Benares Tabla Gharana
The Benares tabla gharana was developed a little over 200 years ago by the legendary Pandit Ram Sahai (1780–1826). Ram Sahai began studying the tabla with his father from the age of five. At the age of nine, he moved to Lucknow to become the disciple of Modhu Khan of the Lucknow gharānā.
After some time performing in Benares, Ram Sahai felt the need to make a significant change in his tabla playing. For six months, he withdrew into seclusion, and worked to develop what is now known as the Benares baj or style of tabla playing. The philosophy behind this new style of tabla playing is that it would be versatile enough to perform solo, and to accompany any form of music or dance. The tabla would be able to play delicately, as required for khyal, or more aggressively, like pakhawaj, for the accompaniment of dhrupad or kathak dance. Ram Sahai developed a new way of fingering the tabla strokes; especially important is the sound Na, being played with a curved ring finger to allow for maximum resonance of the dahina. He also composed numerous compositions within existing compositional forms (gats, tukras, parans etc.) and created new forms, such as uthan, Benarsi theka, and fard.
President of India. In Born in Calcutta in 1953, Pandi Anindo Chatterjee is regarded as one of the most versatile Tabla maestros in India today. He is not only a leading exponent of the Farukhabad gharana, but is also a master at revelling in other tabla gharanas - Punjab, Lucknow, Delhi, Ajrada and Benaras styles. He is considered by many eminent tabla players as the tabla player's tabla player. He was born into a musical family and at the age of four, began his training under the inspiration and guidance of his uncle Pandit Biswanath Chatterjee. Subsequently, he became a disciple of the legendary Pandit Padmabhushan Gyan Prakash Ghosh. He later also received guidance for two years from Ustad Afaq Hussain Khan in 1964. In 1970 he won the All India Radio music competition and received the title
After some time performing in Benares, Ram Sahai felt the need to make a significant change in his tabla playing. For six months, he withdrew into seclusion, and worked to develop what is now known as the Benares baj or style of tabla playing. The philosophy behind this new style of tabla playing is that it would be versatile enough to perform solo, and to accompany any form of music or dance. The tabla would be able to play delicately, as required for khyal, or more aggressively, like pakhawaj, for the accompaniment of dhrupad or kathak dance. Ram Sahai developed a new way of fingering the tabla strokes; especially important is the sound Na, being played with a curved ring finger to allow for maximum resonance of the dahina. He also composed numerous compositions within existing compositional forms (gats, tukras, parans etc.) and created new forms, such as uthan, Benarsi theka, and fard.
President of India. In Born in Calcutta in 1953, Pandi Anindo Chatterjee is regarded as one of the most versatile Tabla maestros in India today. He is not only a leading exponent of the Farukhabad gharana, but is also a master at revelling in other tabla gharanas - Punjab, Lucknow, Delhi, Ajrada and Benaras styles. He is considered by many eminent tabla players as the tabla player's tabla player. He was born into a musical family and at the age of four, began his training under the inspiration and guidance of his uncle Pandit Biswanath Chatterjee. Subsequently, he became a disciple of the legendary Pandit Padmabhushan Gyan Prakash Ghosh. He later also received guidance for two years from Ustad Afaq Hussain Khan in 1964. In 1970 he won the All India Radio music competition and received the title