Mewati Gharana
Encyclopedia
The Mewati Gharana is a stylized musical family-hood (Gharana
) of Hindustani classical music
founded in the late 19th century by Utd. Ghagge Nazir Khan of Jodhpur
. An offshoot of the Gwalior Gharana
, the Mewati Gharana acquired its name after the region from which its founding exponents hailed: the Mewar
region of Rajasthan
. The current torchbearer and foremost exponent of this Gharana is Pt. Jasraj.
in the Mewat
region, a part of Rajasthan
. For this geographical reason the musical tradition that evolved under his influence, is today called the Mewati Gharana. This very tradition was passed on to Pandit Natthulal and Pandit Chimanlal (who died young). Natthulal passed it on to Motiram, his nephew. This training lasted for seven years. Pandit Motiram in turn passed it on to his brother Pandit Jyotiramji, who later became a disciple of Rajab Ali Khan
of Dewas
; and to his sons, Pandit Maniram and Pandit Pratap Narayan.
Through rigorous training to his brother Jasraj, Maniram ensured that the gharana would be carried forward through time. An annual event, the Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh
, is held in Hyderabad, India
, organized by Pandit Jasraj in their memory.
and Islam
are incorporated not only in the grammatical content of the music, but as an intrinsic elements in musical development. The verse "Om Shri Anant Hari Narayana" is typically invoked as the initiation of a performance, and as the grammatical medium for an Alap
. Elements of Hinduism and Islam are simultaneously and polytheistically incorporated throughout musical works.
Mewati gayaki includes substantial use of Sargam and Tihai
s. In a crude sense, the approach to Taankari
is similar to the Patiala Gayaki
and Tappa Gayaki
in execution but is closer to the Gwalior gayaki
in application.
Pt. Jasraj has added many devotional (religious) compositions to the Gharana repertoire, the most popular being, "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" in Bhimpalasi
.
Gharana
In Hindustani music, a gharānā is a system of social organization linking musicians or dancers by lineage or apprenticeship, and by adherence to a particular musical style. A gharana also indicates a comprehensive musicological ideology. This ideology sometimes changes substantially from one...
) of Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
founded in the late 19th century by Utd. Ghagge Nazir Khan of Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
. An offshoot of the Gwalior Gharana
Gwalior gharana
The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khyal Gharanas. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar...
, the Mewati Gharana acquired its name after the region from which its founding exponents hailed: the Mewar
Mewar
Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and some of the part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later...
region of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. The current torchbearer and foremost exponent of this Gharana is Pt. Jasraj.
History
The fountainhead of the Mewati Gharana, Ustad Ghagge Nazir Khan belonged to the kingdom of JodhpurJodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
in the Mewat
Mewat
Mewat is a historical region of Haryana and Rajasthan states in northwestern India. The loose boundaries of Mewat are not precisely determined but generally include Mewat District of Haryana and parts of Alwar, Bharatpur, and Dholpur districts of Rajasthan...
region, a part of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. For this geographical reason the musical tradition that evolved under his influence, is today called the Mewati Gharana. This very tradition was passed on to Pandit Natthulal and Pandit Chimanlal (who died young). Natthulal passed it on to Motiram, his nephew. This training lasted for seven years. Pandit Motiram in turn passed it on to his brother Pandit Jyotiramji, who later became a disciple of Rajab Ali Khan
Rajab Ali Khan
Ustad Rajab Ali Khan was an Indian classical vocalist....
of Dewas
Dewas
Dewas is an ancient town situated on the Malwa plateau in the West-central part of Indian state called Madhya Pradesh, about 160 km south west from state capital, Bhopal. It is the administrative center of the Dewas District, and was formerly the seat of two princely states during the British...
; and to his sons, Pandit Maniram and Pandit Pratap Narayan.
Through rigorous training to his brother Jasraj, Maniram ensured that the gharana would be carried forward through time. An annual event, the Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh
Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh
Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh is an annual Indian classical music festival held at Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad, India. The festival is organised by noted classical singer Pandit Jasraj in memory of his father and brother, both classical musicians of repute...
, is held in Hyderabad, India
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...
