Hafiz Ali Khan
Encyclopedia
Hafiz Ali Khan was an India
n Sarod
player. He was a tall figure in twentieth-century sarod music. A fifth-generation descendant of the famous Bangash
Gharana of sarod players, Hafiz Ali was known for the lyrical beauty of his music and the crystal-clear tone of his strokes. The occasional critic has, however, observed that Khan's imagination was often closer to the semi-classical thumri
idiom than the austere dhrupad
style prevalent in his times.
He grew up in a community of sarod players, it is likely that he studied with his father and a number of his proximate disciples. He later took lessons from his cousin Abdulla Khan, nephew Mohammad Amir Khan, and finally the beenkar Wazir Khan
of Rampur. It said that Khansahib later studied dhrupad and thumri with Ganeshilal Mishra and Bhaiyya Ganpatrao, respectively.
The youngest of the three, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
, is one of the most loved and admired sarod players today and is the greatest exponent of his family tradition. His sons Amaan Ali Khan
and Ayaan Ali Khan
and nephew Ameen Ali Khan are making earnest efforts to take this tradition into the next century.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Sarod
Sarod
The sarod is a stringed musical instrument, used mainly in Indian classical music. Along with the sitar, it is the most popular and prominent instrument in the classical music of Hindustan...
player. He was a tall figure in twentieth-century sarod music. A fifth-generation descendant of the famous Bangash
Bangash
Bangash is the name of a Pashtun clan. The Bangash clan inhabit regions within the Federally Administered Tribal Areas , the Kurram Agency, the Miranzai Valley bordering the Samana Range, Naryab, Tirah, Kohat and Peshawar within the Sarhad province...
Gharana of sarod players, Hafiz Ali was known for the lyrical beauty of his music and the crystal-clear tone of his strokes. The occasional critic has, however, observed that Khan's imagination was often closer to the semi-classical thumri
Thumri
Thumri is a common genre of semi-classical Indian music.The text is romantic or devotional in nature, and usually revolves around a girl's love for Krishna. The lyrics are usually in Uttar Pradesh dialects of Hindi called Poorbi and Brij Bhasha...
idiom than the austere dhrupad
Dhrupad
Dhrupad is a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still in use in that musical tradition. Its name is derived from the words "dhruva" and "pada"...
style prevalent in his times.
Early life and background
An illegitimate son of the sarod player Nanne Khan, Court Musician to the Maharaja of Gwalior, Hafiz Ali overcame severe odds to inherit his father's position at the court. The source of Hafiz Ali Khan's early musical training is a matter of speculation.He grew up in a community of sarod players, it is likely that he studied with his father and a number of his proximate disciples. He later took lessons from his cousin Abdulla Khan, nephew Mohammad Amir Khan, and finally the beenkar Wazir Khan
Wazir Khan
Wazir Khan,Shaikh Ilam-ud-din Ansari , a native of Chiniot, who rose to be a minor court physician to Shah Jahan in Lahore, was a Mughal noble, who was the Subedar of Sirhind, he personally commanded an army of over 30,000 men consisting mainly of Muslim Rajputs.Wazir Khan is noted for his...
of Rampur. It said that Khansahib later studied dhrupad and thumri with Ganeshilal Mishra and Bhaiyya Ganpatrao, respectively.
Performing career
Khansahib's regal appearance and electrifying charisma made him one of the most sought-after musicians of his time, which was no mean achievement for an instrumentalist in an era largely dominated by vocal music. Old-timers who have seen him in concert recall his stage presence and musicianship with reverence and awe. While still a court musician in Gwalior, Hafiz Ali would undertake numerous trips to Bengal, where he performed at all major music festivals, and taught a large number of disciples. Khan's music found generous patrons in two Bengali aristocrats, Raychand Boral and Manmatha Ghosh, both of whom studied with him at various points. Apart from his formidable command over traditional sarod compositions, dhrupad and thumri, Hafiz Ali Khan was particularly appreciated in the Viceregal firmament of colonial India for his unique, stylized renditions of God Save The King on his sarod. This tradition of performing sacred, religious and official state hymns on the sarod is kept alive by his illustrious son, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan as well as grandsons Amaan and Ayaan.Legacy
Hafiz Ali Khan died in 1972, at the age of 84. The grand old man left behind three sons. Ustad Mubarak Ali, the eldest, was considered the most serious contender for the mantle of this hallowed tradition, but as per a widely circulated anecdote, fell prey to a conspiracy by his uncle Nabbu Khan, Hafiz Ali's half-brother and legitimate son of Nanne Khan. Mubarak Ali spent most of his adult life as an opium addict and his musical career never took off. Rehmat Ali Khan, the next in line, had a distinguished career as a staff artiste with All India Radio in Bhopal.The youngest of the three, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
Amjad Ali Khan
Amjad Ali Khan is an Indian classical musician who plays the sarod. Khan was born into a musical family and has performed internationally since the 1960s...
, is one of the most loved and admired sarod players today and is the greatest exponent of his family tradition. His sons Amaan Ali Khan
Amaan Ali Khan
Amaan Ali Khan is an Indian classical musician who plays the sarod. Khan is the son of Amjad Ali Khan and often performs with his younger brother Ayaan Ali Khan, with whom he hosted the music talent show Sa Re Ga Ma.-External links:...
and Ayaan Ali Khan
Ayaan Ali Khan
Ayaan Ali Khan is an Indian classical musician who plays the sarod. Khan is the son of Amjad Ali Khan and often performs with his older brother Amaan Ali Khan, with whom he hosted the music talent show Sa Re Ga Ma...
and nephew Ameen Ali Khan are making earnest efforts to take this tradition into the next century.
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