- Tansen
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For the town in Nepal, see Tansen, Nepal.For the 1943 Bollywood film, see Tansen (film).
Tansen 
Mia Tansen, a depiction by Lala Deo Lal, diplayed in Calcutta GalleryBackground information Birth name Ramtanu Pandey Born c.1506 Died 1589 Genres Hindustani Classical Music Occupations Classical Mughal Era Vocalist Mia Tansen(1493 or 1506 – 1586 or 1589) is considered among the greatest composer-musicians in Hindustani classical music. He was an extraordinarily gifted vocalist, known for a large number of compositions, and also an instrumentalist who popularized and improved the rabab (of Central Asian origin).
He was among the Navaratnas (nine jewels) at the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Akbar gave him the title Miyan (an honorific, meaning learned man). His contribution to the world of music is priceless and is still worshiped by leading singers and composers of the world. He is believed to be the father of Hindustani Music.
Another legend is that Akbar's daughter Meherunnissa was enamoured by Tansen and had a role in his coming to Akbar's court.[1] Tansen converted to Islam from Hinduism, apparently on the eve of his marriage with Akbar's daughter.[2][3]
Contents
Early life and background
Tansen as a historical personality is difficult to extract from the extensive legend that surrounds him. It is reasonably certain that he was born into a Hindu Gaur brahmin family, possibly in 1506, though some legends give it as 1493;[1] possibly in the village near Gwalior. His father Makrand Pandey was a poet and accomplished musician, who for some time was a temple priest in Varanasi. Tansen's name as a child was Ramtanu (he may have had other nicknames/names like Tanna and Mukul).
He was born at a time when a number of Persian and Central Asian motifs were fusing with Indian classical music, his influence was central to creating the Hindustani classical ethos as we know today. A number of descendants and disciples have also considerably enriched the tradition. Almost all gharanas of Hindustani classical music claim some connection with the Tansen lineage. According to legend, he was noted for his imitations of animal calls and birdsong.
Career
It was only after the age of 5 that Tansen showed any musical talent. At some point, he was discipled for some time to Swami Haridas, the legendary composer from Vrindavan and part of the stellar Gwalior court of Raja Man Singh Tomar (1486-1516 AD), specializing in the dhrupad style of singing. His talent was recognized early and it was the ruler of Gwalior who conferred upon the maestro the honorific title 'Tansen'.Haridas was considered to be a legendary teacher in that time. It is said that Tansen had no equal apart from his teacher. One legend has it that Haridas was passing through the forests when the five-year old Ramtanu's imitation of a tiger impressed the musician saint. Another version is that his father sent him to Haridas. From Haridas, Tansen acquired not only his love for dhrupad but also his interest in compositions in the local language. This was the time when the Bhakti tradition was fomenting a shift from Sanskrit to the local idiom (Brajbhasa and Hindi), and Tansen's compositions also highlight this trend. At some point during his apprenticeship, Tansen's father died, and he returned home, where it is said he used to sing at a local Shiva temple.
In any event, Tansen went to Muhammad Ghaus who eventually became his spiritual mentor. He also married Husseini (lit. beautiful one),
"However, beyond a reference of Tansen's name in a list of his disciples Miyan Tansen's name is not found among the names of the Mureeds (Fans) of the Shuttari Tariqat - a Sufi spiritual lineage founded by Shaykh Muhammad Ghaus of Gwalior."
The burial of Tansen in his shaykh's mausoleum is thought to indicate proof of his conversion to the faith of his spiritual guide, Islam. Usually, the most prominent disciples of a saint are buried near the master's mausoleum, not much historical detail is known about their actual encounter.
The interaction with Ghaus in the Sufi tradition and the earlier training with Swami Haridas in the Bhakti tradition led to a fusion of these streams in the work of Tansen. As it is, the mystic streams of Sufism and Bhakti had considerable philosophical and stylistic overlap; Ghaus in his text Bahr-ul-Hayat (Ocean of Life) devotes several chapters to Yoga practices. In Tansen's music, we find he continues to compose in Brajbhasha invoking traditional motifs such as Krishna or Shiva.
