Amjad Ali Khan Says ‘Sarod Ghar’ Preserves Instruments Of His Forefathers

NEW DELHI-Legendary sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan spoke about Sarod Ghar, a museum housed in his ancestral home in Gwalior, where instruments belonging to his forefathers and other great Indian musicians are preserved.

Khan said his sarod from his younger days is also kept at the museum, which has received instruments donated by renowned musicians.

“I have my younger days sarod in my museum in Gwalior where I was born. Our ancestral home has been converted into a museum, it’s called Sarod Ghar. All the instruments of my forefathers and other great masters of India, it’s all there,” he said.

He added that several great musicians had donated their instruments, with each artist contributing to the legacy of the sarod.

Explaining his distinctive musical approach, Khan said every sarod player has a different sound and artistic vision. He noted that his father’s playing had a distinct sound, as did that of his sons, Amaan and Ayaan Bangash.

“And every sarod player has a different desire, different kind of sound. My father’s sarod was different sound. And Amaan sounds different, Ayaan sound different. And my sound, finally, by the grace of God, I don’t play sarod. I sing through my instrument,” he said.

“The singing is most important to bring out,” Khan said, expressing happiness at the instrument’s growing reach. He said there were about 500 sarod players around the world and expressed confidence in the instrument’s future, pointing to the talent of young musicians.

Meanwhile, Khan’s wife, Subhalakshmi Borooah Khan, has made her vocal debut with ‘Chants for Unity’.

The album features nine tracks, with her vocals on five sacred compositions: Navagraha Shlokam, Krishna Stuti, Shantakaram, Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu and Lakshmi Stuti.

‘Chants for Unity’ also brings together members of the family, with the Bangash brothers and their father, Amjad Ali Khan, involved in conceiving and composing the project. (IANS)