Dear Friends, Music Lovers & Musicians,

next recording from the audio archive is from another Veena Maestro of the 20th century, Ustad Abid Hussain Khan.

Trained by his father Ustad Jamaluddin Khan, the musical tradition of this Beenkar line refers to the descendents of Tansen which selected the Rudra Veena as their instrument (Senia Gharana).

His grandfather Ustad Reza Ali Khan was a Beenkar in the Jaipur court along with Ustad Rajab Ali Khan the Great-Granduncle of Ustad Asad Ali Khan. Ustad Rajab Ali Khan passed his musical heritage to his nephew Ustad Musharaf Khan, who was like Ustad Jamaluddin Khan one of the most well known Veena players at the beginning of the 20th century. After serving like their ancestors in the Jaipur court Ustad Musharaf Khan later went as a court musician to Alwar, while Ustad Jamaluddin Khan settled in Baroda. His son Ustad Abid Hussain Khan succeeded him as a musician of the Baroda state before he followed an invitation of the Nawab of Janjiram to settle at Indore.

Beside being a Veena player Ustad Abid Hussain Khan was an accomplished vocalist, who performed different styles like Dhrupad, Khayal, Tarana or Tappa. I will post some vocal recordings of his later.

Listening to this Darbari recording (produced at Akashvani, All India Radio) one finds a short but well structured Dhrupad Alap, with slow and graceful unfolding of the phrases. The faster angs (parts) display the great technical mastery Abid Hussain Khan had on the Veena. His Taans and Gammaks come also in the higher speed with a clarity and musicality that only a few players mastered.

If you notice a similarity to the playing style of Ustad Asad Ali Kahn you are not mistaken. Beside booth being real masters of the Veena techniques it’s the dominance of the Khandar Bani in their Raga development that brings the music of these two musicians so close.

Pt. Ambadas Pant Agle accompanies the Chautal composition on Pakhawaj. The flawless dialog between Veena and Pakhawaj gives you an idea why he was Ustad Abid Hussain Khans favorite percussion accompanist.

Last not least - I had to edit four different version of this recording, to get out full length and best possible audio quality from this archive gem.

Hope you will enjoy it!

Carsten