Comments on: Farewell to Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (1922-2009)

By: Satya P. Sharma

Satya P. Sharma — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:29:12 +0000

I have always held the view that Ustad Ali Akbar Khan was the greatest musician that India has produced. His music was always from the heart, no showmanship, no frills. I first listened to him live in 1957 at the Max Mueller Bhawan in New Delhi. In an afternoon concert, he so masterfully rendered raga Madhuvanti, accompanied by Chatur Lal on the table. After the program I met Khan Sahib and requested him to send me a recording of the Lata Mangeshkar song (Hein Kahin Par) that he had composed for the film Aandhiyan (1952) that I had seen for which he gave the music. The Ustadji sent me the record from Calcutta. I also was lucky enough to watch both Satyajit Ray’s Devi and Tapan Sinha’s Khudit Pashan for which Khansahib had composed such lovely music. I have been listening to Ali Akbar Khan’s music for over 52 years. No body can play the Sarod better than him. Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar were the first artists who performed jugalbandi. I remember fondly their recording of Palas Kafi and Bilaskhani Todi. This might have been the first long playing record in India. Although in jugalbandi Pt. Ravi Shankar had a tendency to dominate, Ali Akbar was always performed at his very best. His 40 minute raga recording of Raga Marwa is to my mind the best rendering ever of this raga on an instrument. He came to Saskatoon in 1979 under the auspices of Ragamala Performing Arts of Canada along with his son Pranesh (on the tabla) and enthralled the packed audience. He also honored my wife, Manjari (who played Tanpura with him) and me by coming to our modest house and eating simple lunch with us. What a great man! He also told us a lot of stories about his interaction with his guru and father, Baba Alauddin Khan, a hard taskmaster. I will cherish Khansahi’s memories for as long as I live. May his soul rest in peace..

By: Nom Pakistan

Nom Pakistan — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:18:07 +0000

Meera, sister, The first sentence translates to, “to Allah we belong and to Him we return.” It is a common Muslim saying on hearing of someone’s death. The second line translates to, “May Allah bless (him).” (Barak means blessing). The language is Arabic, but there are some Arabic sayings which are so common that you will hear them across the Muslim world, and an Indonesian, Thai, Arab, Serbian, or any other Muslim will utter accordingly. There are variations of these sentences in the original languages, of course. The ones I mentioned are commonly heard in response to someone’s death or loss.

By: Siddhartha

Siddhartha — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:02:30 +0000

@Nilanjana: Neuman’s book looks interesting. A little searching in Amazon’s book preview (which actually allows you to read the whole book if you’re willing to search by page number every 3 pages ) shows Wazir Khan’s (and Dabir Khan’s) family tree to Tansen in Table 24, pg. 255.

I heard Ud. Ali Akbar Khansaheb live four or five times, twice or thrice in Kolkata and twice in the Bay Area (possibly his last concerts in the latter region). I never knew him personally, yet it feels like a personal loss. I wish I was born earlier so I could have heard him live in his heyday in the 50s and 60s, but at least he was extensively recorded, both commercially (I specially like the Connoisseur Society recs re-released as Signature Series) and non-commercially.

By: meera

meera — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:32:44 +0000

and what does it mean? please.

By: meera

meera — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:31:23 +0000

8 Nom -

"Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raajiâ€™oon.

Barak Allahu feekum, Ustad"

what language is this?

By: Kabir

Kabir — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:56:11 +0000

Khan Sahib’s death is a great loss to Indian classical music. He will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.

By: jyotsana

jyotsana — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:49:58 +0000

Ustad Ali Akbra Khan saheb was the confluence of everything profound and beautiful. We have his work that will live forever. The three of them Ud.Ali Akbar Khansaheb his sister Pandita Annapurna Devi and Pt.Ravi Shankar used to perform together at one time in Kolkata, and old timers will still tell you it was a feast fit for the divines.

By: Nilanjana

Nilanjana — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:22:50 +0000

@Siddhartha, I think I owe you thanks. One of my favorite books on N. Indian classical music is Daniel Neuman's The Life of Music in North India. You might be interested to check out what he says. It's a great read.

By: Siddhartha

Siddhartha — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:00:38 +0000

@Nilanjana: I think Wazir Khan did actually trace his lineage back to Tansen, via the latter’s daughter Saraswati (who married the veena player Misri Singh). You’d be surprised how far back musical families trace their family trees. Anyway, thanks for the correction!

By: Watch Free Movies Online

Watch Free Movies Online — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:10:37 +0000

my father was a fan of him, this is how i got to kno about the legend.. great loss to music… http://www.watchfreemovieslive.com