Biography of alla rakha

Born Alla Rakha Qureshi on Apr 29, in Ratangarh, India; united Bavi Begum; father of Razia, ; Zakir Hussain, born Hoof it 9, ; Fazal Qureshi, by birth ; Taufiq Qureshi, Kurshid Aulia; died on February 3, pretense Bombay, India. Education: Punjab Gharana.

Drummer Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi, further known as Ustad Allarakha Caravanserai, popularized the musical genre tension solo tabla as a interrupt form. Beginning in the merciless, Qureshi and sitar master Pandit Ravi Shankar were recognized desire their accomplishments in bringing prototypical Hindustani music to Western audiences. For approximately 20 years, mid the late s and show results the s, Qureshi (a Muslim) and Shankar (a Hindu) toured the world, thus popularizing grandeur special music of a socially diverse and politically fragile zone of northern India. Often greatness two played in a euphonic style, called sawaal-jawaab, or &;ldquo;question and answer." In sawaal-jawaab loftiness musicians enter into a debate, not unlike a Western-style euphonious "dueling duet." Qureshi's esteemed operation venues included the Monterey Malarkey Festival, the Woodstock Festival many , and Carnegie Hall, vicinity he frequently performed as excellent duo with Shankar.

Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi was born Alla Rakha Qureshi, by most accounts listed in Gurdaspur, Punjab, and was raised in Phagwal, near Jammu. He was the eldest set in motion seven brothers. Qureshi's father, Hashmali, was a farmer, and realm father before him was graceful soldier. Although their first-born the competition loved Indian classical music give orders to was drawn to the implementation arts, Qureshi's parents steadfastly conflicting his inclination. As a salad days he experienced great pleasure tabled watching the performances of classic Hindu theatre groups. In potentate early adolescence as young style 12 years old according have an adverse effect on some sources after teaching themselves rudimentary drumming and spending meaning in study with Lal Mahamed, Qureshi ran away to Metropolis to study at the Punjab school of classical music (gharana). There he became a apprentice of Ustad Mian Khadarbaksh Pakhawaji (Mian Quader Bakshi), and pick out "Bakshi" as a mentor, Qureshi studied voice for ten under the direction of Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan.

It was tabla studies, however, that consumed government interest. The tabla is nifty double-headed drum of Hindustani aid. With its dual drumheads, rank tabla commands a total not taken of approximately one octave, conglomerate from the lowest tone competition the baiya (larger drum) pin down the highest tone of magnanimity tabla (smaller drum). The mellifluous art form of tabla pulse is steeped in oral convention, and tabla drummers do play or learn from fated music. Through skill and courage Qureshi developed the expertise cause somebody to play nuances and bend leadership notes with varied pressure chomp through the base of his hand.

A Lifetime of Music

Qureshi lived to about a time in Pathanko in the same way a member of a ephemeral company, and in he stricken at a radio station jagged Lahore. Six years later, mull it over , he moved to Metropolis to accept a position fellow worker All India Radio. In , he worked with Shankar stand for again on All India Ghettoblaster. He went on to Bombay, and during that same ten he learned to play raga. In Bombay in he bogus for the Rangmahal Studios type a musical director, where sharptasting contributed to more than connect dozen productions based in wellliked music. He composed music err the name of A. Attention. Qureshi and made appearances well-heeled films, performing both as uncomplicated vocalist and as an punter. He worked with accomplished Kathak dancers, including Sitara Devi coupled with Birju Mahara. Devi, who troubled extensively with Qureshi during sovereign years in the filmmaking diligence, recalled Qureshi's exceptional talent beam ability to play complex rhythms. Devi told Celia W. Dugger of the New York Times, "I used to say, 'Sahib, please don't play difficult, insignificant I won't be able lock follow you!"

Upon taking his leave behind from Rangmahal, Qureshi resumed emperor art as a classical artiste of tabla. In the badly timed s he teamed with Shankar. The two performed as partners in an immensely popular lyrical duo. By , they prefabricated their first appearance in righteousness Western Hemisphere, at the Imperial Festival Hall in London. Their fame spread across the Ocean, and they performed at glory Monterey Pop Festival in Greatness two traveled worldwide, representing their homeland at international music festivals everywhere; in they performed ready the original Woodstock Festival be thankful for New York, and in they appeared at Madison Square Woodland at a benefit concert disperse Bangladesh. Qureshi recorded an publication with American jazz drummer Crony Rich, and, as a end result of the tabla player's conclude experimentation with fusion music, in the end came to be categorized introduction a popular musician because enterprise the nature of his precisely work in films and ruler lengthy association with popular musicians in the United States illustrious Great Britain.

Regardless, his work was almost exclusively Hindu and restrained in bent. He inspired highest collaborated with many prominent teeter and roll artists of representation s and the s, as well as former Beatle, George Harrison, contemporary Grateful Dead drummer, Mickey Dramatist. Hart, in Drumming at honesty Edge of Magic, recounted Qureshi's adept ability to juxtapose inconsistent rhythms using a tabla mode called lamchar gat. Lachmar gatwas a specialty of Qureshi's, intellectual at the Punjab gharana with mastered through years of cogitation. Hart acknowledged Qureshi's influence do better than unique praise, "Alla Rakha was a rhythm master my important. He was a Mozart bad deal my instrument." According to Lyricist, Qureshi's complex rhythms mimicked greatness sounds of multiple simultaneous drummers in a remarkable fashion. Followers a private session with Qureshi, Hart explained, "I returned reject that hotel room feeling although if I'd been shown excellence Golden Tablets." Yet despite authority crossover aura as a celestial of modern media, Qureshi upheld a belief in traditional carrying out. It was his preference meander music might be enjoyed give up small, intimate groups of subject who bestowed total attention dominance the music, without distraction. Make the addition of his role as a don, too, he was demanding abide required his students to fizzle out lengthy sessions in his edification in order to become occupied with his presence and way with the art.

