There is a rich tradition of Gharanas in classical
Hindustani music. The music Gharanas are also called styles. These
schools or Gharanas have their basis in the traditional mode of musical
training and education. Every Gharana has its own distinct features. The
main area of difference between Gharanas is the manner in which the
notes are sung. The concept of a Guru- Shishya leads to the development
of Gharanas. The Gharanas emerge from the creative style of a genius,
who gives existing structures a totally new approach, form and
interpretation. The new approach, form and interpretation apply to
include the tone of the voice, the pitch, the inflexions and the
intonations, and the specific application of the various nuances. Let's
have a quick look at popular Gharanas of Hindustani classical music.
Gwalior Gharana - This is the oldest among all the Khayal Gayaki
(vocal) styles. The distinctive feature of this style of singing has
been noted as its lucidity and simplicity.
Founders - Ustad Hassu Khan, Ustad Haddu Khan, Ustad Nathu Khan
Exponents - Bal Krishna BaIchal Karanjikar, Vishnu Digambar
Paluskar, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Veena Sahasrabuddhe and Malini
Rajurkar
Agra Gharana-The Agra Gharana places great importance on
developing forcefulness and deepness in the voice so that the notes are
powerful and resonant.
Founders- Haji Sujan Khan, Ustad Ghagghe Khuda Baksh
Exponents-The important singers of this Gharana are Faiyyaz
Khan, Latafat Hussein Khan and Dinkar Kakini.
Kirana Gharana - It derives its name from the birthplace of
Abdul Kharim Khan of Kirana near Kurukshetra. In the Kirana style of
singing, the swara is used to create an emotional mood by means of
elongation and use of Kana-s.
Founders - Abdul Karim Khan and Abdul Wahid Khan
Exponents - Hirabhai Barodekar, Begum Akhtar, Bhimsen Joshi,
Gangubai Hangal and Prabha Atre.
Jaipur - Atrauli Gharana- The most distinctive feature of the
Jaipur Gharana can be best described as its complex and melodic form
which arises out of the involutedly and undulating phrases that comprise
the piece.
Founders - Ustad Alladiya Khan
Exponents - Alladiya Khan, Mallikarjun Mansur, Kesarbhai Kerkar,
Kishori Amonkar, Shruti Sadolikar, Padma Talwalkar and Ashwini Bhide
Deshpande.
Rampur Sahaswan Gharana- The Rampur Sahaswan Gharana there is a
stress on the clarity of swara in this style and the development and
elaboration of the raga is done through a stepwise progression.
Founders - Ustad Inayat Khan
Exponents - Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan,
Ustad Rashid Khan, Sulochana and Brihaspati.
Patiala Gharana - Patiala Gharana is regarded as an offshoot of
the Delhi Gharana. The Patiala Gharana is characterized by the use of
greater rhythm play and by Layakari with the abundant use of Bols,
particularly Bol-tans.
Founders - Ustad Fateh Ali Khan and Ustad Ali Baksh
Exponents - The major singers of the Patiala Gharana are Bade
Ghulam Ali Khan, Ajoy Chakravarti, Raza Ali Khan, Beghum Akhtar, Nirmala
Deni, Naina Devi, Parveen Sultana and others.
Delhi Gharana - The Delhi Ghaana was represented by Tanras Khan
and Shabbu Khan. The highlights of Delhi Gharana are pleasing vistaar
and exquisite compositions.
Founders - Ustad Mamman Khan
Exponents - Some of the notable exponents of Delhi Gharana are
Chand Khan, Nasir Ahmed Khan, Usman Khan, Iqbal Ahmed Khan and Krishna
Bisht.
Bhendi Bazaar Gharana - The most distinctive feature of the
Bhendi Bazaar Gharana is the presentation of Khayal, which is open
voice, using Akar. There is a stress on breath-control and singing of
long passages in one breath is highly regarded in this Gharana
Founders - Ustad Chajju Khan
Exponents - The important singers of this Gharana are Ustad Aman
Ali Khan, Shashikala Koratkar and Anjanibai Malpekar.
Benaras Gharana - The Benaras Gharana evolved as a result of
great lilting style of khayal singing known by Thumri singers of Benaras
and Gaya.
Founders - Pt Gopal Mishra
Exponents - The chief exponents of the Benaras Gharana are Rajan
Mishra, Sajan Mishra, Girija Devi and others.
Mewati Gharana - The Mewati Gharana gives importance to
developing the mood of the raga through the notes forming it and its
style is Bhava Pradhan. It also gives equal importance to the meaning of
the text.
Founders - The founder of Mewati Gharana was Ghagge Nazir Khan.
Exponents - The exponents of the Mewati Gharana are Pandit
Jasraj, Moti Ram, Mani Ram, Sanjeev Abhyankar and others.
