Patiala gharana

[1] The gharana was founded in the mid to late 19th century by Mian Kallu[2][3] (also known as Kalu-miya Khan),[4] a sārangi player of the Jaipur durbar.

[8][10][13][17] The Patiala gharana is known to be an amalgamated vocal style of singing[5] and is influenced to some extent by the folk music of Punjab.

[18] The Patiala technique of music is noted for its delicate style, use of intricate vocal embellishments (such as gamak, meend, and murki) and for its numerous bandishes[18] – structure-bound "summaries" of ragas.

Pandit Iman Das, an exponent of the Patiala gharana from Bangalore, India[20] explains that the distinguishing features of the Patiala style of singing are "long meends, heavy gamaks, electrifying taans, shuddha aakar, bol-banavat, and some elements of Punjabi folk interspersed with surprise elements like murkis and harkats.

[18] Patiala exponent Raza Ali Khan states: "the voice culture in this gharana has a beautiful, emotive aspect, and you will see that in all the vocalists who sing this gayaki.

Singers in the Patiala tradition especially excel in Malkauns, Darbari, Adana, Des, Bhopali, and Multani ragas, according to noted gharana exponent Ustad Hamid Ali Khan.

[5] Pandit Iman Das concurs and has stated that the Patiala technique of singing is "an extremely complex style to learn" and requires "rigorous riyaz for years.

Ustad Hamid Ali Khan explains: "Our ancestors devised this method of singing in pairs, so that the next generation always sticks together.

So, while both partners have a full range, in public performances one would take care of the durat (fast tempo) while the other would take on alap (improvised sections of ragas).

[7] This is reflected in the fact that lyrics of many of the gharana's compositions have recurring Sufi leitmotifs – most clearly evident in their signature raga, Ram Saakh which was composed by Mian Kallu himself.

[2] In fact, the bandish of this raga alludes to the gharana's devotion to the Sufi master Moinuddin Chishti, also known as Khwājā Ghareeb Nawaz.

[2] Later and modern-day Patiala exponents have continued to incorporate elements of Sufi music into their classical and pop compositions.