Bade Gulam Ali Khan

Bade Gulam Ali Khan

About Bade Gulam Ali Khan

Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan an Indian vocalist, one of the finest representatives of the Hindustani music tradition in the early and middle 20th century belonged to the Patiala Gharana of Hindustani classical music. Ustad Ali Khan the great classical vocalist was born in 1902 in Lahore, Punjab into a family of Musicians. His father Ali Baksh Khan was a well-known vocalist and Sarangi player, while his uncle Kale Khan was also an extremely renowned musician. All the greatest and worst experiences of life absorbed into the study and practice of music with Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khanall his mental, physical and spiritual powers. Munawar Ali Khan was the younger son of this doyen of the Kasur Patiala gharana. He accompanied his father to all his concerts until he died. For some reason Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan did not encourage Munawar to develop as a solo performer while he was alive and Munawar Ali Khan could never establish himself as an eminent solo singer even though he was very talented. Ustad`s fine musical voice, intelligence and innate discipline contributed to his great success as a vocalist. Bade Gulam Ali Khan trained rigorously under Kale Khan his uncle for 10 years, practicing from dawn to midnight. He was unsurpassed as the master of `Thumri` Tradition. The Ustad`s melodious voice had an effortless range and style, which gripped the listeners. He has recorded several Khayals and Thumris. Some of them are `Yad piya ki aaye`, `Katena birahaki raat`, Tirachhi Nazariya ke baan`, `Premke fandeme aakar sajani`, `Aaye na baalam`, `Kya karun sajani`, `Naina more taras rahe hain` and `Prem ki maar katarand` these albums recorded many years ago, are still popular with listeners not only in India but also abroad. By 1944 the genre of Hindustani music was ruled by giant personalities like Abdul Karim Khan, Alladiya Khan and Faiyaz Khan. Into this genre Gulam Ali was considered by many as the uncrowned king of Hindustani music. some people go so far as referring to him as the Tansen of the 20th century or as Nayak (great master of the music of the past and the future), he is undoubtedly one of the most proficient and influential musicians of his time, along with Amir Khan, a well-known Hindustani classical vocalist. He remains the insipiration of a whole generation of top-ranking singers and performers in both India and Pakistan, including Ghulam Ali (b. 1940), Pakistan`s leading ghazal singer. He lived at various intervals in Lahore, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Upon the partition of India in 1947, Khan returned to his home in Pakistan, but returned to India some time afterwards to permanently reside there. He died in Hyderabad in 1968 after a prolonged illness which left him partially paralysed in his last years. He acquired Indian citizenship in the year 1957. Bade Ghulam Ali Khan was reluctant to sing for film but sang two songs for the 1960 film "Mughal-e-Azam", in which his voice was represented as Tansen`s voice by music director Naushad. He charged Rs. 25,000/- per song when the going rate for popular playback singers such as Lata and Rafi was below Rs. 500/- per song. Bade Gulam Ali`s study of music was extensive. He had knowledge and definite ideas about any aspect of music. 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. Today, the Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Yaadgar Sabha, founded by his disciple Malti Gilani, keeps his music and memory alive. It aims to promote Hindustani classical music and organises many concerts to this end. Its primary aim, however, is to provide medical aid to ailing musicians. The Sabha organises a Sabrang Utsav every year in the memory of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan passed away leaving behind a priceless and glorious heritage of music. (Last Updated on : 7/01/2009)

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