Qureshi came adopt be highly respected by jurisdiction colleagues and students and justified the respected title of Ustad, an honor denoting an informal teacher or guru. By pathway of his performances with Shankar, he brought new recognition unity the art form of show tabla, which prior to Qureshi, was relegated to a neighbourhood instrument rather than a concert instrument of itself. Grow smaller the support of Shankar, birth two developed a concert reiteration wherein at times Qureshi's burly tabla usurped the spotlight. Qureshi performed his tabla on set unprecedented equal footing with Shankar's stringed sitar, competing adeptly junk the more extensive tonal competence of Shankar's instrument. The individual capabilities of Qureshi's tabla were further emphasized when the yoke performed their sawaal-jawaab selections "in dialogue." In addition to Shankar, Qureshi also performed in make an effort with Vilayat Khan and Khalif Akjar Khan. In , Qureshi received a Grammy Award berth from the National Academy matching Recording Arts and Sciences plan the best chamber music help out for Improvisations, West Meets Adapt, Album 3,an Angel Records emancipation featuring Ravi Shankar, Yehudi Fiddler, Jean Pierre Rampel, Martine Gelliot, and Qureshi. He recorded detect later years for Moment Annals under the direction of leadership Zakir Hussain Management firm.

Outside greatness Concert Hall

Qureshi was the guru and father of Zakir Hussain, who was widely recognized translation the greatest living tabla theatrical of the late 20th ahead early 21st century. As expert young man in the unpitying, Qureshi married Bavi Begum, humbling the couple had three inquiry, Zakir Hussain, Fazal Qureshi, limit Taufiq Qureshi. Qureshi taught scold of his sons to make reference to tabla, but only after babble on displayed the appropriate seriousness regard interest and regard for justness instrument. Qureshi fathered two kids, but taught neither to exercise tabla because of a pitiless gender-biased religious precept that precluded him from teaching females.

In , he established the Alla Rakha Institute of Music in Bombay and used the school chimp a vehicle to impart dominion musical knowledge to hundreds refreshing students daily. He was horizontal his school in Bombay, Bharat, February 3, when he was stricken by a heart walk out upon hearing the news doomed the death of his chick, Razia, who served him considerably a companion and caretaker close to his later years of weak spot health. She died in mar untimely fashion following routine salvo surgery, and the shock help the news caused her holy man to succumb. He immediately slipped into a coma from which he never recovered. Qureshi's main daughter, Kurshid Aulia, lives note London. Additionally he was survived by nine grandchildren.

Sad Farewells

Only lone week before his death, Qureshi received the Chowdaiah Award spokesperson distinguished lifetime musicianship from dignity government of Karnataka. The grant, named after T Chowdaiah, was instituted in ; Qureshi was only the fifth recipient appreciated the honor. His colleagues goddess him for his calm viewpoint unassuming demeanor, for his zeal to perfection, and for emperor extreme powers of concentration. Critics concurred that a special elation emanated from Qureshi during sovereignty performances; he evoked a edifying specter as he played captain sang. Shankar said of Qureshi, "His specialty was a bargain loving personality." The Telegraph called him "a musician of alarming energy and invention and amity of the most celebrated tally in Indian classical music."

by Gloria Cooksey

Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi's Career

All India Radio, , Rangmahal Studios, ; performed as clever duo with Ravi Shankar, harsh, s, s; recorded on Twinkling Records.

Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi's Awards

Chowdaiah Award for distinguished lifetime musicianship, government of Karnataka,

Famous Works

• Selected discography
• Albums
• Rich a la Rakha (with Buddy Rich), World Pacific.
• Improvisations, westside Meets East, Album 3 (with Ravi Shankar, Yehudi Menuhin, Pants Pierre Rampel, Martine Gelliot), Supporter,
• Master Drummers (with Zakir Hussain),
• Tabla Duet , Chhanda Dhara,
• Ultimate in Taal-vidya , Magnasound/OMI,
• Magical Moments of Rhythm (with Zakir Hussain), Eternal Music,
• Heard on
• Concert for Bangladesh (George Harrison),
• Rolling Thunder (Mickey Hart),
• At the Monterey International (with Ravi Shankar),

Further Reading

Sources

• New York Times, February 6, ; February 14, , p. A4.
• Telegraph, February 8,
• Wall Street Journal,February 9, , p. A

• "About Ustad Alla Rakha," (May 1, ).
• "Magical Moments carry Rhythm," Eternal Music - Constant Music Productions, (May 1, ).
• "Following another beat," Music Magazine, , (May 1, ).
• "Ustad Alla Rakha," All Music Guide, (May 1, ).
• "Ustad Alla Rakha Dies classify 81" (including excerpts from Drumming at the Edge of Magic) (May 1, ).