Tansen was also influenced by other singers in the Gwalior court and also the musically proficient queen, Mriganayani (lit. doe-eyed), whose romance with the king had been forged on her singing; she remained a friend even after the death of the king. Other musicians at Gwalior may have included Baiju Bawra.
Eventually, he joined the court of King Ramachandra Baghela of Rewa, India, where he remained from 1555-1562.[4] It appears that the Mughal emperor Akbar heard of his prowess and sent his emissary Jalaluddin Qurchi to Ramachandra, who had little choice but to acquiesce, and Tansen went to Akbar's court in 1562.
Another legend is that Akbar's daughter Meherunnissa was enamoured by Tansen and had a role in his coming to Akbar's court.[1] Tansen converted to Islam from Hinduism, apparently on the eve of his marriage with Akbar's daughter.[2][3]
Akbar watching as Tansen receives a lesson from Swami Haridas. Imaginary situation depicted in Mughal miniature painting style (Rajasthani, c. 1750 AD).
Tansen joined Akbar's court eventually becoming one of the treasured Navaratnas (lit. nava=nine, ratna=jewel) of his court. It was Akbar who gave him the honorific title Miyan, and he is usually referred to today as Miyan Tansen. Legend has it that in his first performance, he was gifted one lakh (100,000) gold coins.
The presence of musicians like Tansen in Akbar's court has been related by historians to the theoretical position of making the empire's audible presence felt among the population, a mechanism related to Naubat or ritual performance.[5]
Fatehpur Sikri audience chambers, with Anup Talao on the leftThe fort at Fatehpur Sikri is strongly associated with Tansen's tenure at Akbar's court. Near the emperor's chambers, a pond was built with a small island in the middle, where musical performances were given. Today, this tank, called Anup Talao, can be seen near the public audience hall Diwan-i-Aam - a central platform reachable via four footbridges. It is said that Tansen would perform different ragas at different times of day, and the emperor and his select audience would honour him with coins.
Tansen's alleged residence is also nearby.
Family
Tanras Khan, Bilas Khan, Hamirsen, Suratsen and Saraswati Devi, all musicians.Saraswati devi was married to Misri singh later titled Naubaat Khan(Badi baat wala aadmi) by Akbar.Bilas Khan is said to have created raga Bilaskhani Todi after Tansen's death; an interesting legend of this improvisation (it differs only in detail from Tansen's Todi), has it that Bilas composed it while grief-stricken at the wake itself, and that Tansen's corpse moved one hand in approval of the new melody.
It has been heard that tansen had the power to light up fire through his song and her Daughter had the power to bring rain.
Tansen's blood descendants – the Senia gharana - held considerable prestige in musical circles for several centuries. The royal courts of Rewa, Rampur and Jaipur among others, retained many noted members of Tansen lineage, including Nayak Wazir Khan (guru of Allauddin Khan) and Mohammed Ali Khan. Wazir Khan, who is of Saraswati Devi lineage, was also a musicologist who wrote the Risala Mousibi. One of the last of the line, Dr Dabir Khan, (1905–1972, Saraswati Devi lineage) was a dhrupadiya and a beenkar, at Radio Calcutta.Imtiyaz Ali khan Khandara[6] son of the elder brother of Ustad Wazir khan is still alive and resides in Rampur.
Musical legacy
The legendary musical prowess of Tansen surpasses all other legends in Indian music. In terms of influence, he can be compared only to the prolific sufi composer Amir Khusro (1253–1325), or to bhakti tradition composers such as Swami Haridas.
Several of his raga compositions have become mainstays of the Hindustani tradition, and these are often prefaced with Miyan ki ("of the Miyan"), e.g. Miyan ki Todi, Miyan ki Malhar, Miyan ki Mand, Miyan ka Sarang; in addition he is the creator of major ragas like Darbari Kanada, Darbari Todi, and Rageshwari.
Tansen also authored Sangeeta Sara and Rajmala which constitute important documents on music.
