarded for establishing a distinction from pakhawaj repertoi ...
.
*
Kanai Dutta (1925-1977), disciple of Jnan Prakash Ghosh. Also learned from Satish Das.
*
Nizamuddin Khan (1927-2000), son and disciple of Azeem Baksh Khan.
*
Ravi Bellare (1927-2005), disciple of maternal uncle Taranath Rao.
*
Bhai Gaitonde (1932-2019), disciple of Jagannathbuwa Purohit, Ahmedjan Thirakwa, and Vinayakrao Ghangrekar.
* Pt. Sudhakar Paithankar, Disciple of Late Pt. Narayanbuva Joshi (1937 - Present)
*
Arvind Mulgaonkar (1937-2018), disciple of Amir Hussain Khan.
*
Babasaheb Mirajkar, disciple of Amir Hussain Khan.
*
Shyamal Bose (1934-2003), disciple of Jnan Prakash Ghosh. Also learned from Lakshmi Prasad Mishra of
Benares gharana, Firoz Khan of
Punjab gharana, and Anath Nath Bose.
*
Shankar Ghosh
Pandit Shankar Ghosh (10 October 1935 – 22 January 2016) was an Indian tabla player from the Farukhabad gharana of Hindustani classical music. He was an occasional Hindustani classical singer where he followed the Patiala gharana.
He wa ...
(1935-2016), disciple of Jnan Prakash Ghosh. Also learned from Firoz Khan, Anath Nath Bose, and Sudarshan Adhikari.
*
Suresh Talwalkar
Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar (born 1948) is an Indian musician who plays the percussion instrument ''tabla''.
Performing career
Talwalkar was born in 1948 into a Marathi family in Chembur, Mumbai. He belongs to the Keertankar family of Shr ...
(b. 1948), disciple of Vinayakrao Ghangrekar and Pandarinath Nageshkar.
*
Sanjay Mukherjee
*
Swapan Siva (b. 1951), disciple of Karamatullah Khan.
*
Anindo Chatterjee
Pandit Anindo Chatterjee is an Indian tabla player of the Farukhabad gharana school. He was born into a musical family. Chatterjee is a disciple of Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh.
As director of the Farrukhabad Gharana of Tabla, founded by Haji ...
(b. 1954), disciple of Jnan Prakash Ghosh.
*
Vibhav Nageshkar (b. 1955), son and disciple of Pandharinath Nageshkar.
*
Nayan Ghosh
Pandit Nayan Ghosh (born 28 April 1956) is an Indian Tabla and Sitar maestro. He is a tabla player from the Farrukhabad Gharana.
Performing career
Born on 28 April 1956, Pandit Nayan Ghosh received in-depth training in vocal music, Tabla and ...
(b. 1956), son and disciple of Nikhil Ghosh.
*
Sabir Khan (b. 1959), son and disciple of Karamatullah Khan.
*
Abhijit Banerjee
Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee (; born 21 February 1961) is an Indian-American economist who is currently the Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Banerjee shared the 2019 Nobel Memorial Priz ...
(b. 1964), disciple of Jnan Prakash Ghosh. Also learned from Tushar Kanti Bose and Manik Pal.
*
Bickram Ghosh
Bickram Ghosh is an Indian classical tabla player.
Early life
He started learning tabla from his father, Pandit Shankar Ghosh, who had played with Ali Akbar Khan.
Career
Ghosh has performed with Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Gho ...
(b. 1966), son and disciple of Pt. Shankar Ghosh.
*
Tanmoy Bose (b. 1963), disciple of Pt. Shankar ghosh and Pt. Kanai Dutta. He also learned vocals from pandit Maharaj Banerjee and Harmonium from Pandit Mantu Bannerjee
*
Subhankar Banerjee (1966-2021), disciple of Swapan Siva.
*
Vishwanath Shirodkar (b. 1960s), disciple of Suresh Talwalkar, Vibhav Nageshkar, and Nayan Ghosh.
*
Biswajit Deb (b.1959),disciple of late prabir Bhatacharya of farukabad gharana.
21st Century
*
Satyajit Talwalkar (b. 1970s), son and disciple of Suresh Talwalkar.
*
Savani Talwalkar (b. 1980s), daughter and disciple of Suresh Talwalkar.
*
Anubrata Chatterjee (b. 1985), son and disciple of Anindo Chatterjee.
*
Rimpa Siva (b. 1986), daughter and disciple of Swapan Siva.
*
Ariff Khan (b.1988), son and disciple of Sabir Khan (present khalifa of Farukhabad Gharana)
*
Asif Khan (b.1990), son and disciple of Sabir Khan (present khalifa of Farukhabad Gharana)
*
Ameen Khan (b.1992), son and disciple of Sabir Khan (present khalifa of Farukhabad Gharana)
*
Ishaan Ghosh
Ishaan Ghosh is the son and disciple of the Tabla and Sitar maestro Pandit Nayan Ghosh. Ishaan is a Tabla player from the Farrukhabad Gharana.
Performing career
Ishaan was born on 20 May 2000 to Pandit Nayan Ghosh.
He is the grandson of the ...
(b. 2000), son and disciple of Nayan Ghosh.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farrukhabad Gharana
Tabla gharanas
Farrukhabad
Music of Uttar Pradesh