Music in Pakistan

#12 by amit

Amit Sahib!
You are very right! I agree that it is not that difficult. And till the time I was in Pakistan I was giving free concerts for Sampurna in Karachi, just to help them promote the cause of Classical Music. Now, what i do is that I help them by donations, and I try to inculcate a sense of Pakistani Classical Music in my western friends and shagirds. Here i have started to do soemthing a little different, and that is Fusion Music. Fusing my sitar with violin, fule and guitar and make all of these instruments play a compostion in a raag. I know that the revival will be difficult, but not impossible. But I think that the first step should be really to intoduce music as a subject at school level. Then we can start with music universities and institutes for serious music lovers and help them make a career.

Hanif sahib: Thanks for an informative article that provides a fresh look at Indian classical music and how it provides the basis for many popular songs. I dont think there is any fear of music dying out in the frontier, just as there is no fear that the birds will stop singing out of deference to some ideology. We have too many music lovers in Pakistan, too rich a tradition of folk music, and too rich a tradition of arts and music in neigboring countries, for that to happen. In Bangladesh, girls are in fact expected to be able to sing and dance, and I believe the same is true for many parts of India.

dear hamid - great piece -- I personally know shaffaat from his boyhood I am an admirer and friend of his father Amrit Khan the great and perhaps the only credible surbhar player of the subcntinent -- and the brother of that legendary Sitar player Ustad Vilayat khan saheb -- you are in excellent company.

ur acoount of Pakistan`s classical music is quite dismal -- just look aournd and find out what the Indians have done with the classical music without its prime patrons -- the rajas and the nawabs since Indpendence --

why the Pakistanis can`t do the same --

as far as the average citizen who loves the film music in India -- there is a similar aversion to classical music in India as it is in Pakistan --

classical music is faring so well in India -- becaue partly it is patronized by the film industry -- and mostly because the private organizations, academicia as well as governmental agencies actively promote its literacy among the people --

love for classical music is an acquired taste in most cases -- it has to be actively cultivated --

the MMM savages hate music because -- if they hear darbari, malkauns, shudh kalayan or bhairvi -- it has an uncommonly soothing effect on them -- may start to mellow them down -- and may make them a little normal and civilized -- and that is the last thing they like to do -- or become -- but it will come to pass -- so don`t lose heart.

please continue to write for a refreshing change from politics and religion on chowk.

sameerJB # 14
[Ustad BaRe Ghulam Ali Khan did not come from big gharana and his children are not at the level of their dad.]
Patiala Gharana boasts of some of the greatest names of the north Indian classical music.Ustad BaRe Ghulam Ali Khan,Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, Ustad Amanat Ali khan,Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Ustad Allah Rakha (Tabla nawaaz),Farida Khanum and a host of lesser luminaries. Which other Gharana boasts of bigger stars than these? Kirana Gharana might come a close second with Ustad Abdul Karim Khan,Roshan Ara Begum,Pandit Bhimsen Joshi et al.Patiala Gharana can only be termed as a great gharana ,interms of its ``gaaiki`` and its exponants.
Hamid_81.
[ late evening raag, and Sajjad has actually “stolen” the tune from a Thumri of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, “Saiyan Bolo Tanik Mosay”]
You are probably aware of the relationship between BaRe Ghulam Ali Khan and Sajjad Ali.(Sajjad is his maternal grandson).If he is using the
compositions of the late ustad,it is a continuation of the ``gurukul`` or shall we say ``guru-shishya`` tradition.

nasah #19
Where have you been? muddat hui hai yar ko ruswa kiye huay;)
Lucky you.listening to Ustad Amrit Khan.Where is dost-mittar??

re: classical music in the subcontinent
It is no use bemoaning lack of govt support or public interest in Classical music in Pakistan. The scenario is similar in India. There has to be an individual or private effort to revive and preserve old traditions, be it music or something else.
In this regard, i read about an organisation called SPICMACAY (Society for the Preservation of Indian Classical Music And Culture Among Youth). The name sounds like a corporate body but was really founded by a group of IITans (in Delhi) in 1977 or thereabout and has spread its wings all over the world with chapters in USA, UK etc. It is this kind of effort which goes a long way in preserving and popularising classical music rather than any govt support. Go to the following URL for some details. A search with the name SPICMACAY will yield good results too.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/04/stories/2002090400380100.htm
Sridhar

In recent times, musicians have tried to introduce Western instruments into (South) Indian Classical music. There are credible players of Classical music on the guitar, mandolin, saxophone and clarinet. And of course the violin and harmonium have been in use for a couple of centuries. Maybe the use of Western instruments might attract a few more people to Classical music.

banjara mian -- jubh bhi mujh ko tera kheyal aayaa -- teyri ruswaiee ka sawaal aaya:-) --

good to see your erudite post -- after long time.

