Gharana tradition : Kirana

The name of this school of music derives from Kirana or Kairana, a village in Haryana state of central India. It is the birthplace of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan (1872-1937), who was one of the most important musicians of this Gharana and of Hindustani music in general in the twentieth century, and considered by some to be the real founder of the Kirana Gharana. A frequent visitor to the Court of Mysore, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan was influenced by Carnatic music.

Much to the credit of Abdul Karim Khan, today most Hindustani musicians from Karnataka and Maharashtra are exponents of Kirana Gharana and it has imbibed many of the features of the Carnatic tradition. Common traits of Kirana Gharana include systematic elaboration of a Raga, improvisation in the vilambit laya, and slow spacious alaps employing meendkari. The style is renowned for its melody and sweetness. The lineage of this Gharana includes Beenkars and Sarangi players. Influence of Sarangi is clearly noticeable in the style of many exponents.

Abdul Karim Khan - Jhinjhoti - Piya Bin Nahin Awat Chain :  



Bhimsen Joshi - Bhairavi Thumri - Jamuna Ke Teer :  





Firoz Dastur - Zila Kafi - Gopala Mori Karuna :  



Roshanara Begum - Jaunpuri - Rang Gori :  



Besides the above mentioned artists, famous names of Kirana Gharana include Hirabai Barodekar, Sawai Gandharva, Gangubai Hangal, Basavraj Rajguru, Channulal Mishra, Prabha Atre and many more. As with other Gharanas, the list is long.

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Gangubai Hangal passes away

The matriarch of Hindustani classical music, Gangubai Hangal died Tuesday morning, July 21, 2009, after being briefly hospitalized for heart and respiratory problems. She was 96. She died in Hubli, a city in Karnataka, India, where she lived. She was one of the most well known singers of Khayal, a style that belongs to the Hindustani (or North Indian) school of classical singing. Earlier this month, on July 16, 2009, another leading woman classical singer of Carnatic (or South Indian) music, D K Pattammal, died aged 90.



Gangubai Hangal was born on March 5, 1913, in the southern state of Karnataka and trained under Sawai Gandharva, a respected guru. Born into a family of boatmen, Gangubai Hangal battled the prejudice of caste, as well as the notion that singing wasn't an appropriate profession for a woman of her generation. With her powerful, deep voice, Gangubai Hangal was often described as more gifted than most male singers of her time, and people had trouble relating her strong vocals with her small frame. She single handedly battled caste and gender prejudices to establish a career that spanned more than seven decades.

Raga Chandrakauns - Kab Ghar Aayo :  (Download)



Raga Jaijaiwanti - Achal Raho Raja :  (Download)





Raga Bhairavi - Bole Na Woh Humse Piya :  (Download)



Raga Bhimpalasi - Garba Harwa Daroongi :  (Download)



The doyenne of the Kirana Gharana was awarded India's prestigious civilian honours of Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan in 1971 and 2002 respectively.