Amjad Ali's masterclass

The book Master on Masters is on musical styles of 12 stalwarts with whom Ali has been associated

Master on Masters
Author: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Pages: 248
Price: Rs 499

The American writer Charles Bukowski once said, “Genius might be the ability to say a profound thing in a simple way”. This certainly holds true for veteran musician and sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in his book Master on Masters.
 
The book considers the musical styles of 12 stalwarts from the world of music with whom Ustadji has had a close association. It offers the reader a peek into an era when fusion frenzy and technological advancements were still to distort the serenity of Indian classical music.

 
But this is not a complex technical exposition; tinkling anecdotes keep the reader hooked. Even as Ustadji elaborates on the style of each musician and their contributions and achievements, he attempts to recreate the unique place these artists have carved for themselves, surpassing the varied barriers laid down by the society then.
 
The musicians profiled here are among the 20th century’s most eminent. Begum Akhtar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Ravi Shankar and M S Subbulakshmi, among others, were not just trendsetters but also catalysts in elevating their genre to the concert hall. Much of the information here is in the public domain (such as awards and achievements). What sets the book apart is the author’s ability to highlight the distinctive (and mostly unknown) personality traits of each artiste that are likely to leave the reader astonished. For example, Kishan Maharaj had organised an event to which he had invited Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Pandit Ravi Shankar. Shankar was keen to begin his concert as soon as possible and told Bhimsen to sing a short piece. Naturally, Bhimsen did not like this.  After his first piece, when the audience wanted Bhimsenji to sing some more, he promptly got up and said,"Now the international musician will come and play the sitar."

 
The soul of the book also lies in the way the author talks about the lessons he imbibed from these artistes, sometimes even indirectly. With regard to Kumar Gandharva, Ustadji says, “Through my conversation with his student, I learnt that Kumarji taught every raga elaborately through its notes, the bandish (the melodic composition in Hindustani vocal or instrumental music) came much later.
 
Detailing the rigorous training these musicians underwent, the book offers a realistic picture of what goes into the making of a musician before a public performance. The short point is that there are no shortcuts in classical music: strict discipline, hard work, sadhana (in this context, daily practice) and the blessings of your guru are mantras to achieve your goal, Ustadji writes.

 
The book begins with an elaborate introduction in which the author speaks extensively on music as a way of life and how Indian classical music has a deep-seated connect with the spirituality, tradition and culture of the country. Indian classical music is not for someone who is seeking glamour and overnight fame but more for those who live in a surrendered feeling without any expectations, states Ustadji — gently disabusing aspiring musicians of any illusions.   
 
Ustadji’s thoughts on the usage of technological tools and the importance of recording techniques speak volumes about the agility he maintains to make India’s rich classical music heritage far reaching and relevant in today’s fast-paced life.

 
Part of the Gwalior Gharana, Amjad Ali Khan is the sixth generation of the Bangash lineage whose father and guru, Hafiz Ali Khan, was the Gwalior court musician. Though he does not remember when he was initiated into the world of music, his oneness with the art has helped him take Indian classical music to the West where he has become a teacher.
 
Master on Masters is not just a must for every classical music fan. If you aren’t, the book allows you a closer look at India’s musical gems of the 20th century, whose works today remain captured on YouTube. It is also recommended for all you aspiring musicians out there — after all, not all classrooms have four walls.