Photo by Riccardo di Gianni

From Imrat Khan, 

Music begins where words end.  I would like to give my love, blessings and thanks to all the well-wishers of my Etawah/ImdadKhani gharana, all the admirers and followers of my father Ustad Enayat Khan, my brother the great Ustad Vilayat Khan, and humbly myself.

With all my knowledge and sincerity I have spent my lifetime devoted to the research and practice of music and the values of surbahar, sitar and the gayaki ang.  These subjects are greatly linked with my brother and my forefathers on both sides of my family.  In addition to adapting the vocal styles and values of dhrupad, khyal, thumri and gayaki ang they also introduced unique innovations in playing technique and instrument design into the style of sitar and surbahar.

For many years it has been my dream to present The Golden Period of Indian Classical Music, a unique work on the subject of Indian classical music.  Many works have been offered by scholars and musicologist, but never before from the perspective of a gharanedar musician who has inherited several generations of musical heritage.  This book will offer a direct insight into the history and practical demonstration of Indian music.

By the Grace of God, I will present this treasure to preserve the values of my heritage and the heritage of great singers and musicians of, as it is internationally known, Hindustani classical music.

For a long time I have also been interested in the sounds of fretted guitar and violin.  After thorough research, I have created some advanced modifications on these instruments for playing Indian Classical music without sacrificing any values of Western music.  This information will also be introduced in full detail in my forthcoming book.

As I said, Music begins where words end.  With the help of all the latest technology this book will be presented with accompanying audio and video media along with text and rare photographs to preserve the knowledge and musical values of the Indian subcontinent for present and future generations.

With all my heart and my blessings in anticipation of your appreciation.

Humbly, 

Imrat Khan

"Music of the Heart"

 Ustad Imrat Khan - Sitar

Shafaatullah Khan - tabla accompaniment 

Todd Mosby - ImratGuitar

April 17th, 2010

 

Ethical Society

9001 Clayton Road

St. Louis, MO 63124

Tickets: $25adults/$15students&seniors

available at door or

www.community-alternatives.org

Legendary Video

This is a rare video produced by Pete Seeger @ 1964. This footage was taken at the home of Ustad Imrat Khan in Kolkata. He plays JhinJoti on sitar and is accompanied on tabla by Shaukat Ali Khan. It was aired from Peter Seeger's show Rainbow Quest. You also will see Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones with sitar. He was one of Ustad-Ji's students in the early 60s.

Click on video above or this link to see video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PKRIbHRPOg&feature=channel_page

Concert Programs in September & October:

Friday, September 25th 2009
St. Mary's College, Maryland
Lecture Demonstration at 5:00pm
Evening Concert at 7:00pm
Sitar by Ustad Imrat Khan
Tabla accompaniment by Shafaatullah Khan

Sunday, September 27th 2009
Gandhi Memorial Center
Bethesda, Maryland
Evening Concert at 5:00pm
Sitar by Ustad Imrat Khan
Tabla accompaniment by Shafaatullah Khan
For ticket information see:
www.gandhimemorialcenter.org/events

Saturday, October 17th 2009
Union Christian Church
St. Louis, Missouri
World Sacred Music Festival
All day event with closing performance
by Ustad Imrat Khan--7:00pm
For ticket information see:
www.gitana-inc.org

Tribute to a Legend

Ustad Ali Akbar Khansahab whom I respected and admired was not only a great musician but he was also a most loving and adorable person. Words are not enough to go into the depth of his greatness as he was an ocean of a musician.

His music is always there when I listen to any music and with all the musical imaginations he is always floating in the musical atmosphere.

Some of the most memorable performances I have been blessed to hear were when he played with my elder brother Ustad Vilayat Khan. They were like two wings of an angel enlightening and uplifting me and the entire audience with the true vision of heaven.

Although he has gone to his heavenly abode his music and the memory of his charming personality will always live in my heart and soul. Actually we live in a very wonderful and blessed musical period where we can glimpse some of his beautiful music from his recordings. But definitely blessed are those who heard him and experienced his memorable presence. More than this I will only be able to write with my tears.

May Allaah keep the torch of his Khandaan glowing.

Sincerest Condolences, Imrat Khan

Khansahib is honored Artist of the month on The Sangeet Research Academy (ITC SRA) website based in Kolkata India. Below is the link so you can read the article and listen to the archived music of Ustad Imrat Khan.

http://www.itcsra.org/aom/artist_ofthe_month.asp?aomid=84

Ustad Imrat Khan Sahib is enjoying the modern technology of the internet and is now offering his teaching online Live! for his students.

If you would like to have the rare opportunity to learn from a legendary master online, then please email to set up an appointment for your online lesson of Indian classical music.

To have a live online music lesson with Ustad-Ji, please first contact us by email at: Overtones@imratkhan.com

For 17 years Professor Khan had the opportunity to share his musical and cultural knowledge to his students at Washington University. He offered a lecture course whereby he described the transference of music and culture in and out of the subcontinent of India. The students were given the rare opportunity to learn the values of India and Indian classical music from the perspective of a heritage musician.

Read below to share the experiences of Ustad-Ji's students and their reflections on his teaching at Washington University, St. Louis Missouri USA.
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“Professor Khan taught us that instead of listening to music that seems to fit your current mood, try instead to listen to music that fits the mood you wish to be in.”
—Asa Reed (Spring ’05)

“ . . . as Imrat emphasized, an individual must first attain the heart, eyes, and ears to recognize and understand truly the value of music; with time, practice, and learning, one must learn to love her own voice and the voices of nature. Within this self-realization lies the ability to share oneself through music, which, as an art of self-expression, transcends time and convention and unwraps imagination and individuality.”
--Susanne Katus (Fall ’05)