Maihar Band

After an epidemic orphaned several children Ustad Allauddin Khan, a musician of the Maihar court moved by the tragedy, initiated them into music and formed an orchestral group which was later known as Maihar Band. The ruling prince, Braj Nath Singh, cooperated and helped Allauddin Khan in procuring and preparing required instruments.

Artistes and Instruments

Baba (as the musician was lovingly referred to) tested each student and trained him to play a particular instrument. He used jal tarang initially and when later when his idea fructified replaced it with Nal-tarang. Apart from the usual instruments like Tabla, Dholak, harmonium, sitar, he used some special creations—Saranga and Sitar-banjo. He also trained some of them to play western instruments like piano, violin and cello with equal ease. In the royal palace, arrangements were made for the band and they played from gallery above the main hall for visiting dignitaries. The first members of the Maihar band were: Anar Khan- Sitar, Vishwanath- Violin, Shiv Sahaya Bansuri (Flute)- Clarinet, Ramswaroop (Daulal / Dauaa)- Sitar Banjo, Baijnath Singh- Bansuri (Flute), Tansu Maharaj- Harmonium, Brinda Mali- Israj, Moolchand- Israj, Jamna Prasad (Gulgul Maharaj)- Harmonium Assistant Band-master, Jhurrelal- Nal Tarang, Pt. Girdhar Lal- Nal Tarang (Piano), Lachchi Surdas- Tabla (Dholak), Sukhdev- Saranga (Cello), Pt. Urmila Prasad- Cello, Mahipat Singh- Sitar, Chunbaddi- Israj, Dashrath Mali- Sitar Banjo.

First Indian Classical band

Baba was very proud of his band. He created several bandishes (compositions) based on Indian Raga-s. He also taught some western tunes to his students so that Europeans visiting Maihar Court could be entertained. Started originally with eighteen artistes, the band still sticks to the same number although with retirement of many only ten artistes remain in the band. These artistes received little encouragement to perform as soloists but some of them did work in this direction and gave solo recitals.

Present and Future

The band is associated with Department of Culture in Madhya Pradesh and the artistes are government employees. They perform at special occasions in Maihar and are sometimes invited to perform in other cities. Their participation in Lata Mangeshar Award Ceremony at Indore in 2005 brought them acclaim and the state government gave them prominent place in its jubilee celebrations. The band is being equipped to find its place on international map and soon almost 150 compositions of the legendary teacher-performer-innovator would be heard the world over.

Sources and links

Bharatiya Sangeet Vadya

Ustad Allauddin Khan. Dr. Prabha Jain (MP Granth Akademi, Bhopasl:2001)

Forging Notes: Maihar Band

Contemporary Problems for Indian Music