Hindustani Music is the form of Indian Classical Music prevalent in the northern regions of the Indian Subcontinent, such as North India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Hindustani Music is influenced in a big way by the invaders and conquerors who settled in India. The ancient Vedic Music transformed with the influence of the Aryans, the Persians as well as the folk traditions. This gave way to the present Hindustani Classical Music.
The singing in Hindustani Classical Music follows the system of the Ragas. Ragas are combinations of notes that evoke a specific mood or emotion. In the Hindustani Music system, most of the ragas are categorized under 10 Thaats namely
The singing in Hindustani Classical Music follows the system of the Ragas. Ragas are combinations of notes that evoke a specific mood or emotion. In the Hindustani Music system, most of the ragas are categorized under 10 Thaats namely
- Bhairav
- Bhairavi
- Bilawal
- Asavari
- Todi
- Marwa
- Purvi
- Kalyan
- Kafi
- Khamaj
Some of the legendary singers of Hindustani Classical Music emerged over the medieval times. These included Swami Haridas, Mia Tansen and Baiju Bawra.
Mia Tansen paying respect to the great devotional singer
Swami Haridas with the Mughal Emporer Akbar.
Over time Hindustani Classical Music, has further specialised into different music styles. These are Khayal, Thumri and Dhrupad.
Khayal literally means 'thought'. In Khayal Gayaki, the singer has the freedom and flexibility to sing as he wishes to, while following the boundaries and limitations of the raga he is singing. The melodies are based on certain songs, known as Bandishes which generally express the mood of the raga.
Dhrupad Gayaki, is the oldest form of Hindustani Classical Music, traceable to the Vedic times. However, it is not as popular as Khayal Gayaki in todays times.
Thumri Gayaki is regarded as Semi-Classical Music. It has been developed with the Persian and Muslim influence in India and is widespread in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh. It may be romantic or devotional in nature.
The various Khayal Gharanas that exist in the present times are
- Gwalior Gharana
- Kirana Gharana
- Patiala Gharana
- Agra Gharana
- Jaipur - Atrauli Gharana
- Rampur - Sahaswan Gharana
- Delhi Gharana
- Bhendi Bazaar Gharana
- Indore Gharana
- Benaras Gharana
- Mewati Gharana
- Sham Chaurasia Gharana
- Qawwal Bachhe Gharana
In Dhrupad Gayaki, the various gharanas are generally differentiated on the basis of the main musical families who follow that tradition of music such as
- Dagarvani Gharana
- Bishnupur Gharana
- Darbhanga Mallik Gharana
- Bettiah Gharana
While on the other hand, Thumri Gayaki does not have any gharanas, but rather 2 'Angs' or parts. These are the 'Benaras Ang Thumri Gayaki' which has had legendary singers like Siddheshwari Devi, Rasoolan Bai, Smt. Girija Devi among others.
The other ang is the 'Punjab Ang Thumri Gayaki' which has been followed by singers such as Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Ustad Ali Baksh Khan and the great Ustad Badhe Ghulam Khan Sahib.
Here are some examples of singers of different gharanas singing the same Raga Malkauns, to illustrate the difference in their styles of singing.
Ustad Abdul Karim Khan
Kirana Gharana - Khayal Gayaki
Raga Malkauns
Ustad Badhe Ghulam Ali Khan
Patiala Gharan - Khayal Gayaki
Raga Malkauns
Pt. D.V. Paluskar
Gwalior Gharana - Khayal Gayaki
Raga Malkauns
Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan
Agra Gharana - Khayal Gayaki
Raga Malkauns
Kesarbai Kerkar
Jaipur Atrauli Gharana - Khayal Gayaki
Raga Malkauns
Ustad Amir Khan
Indore Gharana - Khayal Gayaki
Raga Malkauns
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