Ajrara gharana, or Ajrada gharana, is one of the six main traditional schools in

tabla A ''tabla'' is a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Since the 18th century, it has been the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music, where it may be played solo, as an accompaniment with other instruments a ...

drum.

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 musi ...

use complex Bols and Meend. Pakhawaj bols are rare. The stress is on Ad and Barabar laya. It specializes in the three-time pattern. The position of the left drum is not changed, but its face is touched with the thumb.

History

This school was founded in the late 18th - early 19th century by Miru Khan and Kallu Khan, disciples of Ustad Sitaab Khan of the

Delhi gharana The Delhi or Dilli Gharana, is a tabla traditional playing style, "regarded by many as the fountainhead of all the tabla gharanas" and known for being the first and oldest gharana playing style of tabla. It also is one of the six most common sty ...

, in Ajrara,

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...

. A notable representative of gharana has been Ustad Habibuddin Khan. Manju Khan Sahib, son and student of Ustad Habibuddin Khan Sahib.

Playing style

The Ajrara gharana style includes more complicated bol patterns than the Delhi gharana. This is because it also uses the third finger. Bols like ''Dhina GiNa'', ''Ghe Ghe Tit Kit'', ''Dha Ge Na,'' etc. are most frequently used. These bols create a certain resonance. Pakhawaj bols are rarely used in this gharana. Gheginak, gheghe, Dhadagena, Nadagena, Tadagena, etc. are used in the kayadas. Ajrada is known for its bayan (

bass drum The bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. The instrument is typically cylindrical, with the drum's diameter usually greater than its depth, with a struck head at both ends of the cylinder. The head ...

) work. The kayadas of Ajrada often have an additional third line out of four.

References

* ''The Major Traditions of North Indian Tabla Drumming: A Survey Presentation Based on Performances by India's Leading Artists'', by Robert S. Gottlieb. Pub. Musikverlag E. Katzbichler, 1977. . {{DEFAULTSORT:Ajrara Gharana Tabla gharanas Music of Uttar Pradesh