Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (born 9 October 1945) is an
Indian classicalsarod player, best known for his clear and fast ekhara
taans. Khan was born into a classical musical family and has performed internationally since the 1960s. He was awarded India's second highest civilian honor
Padma Vibhushan in 2001, India's third highest civilian honor
Padma Bhushan in 1991 and
Padma Shree in 1975.
Career and recognition
Khan first performed in the
United States in 1963 and continued into the 2000s, with his sons.[1][3] He has experimented with modifications to his instrument throughout his career.[4] Khan played with the
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and worked as a visiting professor at the
University of New Mexico.[2] In 2011, he performed on
Carrie Newcomer's album Everything is Everywhere. In 2014, along with his two sons, Ayaan Ali Khan and Amaan Ali Khan, he performed[5] 'Raga For Peace' in 2014
Nobel Peace Prize Concert.
Born on 9 October 1945 as Masoom Ali Khan, the youngest of seven children, to Gwalior court musician
Hafiz Ali Khan and Rahat Jahan.[1][2] His family is part of the
Bangash lineage and Khan is in the sixth generation of musicians; his family claims to have invented the sarod.[2][4][12] His personal name was changed by a
sadhu to Amjad.[1] Khan received
homeschooling and studied music under his father.[1] In 1957, a cultural organization in Delhi appointed Hafiz Ali Khan as its guest and the family moved to Delhi.[1] Hafiz Ali Khan received training from the descendants of
Tansen, the magical musician, was one of the 'Nav-ratna' ( nine gems) at the court of the Mughal Emperor
Akbar. Thus, Amjad belongs to the lineage of Tansen.[13] Friends of Hafiz Ali Khan convinced him of the importance of formal schooling for his son; as a result, Amjad was taken to meet the Principal of
Modern School in New Delhi and admitted there as a day scholar. He attended Modern School from 1958 to 1963.[14]
On 25 September 1976, Khan got married a second time. His bride was
Bharatanatyam dancer Subhalakshmi Barooah, hailing from
Assam in north-eastern India.[2][1][15] They have two sons,
Amaan and
Ayaan, both of whom are performing artists trained in music by their father.[1][16]
Khan cared for his
diabetic father until he died in 1972.[1] Their family home in Gwalior was made into a musical center and they live in
New Delhi.[17]
Discography
The Maestro's Musings (LP) (1986, CBS)
Swar Sameer (1991, Super Cassettes Industries Ltd., T-Series)
Serene Strings (1994, EMI, RPG Enterprises)
North India: Instrumental Music of Medieval India (1994,
Ocora)
Ragas Bilaskhani Todi & Brindabani Sarang (1994, Navras Records)