JAIPUR SENIA GHARANA

JAIPUR SENIA GHARANA

Subject: Culture

Context: Sitar exponent Pt Debu Chaudhuri, torchbearer of the Jaipur-Seniagharana, was a self-made artiste whose impeccable technique and melodious presentations will always be remembered

Concept:

• The word “Senia” is related to Tansen, the father of Indian Classical Music. The word “Gharana” implies a style of music.
• The followers of Tansen’s school of music are widely known as the followers of “Seniagharana” (i.e. “Seniya” style/school of music).
• The followers of this “gharana” may either be related with the family of Tansen or by the age old tradition of “Guru–Shishyaparampara” (teacher to student relation).
• Tansen was a vocalist but this tradition has also produced great Sitar Maestros.
• The “Senia” style of Sitar playing started with the legendary great master of Sitar, UstadMaseet Sen from the family of Tansen, the originator of “Maseetkhani” style.
• On the basis of scanti records available, Maseet Sen, emerges as a direct descendent in the sixth generation from MianTansen Even today, after many hundred years, the famous “MaseetkhaniBaaj” is still played by the traditional Sitar players of India.
• The Sitar players of “SeniaGharana” were, at a later stage known as the sitarists of “Jaipur-SeniaGharana”.
• One of the greatest Maestro’s of this “Gharana” was UstadBarkatUllah Khan of Jaipur, known as “Aftab–e-Sitar”, who made this instrument more popular and had no parallel to him.