Saturday, February 27, 2010

The Monumental Music of Ustad Amir Khan - Raga Darbari

This post is inspired by the title on a Vilayat Khan CD: The monumental Music of Ustad Vilayat Khan. In recent days, I've gone back to listening to my favourite raga - Darbari. And, the greatest Darbari ever recorded in my opinion is one by Ustad Amir Khan - which can be found here.

If anyone deserves the title of "Monumental Music", it is Ustad Amir Khan. I agree with Mr. Parrikar that this recording is possibly one of the greatest music pieces ever recorded.

What makes this so special? Full adherence to the spirit of Darbari - not rushed, but not repetitive - this rendition takes the listener into an ocean of Darbari - you come out drenched, and the raga sticks in your mind for days. Of particular importance is the "giving up" movement to the lower Dha - signature of a Darbari - many singers/musicians come back to Sa - that is not "true" Darbari in my opinion, where the movement must fall back to Komal Dha and stay there a while, and then gradually come back again.

What a monumental rendition !

1 comment:

  1. Absolutely true..Ustad Amir Khan's darbari not only z beautiful bt it also creates a divine surrounding..It's really spectacular

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