Aftab-e- Sitar Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan passes away

The world of Indian classical music has been mourning the death of sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan who passed away at the Jaslok hospital in Mumbai on 13^th March 2004 at the age of seventy-six. The ustad had only been diagnosed as suffering from terminal lung cancer two weeks prior to his death.

Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest musicians of the Indian sub-continent, Ustad Vilayat Khan played a strong role in popularising the sitar amongst global audiences. His major musical achievement is said to have been in refining the gayaki ang or vocal style, which introduced the nuances of khayal gayaki to instrumental music. The maestro also made enhancements to the overall design of the sitar for improved sound reproduction.

Hailing from a line of renowned musicians representing the Imdadkhani gharana, Ustad Vilayat Khan was widely considered as the ultimate benchmark in sitar playing in terms of technique, sound reproduction and sheer musical artistry. A child prodigy, he gave his first public performance at the age of six and was recognised as one of the leading sitarists during his teenage. The maestro had countless commercial recordings to his credit and had performed throughout the world on an extensive basis. The government of India had awarded him the title of “Aftab-e- Sitar” for his services rendered to sitar playing.  

Ustad Vilayat Khan

1927-2004

Ustad Vilayat Khan leaves behind a rich musical legacy in the capable hands of his sons, Shujaat Hussain Khan and Hidayat Khan. The maestro’s younger brother Ustad Imrat Hussain Khan is a great musician in his own capacity, being a master of both the sitar and surbahar and is now the senior most representative of the gharana.

The thoughts of all music lovers are presently with his family, may they have the courage to overcome this huge loss. Ina-Lilla-Hai Wa-Ina-Ilaihay- Rajioun.

Music Talent contest organised by Sampurna in Karachi

Saffiya Beyg, founder of Karachi based organisation Sampurna organised a music talent contest on 27th March 2004, aimed at providing music scholarships for the winners. Contestants between the ages of 6 and 26 took part under the categories of vocal and instrumental music. The following performers were selected for further musical training: Arshad Khan, Anees Jaleel Ahmed, Nazia Amin, Palwasha, Ramsha, Talha Asim, Melvin Clements and Virginia C. Joseph.

All Pakistan Music Conference takes place in Karachi

A grand classical music conference was held at the Hindu Gymkhana in Karachi on 11-13 January 2004. This was the first major music conference to be held in Karachi under the auspices of the All Pakistan Music Conference (Karachi chapter). The organisation hopes that the event will be an annual feature on the cultural calendar of the city and has plans to organise monthly musical baithaks.

The final day of proceedings were attended by President Parvez Musharraf, who stressed upon retaining the musical heritage of Pakistan and announced that ailing musicians would receive a monthly stipend of Rs- 5000. The three-day event featured some of Pakistan’s leading classical musicians, including Ustad Fateh Ali Khan of Patiala, Ustad Rais Ahmed Khan, Ustad Bashir Ahmed Khan (Tabla), Farida Khanum, Nasiruddin Khan Sami, Zulfiqar Ali Khan and tabla player Ustad Khurshid Hussain Khan. Sitar maestro Ustad Rais Ahmed Khan announced that he was willing to present one concert without fee for the benefit of ailing musicians. For further information please visit www.apmckhi.org

Picture Credit: All Pakistan Music Conference (Karachi Chapter)

All Pakistan Music Conference

Lok Virsa holds a symposium for the revival of classical music in Pakistan  

Lok Virsa in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts and UNESCO arranged a symposium for the revival of classical music in Pakistan, taking place in Islamabad on 4-6 December 2003. The three-day seminar featured members of the media, government and musician fraternity in an open discussion as to the causes of the demise of classical music in Pakistan. Officials associated with the Ministry of Culture admitted that the blame for the current state of the performing arts lied at their doorstep but also stressed that the media must also make concerted efforts to promote traditional arts. A forthcoming plan was drafted and agreed by the members present.  

The concluding day was dedicated to Roshan Ara Begum as it coincided with her death anniversary. Distinguished vocalists Ustad Fateh Ali Khan of Patiala and Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shaggan gave memorable performances during the course of the occasion.

Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh assists in setting up a fund for musicians

Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh performed at the Mohatta Palace in Karachi on 22^nd February 2004. The concert was arranged by the national airline PIA and included the great Farida Khanum and Tina Sani amongst the performers.

During the performance, Jagjit Singh highlighted the financial plight of ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan, and announced that he was in the process of starting a fund for ailing Pakistani musicians and donating 5,000 dollars towards the cause. Various members of the audience including Dr. Ishratul Ibad, Governor of Sindh, the chief executive of PIA and a number of members of the Sindh Assembly made sizeable contributions towards the fund. The fund is expected to reach a value of Rs10 million with half of the amount raised going to Mehdi Hassan.

