Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (1902-1968)

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Profile

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan can be described as an artiste who has had the maximum impact on the 20th Century Hindustani Classical Music scenario. Born in 1902 into a great musical lineage from Kasur in the Western Punjab, this great savant amalgamated the best of four traditions; his own Patiala - Kasur style, sculpturesque Behram Khani elements of Dhrupad, the intricate gyrations of Jaipur and finally the robust behlavas (embellishments) of Gwaiior. But what actually characterised Bade Ghulam Ali Khan was an effervescent melodic quality which was concertised in a masterly flow of ideas which were delivered with a unique sense of alacrity, aided by one of the most pliable and dextrous voices ever heard in living memory in this land.

Bade Ghulam Ali Khan had a relatively short career span. He blazed the trails of Calcutta in 1938 and in the 1944 All India Music Conference in Bombay, was virtually anointed Lord of all he surveyed in the field of Indian Music. But 24 years later, he was dead, prematurely at 66, having given the World less of himself than it would have wished to have. The maestro's approach to khyal was essentially traditional - as seen in the medium pace of his vilambit Khayal presentation and his style of straightforward sthaibharana avoiding permutations. The character of his Gayaki was derived from an inclination towards looking beyond the traditional method of intoning a Swara to discover unchartered facets of beauteous melody, often achieved by very subtle inflexions of notes. This approach was bom of a mind which always strove to find that beauty in Indian Music which went beyond the Raga itself. For Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, 'Taleem' was but a means to a greater end where sheer melody and freedom of movement became unified His music was the joyous expression of an unfettered musical psyche.

In 'Thumri', Bade Gliulam Ali Khan looked beyond the tradition of bol-banav where verbal and musical expressions are unified. He saw in Thumri an avenue for playing with notes with even greater abandon than was possible in the raga-restrained Khayal. From this perspective was born the now well-established Punjab-ang of Thumri.

Discography

In alphabetical order of the title

Title	Nature	Music / recording	Contents	Label	Other Artists	Year
Bade Gulam Ali Khan	Hindustani Vocal		Gujri Todi - Bhor Bhai; Desi Todi - Manva Larje; Bhimplas - Be Gun Kahe; Kamod - Chand De Mora; Pahadi - Hari On Tatsat; Kedar - Navelli Naar; Jajjaiwanti - Binati Ka Kariye; Darbari - Bhaj Re Har Naam--- More. Old Release.	EMI India
Bade Gulam Ali Khan Vol 1,2,3,4,5	Hindustani Vocal		Vol 1: Desi, Des, Hindoli Sarang, Thumri Bhairvi ; Vol 2: Basant, Todi Vol 3: Asawari - Ab Bhai Bhore; Madhumad Sarang - Mor Mandip Ab Aayo / Thumri In Bhairavi Vol 4: Khayal Tarana (Raag Behag), Thumri Bhairavi, Thumri Pilu Vol 5: Raag Darbari Kanada, Thumri	T Series
Bade Gulam Ali Khan Vol 6,7,8,9,10,11	Hindustani Vocal		Vol 6: Gunkali, Bol: He Kartar, Adana Bahar. Vol 7:Bihag, Thumri - Bol: Paniya Bharan Kaise Jaanu Vol 8: Malkauns, Thumri Bhairavi - Bol: Suniyo Nand Kumar, Thumri Pilu Vol 9: Jaunpuri, Behag, Thumri - Paniya Bharan Kaise Vol 10 : Malkauns, Thumri, Dadra - Saiyan Gaye Pardesi Vol 11: Jaijaiwanti, Darbari Kanada, Dadra, Bhajan	T Series
Classical Heritage of India Series	Hindustani Vocal		Piloo, Bhairavi, Rageshree	Multitone Prestige	Munawar Ali Khan, vocal
Sab Rang - The Lineage Series	Hindustani Vocal Collection		Ragas Marwa, Hameer, Malini Basant / Raza Ali Khan Raag Kohari Kalyan 2 CD Set	Navras	Raza Ali Khan
The Legend	Hindustani Vocal		Goonkali: Ae Kartar Poori Karo; Malkauns: Aree Kab Ave Sajan, Ab Yahi Bheda Hota; Darbari Kannada: Sugar Madha Peevan Re, Anokha Ladala	EMI India
The Legend Lives On	Hindustani Vocal		Rageshri, Thumri in Pilu & Bhairavi	OMI Music	Munawar Ali Khan, vocal
Ustad Bade GhulamVocal	Hindustani Vocal		Bhairavi Bahar, Lalit, Pahari, Kalengra, Thumris & Dhuns. Baju Band Khul Khul, Toret Naina Jadu, Ham Sang Tum Sang, Kurban Se Mariye, Piya Man Mandira, Balam Aye	Inreco Pyramid
Vocal	Hindustani Vocal		Jai Jaivanti, Lecture/Demo Raag Bhupali	Biswas