KHAN, USTAD HAFIZULLAH - Khalifa Kirana Gharana-Sarangi

"An archival performance from 2000 by North Indian classical master Ustad Hafizullah Khan is the latest release on La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela's Just Dreams label. Those who purchased the recent Pandit Pran Nath set will find much to enjoy here. Hafizullah Khan, who passed away in 2002, was a virtuoso of the sarangi. The sarangi is India's premier fiddle instrument; to most western ears it probably most resembles the violin. It is comprised of a solid wood body, three main playing strings, and 35-40 sympathetic strings. There are no frets of fingerboards, the strings hover over the body of the instrument and the performer changes the pitch by sliding his or her fingernails along the strings. It has an absolutely uncanny ability to imitate the sound of the human voice -- indeed most sarangi masters are also vocalists, as was Hafizullah Khan.

The sarangi is extremely difficult to play and has been in decline as a popular instrument for some time, so we are very blessed to be offered this historic recording. Hafizullah Khan was the hereditary head of the Kirana Gharana school of North Indian classical music. He began learning his craft at a young age from his renowned father and uncle, and was a staff artist for many years at the prestigious All India Radio. In a recent online interview between La Monte Young and Frank J. Oteri, Young characterizes members of the Kirana school as priding themselves on the knowledge of Raga and Feeling. He goes on to state that there is a certain extremity found in performances from the Kirana Gharana school that he finds appealing and that relates to aspects of his own compositions" - Just Dreams. 

"RE-RELEASE from the Just Dreams label--a true CD, not CD-R. First recording released by the late Sarangi Master,Khalifa and son of Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan of the Kirana Gharana. Exquisite intonation, pure tone, graceful command of the bow, effortless speed over the complete range of three octaves." - Just Dreams.

"Ustad Hafizullah Khan was the only child of the renowned vocalist and sarangi player, Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan Chisti-Sabri and was born in Kirana India, on June 4th, 1946. Actually, Hafizullah Khansahib was the 17th and only surviving child of Abdul Wahid Khansahib and his second wife, as all the other children died at birth or soon after. Hafizullah Khansahib's mother, Naseera Begum or Moodan, recently passed away in Delhi in February 2003. At Wahid Khan's death in 1949, Hafizullah Khansahib was sent to live and study with his uncle, Ustad Abdul Habib Khan. He received exceedingly rigorous training: during the day he was free to fly kites and play with other children, but at night he was required to do riaz (practice) from 10pm to 4am. Hafizullah Khansahib joined his Guru and uncle, Habib Khan, to every concert he performed. Hafizullah Khansahib was trained both in voice and sarangi, but since there were many vocalists, Habib Khan decided Hafizullah Khan should become a sarangi player to be assured of getting work." - Rik Masterson & Rose Okada