Singing Strings

The eerie tones and wailing notes of the sarangi have highlighted state cremations and mourning in India for long. Sarangi player Murad Ali Khan,however,seems determined to free this fretless instrument from its age-old stereotype. His album titled Classical Rendezvous (Mystica Music),which hit the stores a few days ago,is an effort in this direction.

“The sarangi has been stamped as a sad instrument. This is unfortunate because the instrument actually has an interesting tone and can also sound happy. It needs to get its rightful place alongside other classical Indian instruments,” says Murad. He tackles the upbeat and cheerful Raga Mishra Pilu in the album,and the result is refreshing. The pleasant Raga Baageshri,too,takes on a layered hue as Murad’s fingers race across the strings.

Old-timers who prefer the sedate sound of the sarangi will find it in the Raga Purbi.

The album has Murad playing the traditional and complex khayal ang. “The easier Gayaki ang is a regular feature,but not many artistes perform the old khayal ang now,as the raga structure is more intricate in it,” says Murad,who belongs to the sixth generation of sarangi players of Moradabad gharana and is the son of legendary sarangi player,Ghulam Sabir Khan.

“The old styles need to reach out to the younger audience too,” Murad observes.

He mostly performs with his twin brother,sitarist Fateh Ali Khan,and has accompanied bands such as Indian Ocean and Euphoria,apart from playing preludes and interludes in films such as Khamosh Paani and West is West.