Indian Hindustani classical music vocalist (1872 - 1937)
Abdul Karim Khan
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Abdul_Karim_Khan.jpg/220px-Abdul_Karim_Khan.jpg) |
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Born
| 11 November 1872
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Origin
| Kairana
, Uttar Pradesh
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Died
| 27 October 1937 (aged 64)
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Genres
| Indian classical music
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Occupation(s)
| Singer of
hindustani classical music
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Years active
| 1893 – 1937
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Labels
| Awards:
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Bandish in Raag Jhinjhoti ? "Piya bin nahi aawat chain, kaa se kahoon jee ke bain"
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Musical artist
Ustad
Abdul Karim Khan
(
Devanagari
: ?????? ?????? ???? ????,
Persian
:
?????? ?????????? ???
) (11 November 1872 ? 27 October 1937)
[1]
[2]
was an
Indian classical
singer and, along with his cousin
Abdul Wahid Khan
, the founder of the
Kirana gharana
of classical music.
Early life and background
[
edit
]
Abdul Karim Khan was born on 11 November 1872 in
Kirana
town in Shamli,
Uttar Pradesh
into a family with music tradition which traced its roots to musician brothers Ghulam Ali and Ghulam Maula. His father, Kale Khan, was the grandson of Ghulam Ali. Abdul Karim Khan received training from his uncle Abdullah Khan and father Kale Khan. He also received guidance from another uncle, Nanhe Khan. Abdul Karim Khan was musically influenced by Ustad Rahmat Khan of
Gwalior gharana
. Apart from vocals and
sarangi
, he also learned the
veena (been)
,
sitar
and
tabla
.
[3]
[1]
[4]
According to a story, he was initially a
sarangi
player, but decided to switch to vocals because of low status of sarangi players at that time. In his early years, he used to sing with his brother Abdul Haq. They appeared before Murtaza Khan of the "Maula Bakhsh Khandan", then all appeared before the Maharaja (king). They were all influenced by Murtaza's style. The king of
Baroda State
was impressed by this singing duo and made them the court musicians.
This is where he met Tarabai Mane, who was the daughter of Sardar Maruti Rao Mane, a member of the royal family. When they decided to get married, they were ousted from Baroda. The couple settled in
Bombay
. In 1922, Tarabai Mane left Abdul Karim Khan, which apparently had a major impact on his music ? making it
pensive
and
meditative
.
Karim Khan's first wife, Gafooran, was the sister of another Kirana master
Abdul Wahid Khan
, who was also his cousin.
[2]
Career
[
edit
]
Abdul Karim and
disciple
Sawai Gandharva
"One of the most melodious classical musicians we have had, Abdul Karim Khan's music always created a sublime atmosphere. The soothing quality of his specially cultivated voice, and his repose style of singing were such that the singer as well as his listeners forgot themselves in a sort of 'trance'."
[3]
Abdul Karim Khan was invited to the
Mysore
court where he met famous
Carnatic music
masters who also influenced his music. In particular the singing of his
sargam
was a direct influence of Carnatic practice. He became a frequent visitor to
Mysore Palace
which conferred on him the title
Sangeet Ratna
. On the way to Mysore, he used to stay with his brother in Dharwad where he taught his most famous disciple
Sawai Gandharva
. In 1900, for eight months he taught
Kesarbai Kerkar
, who would go on to be one of the 20th century's most renowned vocalists. In 1913, he founded the Arya Sangeet Vidyalaya in
Poona
to teach music to the students.
[3]
He finally settled down in
Miraj
till his death on 27 October 1937, when returning from a concert tour of the South. Every year in August, commemorative music concerts are held in Miraj in his honour.
[4]
His style
[
edit
]
The innovations he brought to his vocal style distinguishes Kirana style from others. The slow melodic development of the raga in
Vilambit
laya (slow tempo) was the most characteristic aspect of his music. He worked hard to maintain his voice to be sweet and melodious which shaped his music. The
thumri
style he developed is also quite different from the 'Poorab ang' or 'Punjabi ang'. His thumri progresses in a leisurely slow pace with ample abandonment. He was also the first Hindustani musician to seriously study the Carnatic system and probably the first to be invited to sing all over the South.
[5]
He has even recorded a
Thyagaraja
Krithi
. He was also influenced by
Rehmat Khan
of the
Gwalior gharana
and adopted the direct style of presentation.
[6]
[1]
"The ustad was an expert on many musical instruments, especially the
veena
and the
sarangi
. An expert in repairing musical instruments, he carried with him his set of tools for repairs everywhere..."
[3]
[4]
"Although frail-looking, Khan Saheb maintained excellent health through regular exercises, disciplined habits, and frugal living. His photographs show him as a tall, slim person dressed immaculately in a black 'achkan', a cane in hand, a typical moustache and a red gold-bordered turban, and most striking of all, his dreamy eyes."
[3]
Disciples
[
edit
]
Abdul Karim's disciples include Pandit Balkrishnabuwa Kapileshwari, Ganapat Rao Gurav,
Roshan Ara Begum
,
Sureshbabu Mane
,
Vishwanathbuwa Jadhav
and
Sawai Gandharva
[7]
was the
Guru
of
Bhimsen Joshi
.
Death
[
edit
]
He was on his way to
Pondicherry
when he experienced severe pain in the chest at Chingleput. On 27 October 1937, he died peacefully on the platform at Singaperumalkoil railway station. He spent the last few hours of his life remembering God, offering
Namaz
and reciting Kalma in the
Raga Darbari
.
[4]
Further reading
[
edit
]
The Gramophone Company took the logo of a dog on gramophone records, today RCA Records "HMV" of UK LTD., owned by Sony, uses a modern version of the logo. The dog, Ustad Tipu, was of this singer Abdul karim khan
[
citation needed
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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