Almost every gharana (school) tries to trace its origin to him, though some try to go further back to Amir Khusro.[7] As for the Dhrupad style of singing, this was formalized essentially through the practice by composers like Tansen and Haridas, as well as others like Baiju Bawra who may have been a contemporary.
After Tansen, some of the ideas from the rabab were fused with the traditional Indian stringed instrument, veena; one of the results of this fusion is the instrument sarod, which does not have frets and is popular today because of its perceived closeness to the vocal style.
The famous qawwals, the Sabri Brothers claim lineage from Miyan Tansen[8]
A national music festival known as 'Tansen Sangeet Sammelon' is held every year in December, near the tomb of Tansen at Behat as a mark of respect to his memory.
Legends
The bulk of Tansen's biography as it is handed down in the musical literature consists of legends.[9]
Among the legends about Tansen are stories of his bringing down the rains with Raga Megh Malhar and starting fires with the legendary raga Deepak.[10] Other legends tell of his ability to bring wild animals to listen with attention (or to talk their language). Once, a wild white elephant was captured, but it was fierce and could not be tamed. Finally, Tansen sang to the elephant who calmed down and the emperor was able to ride him. Such was the power of his music that when he used to sing in the court of Akbar, it is said that candles used to light up automatically.
Many aficionados are convinced that his death was caused by a conflagration while he was singing the raga Deepaka.
Death
According to one version of the story, Tansen died on 26 April 1586 in Delhi c-8246 c, and that Akbar and much of his court attended the funeral procession.[1] Other versions give 1589 as the year of his death. Tansen was buried in the mausoleum complex of his Sufi guru Shaikh Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior. According to legend, Tansen's son Bilas Khan, in his grief, composed Bilaskhani Todi.
Every year in December, an annual festival, the Tansen Samaroh, is held in Gwalior to celebrate Tansen.[11]
Popular culture
Several Hindi films have been made on Tansen's life, with mostly anecdotal storylines. Some of them are Tansen (1943), Tansen (1958), and Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962). Tansen is also a central character, though remaining mostly in the backdrop, in the hit historical-cum-musical Baiju Bawra (1952) ostensibly based on the life of his eponymous contemporary.
Tansen's story was extensively researched and showcased in a Pakistan Television's series in the late 80's where the classical singer's entire life was explored.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Maryam Juzer Kherulla (12 October 2002). "Profile: Tansen — the mesmerizing maestro". Dawn (newspaper). http://dawn.com/weekly/yworld/archive/021012/yworld5.htm. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
- ^ a b India Divided, By Rajendra Prasad, pg. 63
- ^ a b A History of Hindi Literature, By F. E. Keay, pg. 36
- ^ S K Banerjee (2003). "The classical music tradition of Rewa (M.P.) in the 19th and 20th century A.D". Journal of the ITC-SRA 17.
- ^ Wade, Bonnie C. (1998). Imaging Sound : An Ethnomusicological Study of Music, Art, and Culture in Mughal India. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-86840-0.
- ^ Tareekh-e Rohela by W.H. Siddiqui
- ^ The Dagar family of dhrupad singers believe themselves to be the direct descendants of not Tansen but his guru, Haridas Swami.
- ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/sabri-brothers
- ^ Ashok Davar (1987). Tansen - The Magical Musician. National Book Trust, India. http://www.4to40.com/story/index.asp?id=514.This is well-written and well-illustrated children's book is a good source for the Tansen legend
- ^ Raga Megh Malhar is still in the mainstream repertoire, but raga Deepak is no longer known; three different variants exist in the Bilawal, Poorvi and Khamaj thaats. It is not clear which, if any, corresponds to the Deepak of Tansen's time. There is a popular myth that it disappeared because it could indeed bring fire, and so was simply too dangerous to sing.
- ^ "Strains of a raga ... in Gwalior". The Hindu. 11 January 2004. http://www.hindu.com/mag/2004/01/11/stories/2004011100040100.htm. report on the annual Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior. Also has picture of his mausoleum
External links
Categories:- 1490s births
- 1580s deaths
- Indian musicians
- Indian Muslims
- Mughal Empire
- Mughal nobility
- People from Agra
- People from Gwalior
- People from Rewa
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