Pakistani musicians perform at event organised by Punjab Academy in New Delhi

The Punjabi Academy associated with the Indian Government organised a three-day event in New Delhi on 1^st March 2004 to commemorate the 400^th year of the compilation of the Holy Guru Granth Saheb. The event focussed on reviving the rich classical music traditions prevalent in Sikh form of Gurbani worship. At the invitation of the organisers, Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shaggan and the duo of Javed Niazi and Babar Niazi performed Shabads from the Sikh scriptures. Performing in India after an absence of 42 years, Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shaggan evoked memories of his father, the renowned Ustad Bhai Lal Muhammad who was a regular performer at the Golden Temple in Amritsar during the early part of the last century. His rendering of Bhai Lal’s composition “Mere Guru De Nain Raseelay” was particularly well appreciated. The Niazi brothers, sons of noted folk artiste Tufail Niazi rendered hymns of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

Prominent classical musicians pass away

The past twelve months have witnessed the death of a number of prominent classical musicians in Pakistan. On 13th March 2003, the leading female vocalist of the country, Shahida Parveen passed away in Lahore due to kidney failure at the age of 50. The daughter of famed classical vocalist Zahida Parveen, Shahida had received training from Ustad Chote Ghulam Ali Khan and had established herself as an excellent practitioner of khayal, thumri, ghazal and Multani kafi. The Government of Pakistan posthumously awarded her the Pride of Performance Award in this year’s honours list.

On 6^th June 2003, Ustad Zakir Ali Khan passed away. A representative of the Shamchaurasi gharana, he was the youngest brother of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and used to sing in partnership with elder brother Ustad Akhtar Ali Khan. The ustad was one of the few educated gharanedaar musicians and had co-authored a book on music called “Naurang-e- Mausiqui” with Akhtar Ali Khan. Ustad Tassadaq Ali Khan is the only surviving brother of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan.

In August 2003, senior tabla player Ustad Mureed Hussain Khan passed away at the age of 82. He was the disciple of Ustad Karim Bukhsh Pairna and was considered to be one of the most knowledgeable musicians of the Punjab gharana. The maestro was also an excellent teacher and taught the famous Pakistani tabla maestro Ustad Bashir Hussain “Goga”. Other students include Mehmood Hussain “Jaggu” and Ashfaq Hussain Khan.

Tabla player Ustad Ghulam Hassan Khan of the Punjab gharana passed away in Lahore on the 23^rd of December 2003 as a result of a heart attack. He was the brother in law of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and the elder brother of classical vocalist Hussain Bukhsh Khan. He learnt the art of tabla playing from Ustad Inayat Ali Khan and had also received some training from the legendary maestro Mian Qadir Bukhsh. Ustad Ghulam Hassan Khan had conducted a number of foreign tours with Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and Hussain Bukhsh. Amongst his disciples, his son Ghulam Abbas Khan is one of Pakistan’s foremost tabla players.

Ustad Ghulam Hassan Khan

On 3^rd January 2004, Ustad Faryaad Hussain “Bhulli” Khan passed away in Lahore at the age of 56. He was the disciple of Ustad Ghulam Hussain Khan Jullundhri, a prominent disciple of Mian Qadir Bukhsh. He was considered one of the most “tayyaar” tabla players of the Indian sub-continent and was renowned for his mastery over the Dhire Dhire bol. He regularly toured abroad with the likes of Ustads Nazakat Ali Khan- Salamat Ali Khan, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Asad Amanat Ali- Hamid Ali Khan and Farida Khanum. His sons Rahat Ali, Asad Ali, Mazhar Hussain "Bhola" and nephew Saleem Hussain "Toota" are carrying forward his musical legacy.

As a mark of respect, Sadarang.com have released a CD in tribute to the late maestro. For more information please visit the sales catalogue.

Ustad Faryaad Hussain Khan

On 4^th February 2004, light classical vocalist Malika Pukhraj passed away in Lahore, she was aged 90. Trained by Ustad Ali Bukhsh Khan of the Patiala gharana, Malika Pukhraj was one of the most popular singers of the gramophone era and was once employed by the Maharajah of Kashmir. She was renowned for her prowess over Pahadi folk songs, ghazals and nazms. Her daughter is the famous light music singer Tahira Syed.

Classical vocalist and teacher Ustad Nazir Butt passed away in Lahore in March 2004 as a result of injuries received during a road accident. Ustad Nazir Butt was 80 years old and received his musical training from Ustad G.A. Farooq. He followed the Kirana style of singing and was greatly influenced by Ustad Abdul Waheed Khan. Associated as a music teacher at the National College of the Arts in Lahore, Nazir Butt had been involved in teaching for the past thirty years.