, organized by Pandit Jasraj in their memory.
Mewati Gharana Styles and Trends
Although it has ancestry in the style and trends of the Gwalior gharana, the Mewati Gharana gayaki has some distinct qualities. Through Sufi and Kirtankar influence, the Mewati Gharana gayaki includes theistic and spiritual elements, where religious verses from HinduismHinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
are incorporated not only in the grammatical content of the music, but as an intrinsic elements in musical development. The verse "Om Shri Anant Hari Narayana" is typically invoked as the initiation of a performance, and as the grammatical medium for an Alap
Alap
The alap is the opening section of a typical North Indian classical performance. It is a form of melodic improvisation that introduces and develops a raga...
. Elements of Hinduism and Islam are simultaneously and polytheistically incorporated throughout musical works.
Mewati gayaki includes substantial use of Sargam and Tihai
Tihai
The tihai is a polyrhythmic technique used in Indian classical music often used to conclude a piece.The basic format of the tihai is 3 equal repetitions of a rhythmic or melodic pattern, usually interspersed with 2 equal rests, calculated to fall on a significant point in the tala most often the...
s. In a crude sense, the approach to Taankari
Taan (music)
Taan is a virtuoso technique used in the vocal performance of a raga in Hindustani classical music. It involves the singing of very rapid melodic passages using vowels, often the long "a" as in the word "far", and it targets at improvising and to expand weaving together the notes in a fast tempo...
is similar to the Patiala Gayaki
Patiala Gharana
The Patiala gharana is one of the most prominent gharanas of vocal Hindustani classical music. It was initially sponsored by the Maharaja of Patiala, Punjab, which was famous for ghazal, thumri, and khyal.-History:...
and Tappa Gayaki
Tappa
Tappa is a city and a municipal council in Sangrur district in the Indian state of Punjab.-Demographics: India census, Tappa had a population of 18,887. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Tappa has an average literacy rate of 57%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male...
in execution but is closer to the Gwalior gayaki
Gwalior gharana
The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khyal Gharanas. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar...
in application.
Specialty Ragas and Compositions
Several ragas unique to the Mewati Gharana include Jaiwanti Todi (created by Maharaja Jaiwant Singhji Waghela of Sanand), Din Ki Puriya, Odhav Bageshree, Khamaj Bahar and Bhavani Bahaar.Pt. Jasraj has added many devotional (religious) compositions to the Gharana repertoire, the most popular being, "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" in Bhimpalasi
Bhimpalasi
Bhimpalasi is a Hindustani classical raga.-Theory:Writing about the musical theory of Indian classical music is fraught with complications. First of all, there have been no set, formal methods of written notation...
.
Prominent exponents
- Utd. Ghagge Nazir Khan (c. 1850-c. 1920), Gharana founder; learned from Utd. Chhote Mohammed Khan and Utd. Waris Ali Khan of Gwalior GharanaGwalior gharanaThe Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khyal Gharanas. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar...
. - Pt. Chimanlal (c.1870-c. 1950), learned from Utd. Ghagge Nazir Khan.
- Pt. Natthulal (c.1870-c. 1960), learned from Utd. Ghagge Nazir Khan.
- Utd. Munawar Ali Khan (c. 1870-c.1940), learned from Utd. Ghagge Nazir Khan.
- Pt. Motiram (c. 1890-c.1930), learned from Pt. Nathhulal.
- Pt. Jyotiram (c. 1890-c.1930), learned from Pt. Nathhulal.
- Utd. Gulam Qadir Khan (1912-2002), learned from Utd. Munawar Ali Khan.
- Pt. Pratap Narayan (1918-2002), learned from Pt. Nathhulal.
- Pt. ManiramPandit ManiramPandit Maniram was a Hindustani Classical vocalist of the Mewati Gharana. Maniram was the eldest son and disciple of Pandit Motiram and the guru and elder brother of Pandit Jasraj.Early life and training=...
(c. 1920-c. 1990), learned from father, Pt. Motiram. - Pt. Puranchandra (c. 1920), learned from father, Pt. Jyotiram.
