Thursday, October 21, 2010

78rpm vintage : Zohra Bai 'Agrewali'

Zohra Bai (1868-1913) of the Agra Gharana, or Zohra Bai Agrewali as she came to be known as, was easily the best female singer at the turn of the 19th century. Along with Gauhar Jan, she marks the dying phase of the courtesan singing tradition in Indian classical music. She had her talim from Ustad Sher Khan, Ustad Kallan Khan and Mehboob Khan, the great composers of Khayals and Thumris.



Known equally for Khayal as well as lighter varieties of classical music, she learnt Thumri and Ghazals from Ahmad Khan of Dacca. Her many records going back to the first 15 years of the last century have not yet been dated, unlike records of some of her contemporaries. It is said that Faiyaz Khan, the greatest Ustad of the Agra Gharana, was influenced by Zohra Bai's style of singing. The famed Bade Ghulam Ali Khan of the Patiala Kasur Gharana also held her in very high esteem.

Zohra Bai Agrewali - Basant - Tore Jele Jele Ede Ede :  Download








Zohra Bai Agrewali - Bhupali Tarana :  Download








Zohra Bai Agrewali - Gaud Sarang - Kajrare Gori Tere Nain :  Download








Zohra Bai Agrewali - Miya Ki Todi - Allah Jane Jane :  Download








Zohra Bai Agrewali - Sohni - Dekh Dekh Man Lalchaye :  Download








Zohra Bai Agrewali - Zila - Koyaliya Kuk Sunave :  Download








.. more 78rpm vintage songs »

2 comments:

Kingshuk Biswas said...

Is it zila,or khamaj? Koyaliya kuk sunave is a popular bandish in khamaj!

Anonymous said...

Thanks a lot for making Zoharabai available to us.There is story told by the Great Vazebuva(Guru of Master Deenanath, Father of lata mangeshkar)
He visited her house in Agra along with legends like Natthan khan sahib, Nisar Husain khan Sahib.
Zohra was a child then. And they use to listen to her for 2-3 days. Finally when her father asked them to sing for her, they declined that they cant as they are nowhere near her.

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