Maihar Band

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Maihar Band in 2007 Photograph: Subhash Reswal

1 Formation
2 Artistes and Instruments
3 First Indian Classical band
4 Present and Future
5 Sources and Links

[edit] Formation

It is alleged that after an epidemic orphaned several children, Ustad Allauddin Khan, a musician of the Maihar court moved by the tragedy, initiated them to music and formed an orchestral group which was later known as Maihar Band. The ruling prince, Braj Nath Singh, cooperated and helped Allauddin Khan in procuring and preparing required instruments.

[edit] Artistes and Instruments

Baba (as the musician was lovingly referred to) tested each student and trained him to play a particular instrument. He used jal tarang initially and when later when his idea fructified replaced it with Nal-tarang. Apart from the usual instruments like Tabla, Dholak, harmonium, sitar, he used some special creations -- Saranga and Sitar-banjo. He also trained some of them to play western instruments like piano, violin and cello with equal ease. In the royal palace, arrangements were made for the band and they played from gallery above the main hall for visiting dignitaries.

[edit] First Indian Classical band

Baba was very proud of his band. He created several bandishes (compositions) based on Indian Raga-s. He also taught some western tunes to his students so that Europeans visiting Maihar Court could be entertained. Started originally with eighteen artistes, the band still sticks to the same number although with retirement of many only ten artistes remain in the band.

[edit] Present and Future

The band is associated with Department of Culture in Madhya Pradesh and the artistes are government employees. They perform at special occasions in Maihar and are sometimes invited to perform in other cities. Their participation in Lata Mangeshar Award Ceremony at Indore in 2005 brought them acclaim and the state government gave them prominent place in its jubilee celebrations. The band is being equipped to find its place on international map and soon almost 150 compositions of the legendary teacher-performer-innovator would be heard the world over.