Event Details

Listening Session (No. 5) on the Artistry of Vilayat Khan
Guided by Arvind Parikh
(Approx. 150 mins)

An NCPA Presentation

This programme makes available the NCPA’s archival recordings to lovers of Hindustani classical music. We have planned a series of sessions based on rarely heard recordings of the sitar maestro, Vilayat Khan (1927-2004), which were specially recorded for our archives during 1976, where the maestro speaks at length about his forefathers and their style, and chronicles his own journey with ample demonstrations. The event will be inaugurated by eminent vocalist, Ajoy Chakrabarty. Khan was born in Gauripur (now in Bangladesh) in a family of outstanding musicians: his grandfather Imdad Khan and father Inayat Khan were the most celebrated surbahar and sitar players of their time. A child prodigy, Vilayat Khan went on to become one of the most influential instrumentalists of the 20th century. His distinctive gayaki ang (vocalised style) made his sitar “sing”, and is probably the most widely followed sitar style today. The first four sessions covered his great ancestors, specially his great-grandfather, Sahebdad Khan, and grandfather, Imdad Khan and father, Inayat Khan. The fifth session continues with Inayat Khan and his brother Wahid Khan. The session will conclude with recordings of raga Bhairavi by Vilayat Khan. This session will be guided by Arvind Parikh who has had the privilege of training with Vilayat Khan. The close association lasting over six decades has given him an insight into the subtleties and repertoire of the Etawah Imdadkhani gharana.

Admission on a first-come-first-served basis.