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Farrukhabad Gharana is one of the six prominent playing styles, or gharanas, of North Indian tabla in Hindustani classical music, deriving its name from Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh.
The Farrukhabad Gharana of tabla music was created in the 11th century by a Rajput court musician, Akaasa, who later had to convert to Islam (Dastaan-e-akasa). He also changed his name from Akaasa to Mir Akaasa. He was the first to introduce bols into tabla playing. The first bols introduced for the tabla were tat-dhit-thun-nan. Akaasa died in the year 1189 AD, and was succeeded by nine sons and one daughter.[ citation needed ] He passed on his legacy to his eldest son, Ustad Bilawal Khan, who in turn passed the torch of the gharana to Ustad Ali Baksh, known for his kran bols. This tradition continued through to the 26th descendant, Ustad Haji Vilayat Ali Khan (1779–1826), who named the gharana after the province in which he used to live, Farrukhabad.
Vilayat Ali Khan got the title of Haji after completing seven hajj pilgrimages. Khan became famous after a competition of tabla gats (compositions) with Ustad Salaali Khansaheb, who had challenged Ustad Bakshu Khansaheb of Lucknow gharana. To save his pride, Bakshu requested Khan, who was also Salaali's uncle, to compete in place of Bakshu. The competition lasted for almost 15 days, in which many gats and jodas (pairs of gats) were exchanged. On the 15th day, Khan played a unique gat (the "Gat of Gazi") whose joda Salaali could not produce. Thus Khan was declared the winner. As a reward, Bakshu had his daughter marry Khan and reputedly gave him 500 tabla compositions (although some sources say only 12). [1] Khan on the other hand gave Salaali his daughter in marriage, as well as 14 gats, known as jahezi gats. [2]
The lineage of Farrukhabad is still[ when? ] carried on by the descendants of the gharana, and the 33rd and current khalifa (head) of the gharana is Ustad Sabir Khan.
There is a huge variety in the repertoire of compositions, owing to the large and creative output of composers such as Vilayat Ali Khan and Amir Hussain Khan, nephew of Munir Khan, himself a disciple of Nisar Hussain Khan. In addition, a large number of gats (compositions). [3] [ page needed ]
The Farrukhabad gharana is among the oldest gharanas (i.e. schools) of tabla,[ citation needed ] the oldest being the Delhi gharana. It belongs to the wider purbi baj, or 'eastern way of playing', which groups the Lucknow, Farrukhabad and Benares styles together. It is characterized by an extensive use of resonant strokes played on the sur of the daya, reminiscent of the pakhawaj, and also, in the case of Farrukhabad, by delicate strokes.
The repertoire is replete with varied compositions, makes use of open resonant baya strokes, and contains many unique stroke combinations. There is a greater emphasis on gats, chalan, and rela compositions than on kayda or peshkar.[ clarification needed ] There is a prominent use of certain bols, notably dhere-dhere / kita-taka / takita-dha. [4]