I have been on the Chowk battlling the windmills of our dimwit President`s Don Quixote` of Texas -- regarding his mission grab-Iraq --

where have YOU been -- long time no see -- as usual yours was an illuminating post about Pakistani heritage of classical music --

what do you think? -- the situation is as critical as Hamid describes?

dost-mitter -- is in India these days -- he is sorely missed -- and we missed you too --

how is ur Peshawar doing these days under the triple M -- Mulla Mulla & Mulla government -- burying music deeper in the ground? --

any comments?

>>. They “use” classical music but never mention that this piece is composed in such and such raag. <<
nusrat fateh ali khan frequently announced what raag a certain qawwali was in.

sameerJB # 14
[Ustad BaRe Ghulam Ali Khan did not come from big gharana and his children are not at the level of their dad.

Ustad Munawwar Ali Khan was a great, talented, and famous classical singer of his time. He was respected and loved by all who knew him. He was the son of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Patiala gharana and it`s exponents have always been famous musicians.

#20 by Banjaara
I do not have a problem with Sajjad ALi using his family bandishes. Godknows how many times I have played Bade Ghulam Ali Khan`s Bandish of raag Jaijaiwanti, and have recieved praise for it. But never have I forgoten to tell the people that this Bandish belongs to Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. So, Sajjad should also give a little credit to these giants, if he uses their stuff. Seems to me he is ashamed to admit that he is from a musical family.

Banjaara and hamid_81 re: baRe Ghulam Ali Khan
I guess I did not make term gharana clear in the context of my previous post. I agree with both of you about Patiala Gharana and Ustaad belonging to it. But that is like a schooling and following a style. I was mainly concerned about family tree and gave example of higher military officers relationships to each other. His father was not a famous musician and for a while Ustaad did not get respect from peers for that reason. He was even snubbed few times for not coming from elaborated family. Here is an excerpt from an article about him:

[At times, even an apparently innocuous and casual remark, or an
insignificant incident, leads to an event of far-reaching
consequences, leaving indelible imprint on the annual of a
particular discipline. An unintentional jibe by a singing duo
aimed at a musician in the late 20s culminated in the birth of
one of the brightest stars on the melodic firmament of the Sub-
continent, whose glow spread all over the area. He commanded
ungrudging respect from professional musicians and also won the
hearts of millions of music buffs, both in Pakistan as well as
India and Bangladesh. He was the late Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.
The late Qazi Zahurul Haq, in his book, Muallamul Naghmaat, has
written that the famous qawwals Mubarak Ali Khan-Fateh Ali Khan
Jallandhari (father of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) were once invited to lunch by the late Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. The qawwals, who were known for their melodic erudition and skill in rendering classical asthai-antras (compositions), declined the invitation with the insinuation that they could break bread with a classical singer, but not with a sparda (an
accompanying musician with a female singer). Ghulam Ali Khan
then, was a sarangi accompanist of a well-known classical singer
of Lahore, Inayat Bai Dheroowali). The cutting edge of the remark
of the qawwals hurt young Ghulam Ali so much that there and then
he decided to give up sarangi-playing and resolved to practise
the art of classical vocalisation so that he could not be derided
by anyone any more.
That was how a great artiste was born. And what a classy singer
he ultimately turned out to be. Those who have heard him singing
(in person or through audio cassettes) will readily agree that he
was one of the most accomplished singers. His mellifluous renditions of
classical compositions, and the variety of effects his unique and
pliant voice could create, hypnotised his audiences for about 30
years during his life, and continue to cast hypnotic spells on
initiated listeners through his recorded music.

Born in Kasur in the year 1902 (some say in 1903) in a family of
professional musicians, that melodist of inimitable virtuosity
was initiated into instrumental music by his father, Ali Bakhsh.
For about 15 years, it is said, young Ghulam Ali Khan played
sarangi before he turned to classical singing. During his youth,
he had been trained by his uncle Ustad Kaley Khan, (a disciple of
the legendary Mian Taan Ras Khan) who along with his friend Fateh
Ali Khan, founded the famous Patiala gharana of kheyal singers.

