Credits

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan - Hindustani Classical Vocal
Format: Audio CD

The Great Heritage Series
The Vedas, one of the oldest Indian Scriptures have been the seat of Indian Classical Music. Indian Classical Music is also said to have been influenced by Indian folk music. Being both, elaborate and highly expressive, Indian Classical Music has withstood the onslaught of time and various cultures. The pages of History also indicate the influence of Persian music on Hindustani Classical Music. Based melodically on Ragas and rhythmically on Talas, this rich legacy lays emphasis on exploring the ragas and expounding the finer nuances of the same.

The proud history of Saregama stretches back over a century to 1901. Formerly known as the Gramophone Company of India Ltd. And more popularly as HMV (His Master’s Voice), Saregama was established as the first overseas Indian Branch of Electrical and Musical Industries Limited (EMI), London. From producing the first song recorded in India in 1902 by the star of yesteryears, Gauhar Jan, today Saregama has evolved into one of India’s premier entertainment content companies. Saregama India Ltd. Is the custodian of over half of all the music ever recorded in India. Saregama has the largest music archive-and catalogue-in India.

Each of the artistes featured in this series is a legend and has contributed greatly to putting Indian Classical Music on the global map. Having imbibed musical knowledge in the Guru – Shishya parampara, they continued the tradition with their students too, thus building on the rich cultural heritage, generation after generation.

In this exclusive series aptly named ‘The Great Heritage Series’, in its own inimitable style, Saregama brings together the wealth of Indian Classical Music, the artistes’ legacy and its own brand equity built over the years.

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan
The doyen of the Patiala Gharana, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan hailed from a musical family. His father Ali Baksh Khan, a renowned Sarangi player imbibed in him the love for classical music. The ease with which Ghulam Ali Khansaheb’s voice traversed three octaves resulted in an effortless rendition of Ragas. His sonorous voice embellished two songs based on classical ragas, from the movie ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, in which his voice was represented as Tansen’s by the music director Naushad. The prestigious Padma Bhushan and the Sangeet Natak Academy Award were bestowed upon him.

CD 1 has 2 ragas which have been rendered as full-fledged ragas, complete with the Khayal in all three tempos. The album begins with the popular night raga, Malkauns followed by yet another noght melody in Kaushi Dhwani. Both of these are from the original Long Play recordings. Khansaheb’s command over Thumris is well-known. This album features some of his best thumris including the evergreen ‘Yaad Piya Ki Aaye’ and ‘Aaye Na Balam.’ The concluding ‘Hari Om Tatsat’ in Raga Pahadi is a fantastic case in point, of religion being no bar in the world of music!

An afternoon melody in Raga Shuddha Sarang followed by a seasonal Raga Megh Malhar are featured in CD 2. This is followed by a Thumri Pahadi. These three tracks have been acquired from the All India Radio archives. The album concludes with a Thumri Tilang from Saregama’s collection.

CD 3 opens with an elaborate rendition in Raga Bhoopali, a night melody. The following three Thumris have again been acquired from the All India Radio archives. The concluding thumri ‘Baju Band Khul Khul Jae’ is one of the immortal tracks by the legend Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khansaheb.

CD 1
1. Raga Malkauns
Khayal Vilambit Jhoomra
“Eree Kab Ave Sajan”
Khayal Drut Teentaal
“Ab Yahi Bheda Hota”

2. Raga – Kaushi Dhwani
Khayal Vilambit Roopak
“Re Mana He Mana”
Khayal Drut Teentaal
“Aj Hoon Aye Balamwa”
3. Thumri – Kate Na Biraha Ki Raat
4. Prem Ki Maar Katar
5. Maran Muthe Yun
6. Yaad Piya Ki Aaye
7. Aaye Na Balam
8. Raga – Pahadi
“Hari Om Tat Sat”

CD 2
1. Raga – Shuddha Sarang
Khayal Vilambit Ektaal and Drut Teentaal

2. Raga – Megh Malhar Sadra
Khayal Jhaptaal

3. Thumri Pahadi
4. Thumri Tilang
All India Radio

CD 3
1. Raga – Bhoopali
Khayal Vilambit Ektaal
“Prabhu Rang Bhina”
Khayal Drut Teentaal
“Dev Maheshwar Mahadev”
Tarana Teenaal

2. Thumri Tilak Kamod
“Tan Man Dhan Tope Varna”

3. Thumri Mishra Khamaj
“Jal Jamuna Kaise Jaoon”

4. Bhairavi Thumri
“Baju Band Khul Khul Jae”