Tabla gharanas | Instrumental gharanas of Indian classical music

 

  The name Tabla likely derived from Arabic word 'Tabl'. Tabla is a main percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music. It consists of a pair of hand drums. The one which is played by the right hand is mainly known as Tabla. And the second one which is played by left hand is called Bayan. There are  many famous gharanas of Tabla which were named according to the place of their origin. The playing style of tabla differs from gharana to gharana. Below is a list of some famous tabla gharana of India.

Lucknow gharana

Lucknow gharānā, also known as "Purab gharâna", is one of the six main gharānās or styles in tabla. It is characterized by the full usage of the palm besides the fingers, resonant sounds, and the use of ring and little fingers on the Dayan (treble drum).

Founder: Miyan Bakshu

Approximate founding date: 19th century

Place of origin: Lucknow

Famous Exponents: Ilmas Hussain Khan, Timir Roy Chowdhury, Achchan Maharaj, Anil Bhattacharjee, Biswajit Bhattacharjee, Santosh Biswas, Swapan Chaudhuri, Faiyaz Khan.

Farrukhabad gharana

This style of playing tabla is a part of ‘Purab baaz’. Usage of ‘sur’ , ‘syahi’ have been prioritised here more.The tone of tabla is much more intricate with absolute delicacy ,seamless sweetness and unparellel variety than any other style. Use of both ‘Dayan’ and ‘bayan’ with proper balance,speed,clarity with melody and totality have uplifted this Gharana to the highest standard of refinement and popularity in the world of tabla.

Founder: Haji Vilayat Ali Khan

Approximate founding date: 19th century

Place of origin: Farrukhabad

Famous Exponents: Amir Hussain Khan,Masit Khan, Ahmedjan Thirakwa, Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Keramatullah Khan, Kanai Dutta, Shyamal Bose, Shankar Ghosh, Anindo Chatterjee, Bickram Ghosh.

Delhi gharana

The Delhi Gharana, alongside the Punjab Gharana, is the oldest of the tabla gharanas, founded in North India. it is also called "Do unglion ka baaj" (two fingers style) due to nearly exclusive use of index and middle fingers on the center and edge of the dayan (right hand drum). 

Founder: Siddhar Khan

Approximate founding date: Early 18th century

Place of origin: Delhi

Famous Exponents: Khan, Imam Ali Khan, Munnu Khan, Latif Ahmed Khan, Shafaat Ahmed Khan.

Punjab gharana

Punjab gharana was known more as pakhawaj gharana.is a style and technique of Tabla playing that originated in the Punjab region of what is now split in present-day Pakistan and India

Founder: Qader Baksh

Approximate founding date: 19th century

Place of origin: Punjab

Famous Exponents: Buksh, Shaukat Hussein Khan, Alla Rakha Khan, Zakir Hussain, Yogesh Samsi, Abdul Sattar Tari Khan.

Benares gharana

the Benares tabla gharana is well known for its powerful sound, though Benares players are also very capable of playing delicately and sensitively.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,

Founder: Ram Sahai

Approximate founding date: Late 18th century

Place of origin: Benares

Famous Exponents: Ram Sahai, Kanthe Maharaj, Anokhelal Mishra, Shamta Prasad, Kishen Maharaj, Mahapurush Mishra, Kumar Bose, Ananda Gopal Bandopadhyay, Sandeep Das.

Ajrara gharana

Ajrara gharana or Ajrada gharana is one of the six main traditional schools in tabla drum. The distinctiveness of this Gharana is the use of complex Bols and Meend. Pakhawaj bols are rare. The stress is on Ad and Barabar laya. It specializes in the three-time pattern. The position of the left drum is not changed, but its face is touched with the thumb. The Ajrara gharana style includes more complicated bol patterns than the Delhi gharana. 

Founders: Khan, Miru Khan

Approximate founding date: Early 19th century

Place of origin: Ajrara

Famous Exponents: Khan, Mehboob Hussain Khan, Sudhirkumar Saxena, Manju Khan, Yusuf Khan, Ramjan Khan, Sarwar Sabri, Akram Khan