- Pt. JasrajPandit JasrajPandit Jasraj is an Indian classical vocalist. He is the foremost exponent of the Mewati Gharana of Hindustani classical music.-Early life:Jasraj was born in Hisar, Haryana in an orthodox brahmin family to Pandit Motiramji, a classical exponent. His family is well known for singing in the Mewati...
(born 1930), learned from brother, Pt. Maniram. - Maharaja Jaiwant Singhji Waghela (of Sanand)SanandSanand is a city and a municipality in Ahmedabad district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is also referred as Auto hub or Detroit of Gujarat.-History:...
, learned from Utd. Ghulam Qadir Khan. - Pt. Krishnakant Parikh (born c. 1940), learned from Pt. Jasraj.
- Dr. Shobha Abhyankar (born c. 1940), learned from Pt. Jasraj.
- Jatin-LalitJatin LalitJatin-Lalit are a Bollywood film composer duo consisting of Jatin Pandit and his younger brother Lalit. They have written the scores for films such as Khiladi, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Khamoshi: The Musical, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Yes Boss, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,...
(born c. 1950), learned from their father, Pt. Pratap Narayan. - Pt. Arawing Thatte (born 1958), learned HarmoniumHarmoniumA harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
from and accompanied Pt. Jasraj. - Ramesh NarayanRamesh NarayanRamesh Narayan is a Hindustani vocalist from Kerala in south India, and is also an acclaimed film music director. He has given concerts in several parts of his country and abroad...
(born 1959), learned from Pt. Jasraj. - Pta. Tripti MukherjeeTripti MukherjeePandita Tripti Mukherjee is an Indian classical vocalist. She belongs to Mewati Gharana.-Career:Tripti Mukherjee and her commitment over the past 14 years to spreading India's rich culture and heritage in their purest forms throughout America....
, learned from Pt. Jasraj. - ritam Bhattacharjee], learned from Pt. Jasraj.
- Smt. Kala RamnathKala RamnathKala Ramnath , is an Indian violinist. She belongs to the Mewati gharana. She was awarded the Jasraj award in 1999.-Early life:...
(born 1967), learned ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
from her aunt, Dr. N. RajamN. Rajam-Early life:N. Rajam was born in Chennai in a musical family to Vidwan A. Narayana Iyer. Her brother is violinist T. N. Krishnan. Rajam started her initial training in carnatic music under her father...
, and Pt. Jasraj whom she also accompanied. - Rattan Mohan SharmaRattan Mohan SharmaRattan Mohan Sharma is an Indian classical vocalist. He sings in Hindustani style of music.-Early life:Rattan Mohan Sharma was born in Rajasthan and is the nephew of classical vocalist, Pandit Jasraj...
(born c. 1960), learned from and nephew of Pt. Jasraj. - Pt. Sanjeev AbhyankarSanjeev AbhyankarPandit Sanjeev Abhyankar is a Hindustani classical music vocalist of the Mewati Gharana.He won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1999, for his song, Suno Re Bhaila" in Hindi film Godmother -Early life:...
(born 1969), learned from his mother, Dr. Shobha Abhyankar, and Pt. Jasraj. - Lalita Sharma (born c. 1970), learned from Pt. Jasraj.
- Saptarshi Chakraborty (born c. 1970), learned from Pt. Jasraj.
- Pt. Suman GhoshSuman Ghosh-Early life:Suman Ghosh began training at the age of 7 under the guidance of his mother Monika Ghosh. Later he trained under the maestros like Pandit Shrikant Bakre, Padmabhushan Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh, and finally, the living legend of Indian music, Padma-vibhushan Pandit Jasraj.-Career:Suman...
, learned from Pt. Jasraj. - Dr. Amit Arya (born 1978), learned from Pt. Hemang Mehta, Pta. Tripti Mukherjee, and Pt. Jasraj.
- Sandeep Ranade (born 1981), learned from Dr. Shobha Abhyankar, Pt. Sanjeev Abhyankar, and Pt. Jasraj.
- Dr. Kalyani Bondre (born 1981), learned from Pt. Krishnakant Parikh.