 Original instrument for vocal accompaniment and training

 History of it – opportunity to ask important questions

 All india ban on harmonium 1943 – why did it fail
 What is it really about an instrument that makes it commercially viable and acceptable
 Ustad bade ghulam ali khan – why did he switch, why did the greats like kishori amonkar begin
to mainly perform with the harmonium and not the sarangi
 More so – why has this issue been taken up as a competition between the harmonium and the
sarangi – perhaps they can coexist with two separate functions
 Dispelling two theses: criminals joke (not so hard to learn), too intimidating for vocalists because
of its nuances (should have more confidence in our vocalists)
 Simple questions: availability, price, how can it be modified to turn it into an easier instrument
to learn as it is currently a fretless instrument – which adds to challenge of learning it along with
bow and finger pressure – and there is nothing blasphemous about doing this
 Perfectly demonstrates nuances of indian classical music
 Meend, sood, taan, ghamak
 Other instruments are adapted to gayki ang either through structural changes or innovations in
playing techniques whereas sarangi is already adapted to that
 Said to be closest to the human voice
 Unmatched jugalbandi with a vocalist, no other instrument that can match a vocalists nuance –
jugalbandi jo bohot ahem muzahira samjha jaata hai, saaz aik doosra gayak banjata hai jo
muqaablay ke liye betha ho, one forgets that it is actually an instrument – it begins to sound just
like the human voice
 Sarangi – sau rang – one hundred colors
 Current players, not counting folk musicians
 Historical players
 Current craftsmen
 Current ustads
 Gul Muhammad
 How old: it is said that current form is from the 17th century however Mohd Shah Rangila 12th
Mughal:
 Descendant of: sarindas and other folk sarangis
 Ladies and gentleman, distinguished guests, it is my honor to introduce my teacher Gul
Muhammad, he is a Sarangiya or a Sarangi Player which is very rare in Pakistan. He has learnt
the art from his father, Ustad Akhtar Hussain one of the most blabla. Today he will be
performing blabla. The sarangi is a difficult instrument to play and the only one that comes
nearest to the human voice. At present only ___. Even craftsman are _____. Its name. How old. -
----- I decided to study the sarangi for the following reasons. I consider myself very lucky to have
found Gul, ladies and gentleman, I would like to request him in all humility to come and perform
for you.