Ustad Imdad Khan
(Hindustani - Sitar,Surbahar)
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Profile
Ustad Imdad Khan was one of the most influential instrumentalists of Hindustani music. Etawah Gharana that he helped establish is also known as Imdadkhani Gharana.
Ustad Imdad Khan was born into a musical family. His father was Ustad Sahabdab Khan, the founder of Etawah Gharana. Ustad Sahabdab Khan was a close relative of Ustad Haddu Khan of Gwalior Gharana. Initially Sahabdab Khan was taught khayal vocals by Haddu Khan, but later took up Sitar. He then moved to Etawah and settled down there, from which the name of the gharana is derived.
Though Ustad Sahabdab Khan was the founder of the gharana, it was Ustad Imdad Khan who was responsible for the development of the instruments and the innovation of an instrumental style characteristic of the gharana. Imdad Khan heard and made a study of the contemporary styles of various stalwarts of his time. He then evolved a completely original style of surbahar and sitar playing which radically differed from the then prevalent Senia style, ushering in a new era in sitar playing which has come to be known as Imdadkhani. He introduced alap in the manner of khayal gayaki. String deflections were employed to the capacity of the instrument to a minimum of five notes. All gayaki ornamentations were assimilated into the style and systematically developed into the technique of sitar playing. All khayal taans and the tabla/pakhawaj bols and the numerous rhythmic variations and subdivisions of the tempo were interspersed, strengthening the interaction of the swara and the laya. Jhala and thok jhala were introduced as separate sections. A definite sequence was brought into playing the gat toda, and the composition of exciting todas with matching tihais added new grandeur to a sitar recital (see Links).
Ustad Imdad Khan had two sons, Ustad Enayat Khan and Waheed Khan who took up Sitar and Surbahar. Their sons and grandsons still carry on the traditions of Imdadkhani gharana.
Incidentally Ustad Imdad Khan was the first Sitar player to be recorded. For a time he was serving in the court of Mysore kings, who sponsored his recordings. RPG / EMI has brought out those old recordings in the form of a two CD album Chairman's Choice - Great Gharana - Imdadkhani (CMC 882507-08).
Related Artists
| Teachers & Influences | Ustad Sahabdab Khan |
| Disciples & Followers | Sons Ustad Enayat Khan, Waheed Khan |
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