Before partition, he used to visit the princely states, like
other melodists of that era, to present his music in the darbars
of the Nawabs and Rajas, but he was not attached with any
princely state such as Patiala, as claimed by Manjri Sinha in his
book Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (Lotus Collection, Roli Books).
In Patiala darbar, Ustad Akhter Husain Khan (the father of Amanat
Ali Khan-Fateh Ali Khan duo was employed who, along with his
singing sons, migrated to Pakistan in September 1947.
Musical gharanas are recognised only for their stylish contribution to kheyal singing; their different aesthetic approaches to this genre of
classical vocalisation; their innovative additions to kheyal
singing; their peculiar methods of voice production and taking
taans (flights), and their known endeavours to preserve kheyal`s
serenity, beauty of its form with their creative fancy. The
mentors of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan were the followers of
Patiala gharana kheyal traditions. And he himself, at one time,
received training from Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan of Patiala.]

Norah Jones takes Grammys by storm
CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 12:00:12 PM ]

WASHINGTON: Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar’s American daughter Norah Jones won a record-equalling eight Grammy Awards on Sunday to lend the music world’s biggest night a light Indian note.



Jones, 23, a debutante by entertainment industry standards, outshone a galaxy of music luminaries as she won individual Grammys for Best New Artist, Album of the Year (for “Come Away With Me”), Record of The Year (for the song “Don’t Know Why”), Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Vocal Album.

///Music has to be in the blood, it has to reflect the values of the society. Instead of trying to rebrand indian music as pakistani, the effort should be to develop some jihadic music and that will be in tune and with and galvanise the emerging pak society.

What kind of bullshit is this? A rag is simply a rendition of musical sounds in (hopefully) pleasing manner. The author`s contention that contemporary artists should pay homage to their influence is like saying one should preface each work in English language with a note of thanks to Shakespeare!

The problem with classical music everywhere is that it has a certain snob appeal. Some of us will hide away our Aguillera CDs and replace them with Brahms or Mozart when we have guests over. Too bad they`ll still be in cellophane wrapping. Music is eternal and what we enjoy has nothing to do with being highbrow or not. If that were the case, all the background music on major hollywood productions would be hip-hop or rap. Music tastes evolve with time. There is no essentially *higher* form of music. If classical music is dying, well so are drive-in movie theatres and cotton candy. Deal with it.

Like most majors in college dealing with *social* sciences, music and dance majors are simply there because they`ve been around for a while,serve as employers for a lot of less than gifted no-gooders and allows one to get a four year degree without feeling guilty about wasting our parent`s money. When was the last time anyone gifted came out of these programs? The ones that did actually dropped out before finishing school. The rest were either writing html code till a couple of years ago or were writing a treatise on the joys of macrobiotic food.

later
-sac

sac #29 At last, we have someone striking a discordant note on this board. There was too much singing of praise, too much chorus of ``Yay``s (Jays expected basking in the reflected glory of a talented 23 year old doesnt count, since he is a nutcase), too many violins being played to mourn the lack of interest in classical music, too many ``Hallelujahs``, and Hymns to the Lords of Music on this board. So thank you for cutting it all out with the magic words ``bullshit``.
Having thanked you for introducing a discordant chord, let me therefore add to this by telling you off on Aguillera vs. Mozart. Far from switching over to Mozart when company is expected, I switch it ON when I am all by myself in the car or in the house. Because my kids are similarly misled like you regarding the beauty of classical music (one of them is coming around to appreciating it though). My wife loves ghazals. And I love my wife, so I sometimes switch on to ghazals when she is not around, but only to remind me of her and not because I really care about ghazals. And never in her presence otherwise we would have nothing but ghazals around the house.
There is definitely no snob appeal in classical music.
Note to Hamid Sahib: Just joking here a bit sir. I loved your article and the discussion.

#29 by sac
Mister SAC! Cut the crap. If you don`t know anything about something try to avoid writing stupid responses and spare everyone your load of bullcrap!

``A rag ``. It is a raag, not rag. A rag in the English language is a torn piece of cloth. I hope this helps you build your vocabulary!

Jay#27,
Please stop trying to bask in someone else`s glory.

Norah Jones is an American. Ravi shankar never even met her till she was 18 year old. (It appears that he was quite adept at fathering kids outside wedlock). Norah Jones never mentions her father (or her father`s country) in any of her biography.