Musiques traditionnelles : Playlist

Ustad Nathu Khan
(1920 - 1971)



The illustrious Nathu Khan is perhaps the greatest sarangi player of his time, and his recordings are still gaining popularity and recognition by music connoisseurs of today. He was born in Amritsar in nineteen twenty. His father Baba Ballay was a Tabla player. He got his initial training of sarangi playing from his uncle Ferozdin and other elders of the family. Later he became a formal disciple of the great Ahmadi Khan of Delhi. He also learned intricacies of classical music from Maula Bakh of the Talwandi Gharana. After the partition he became a staff artist with Radio Pakistan, Karachi.
From a very young age he showed great promise, during his very first public performance in a sarangi festival held in Amritsar, his rendition of raga Shudh Sarang was so complete and skillful that all other sarangi players refused to play after him for fear of comparison. He was the master of rhythm, and his Tayyari and Laykari were unmatched. Apart from playing complex rhythmic patterns his Taans were also lightening fast which are still unmatched. He was among the pioneers who introduced solo sarangi playing in Pakistan, known undoubtedly as the best solo sarangi player Pakistan has produced. His rendition of ragas showed his deep knowledge of our classical music as well as his complete command over this difficult instrument. He was also a great accompanist and played with almost all the great vocalists of his time, including Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Salamat Ali Khan, Nazakat Ali Khan, Ashiq Ali Khan, Roshan Ara Begum and Umeed Ali Khan. Ustad Salamat Ali Khan referred to Nathu Khan as his "camera", admitting his genius as an accompanist, second to none, Nathu Khan was his most favored sarangi player.
Nathu Khan traveled the world over and achieved international fame. He was among the very few sarangi players who were also good at composing and arranging music. He composed many songs for films and radio, during his association with Radio Pakistan, Karachi. As a composer he used the name N.K Naseer. He died in nineteen seventy one after a short illness. His son Mujahid Hussain is also a distinguished composer.

From: http://zohaibhassanamritsari.com/Zohaib_Hassan/Amritsari_Historical_Figures.html