Shahid Parvez

Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan
Born
Shahid Parvez Khan

(1954-10-14) 14 October 1954 (age 70)
OccupationSitar Maestro for Indian classical music
Years active1965 – present
AwardsPadma Shri Award in 2012
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006
WebsiteOfficial site

Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan (commonly known as Shahid Parvez; born 14 October 1954) is an Indian classical sitar maestro from the Imdadkhani gharana.[1] He represents the seventh generation of the Etawah Gharana as its primary exponent. He is praised especially for the vocalistic phrasing and quality of his raga improvisations, known as "Gayaki Ang." This translates to "Singing branch/limb" ("branch" and "limb" referring here to musical style). The sitar legend, Ustad Vilayat Khan[2] resurrected and re-introduced Gayaki Ang as a widely accepted sitar genre in India and abroad, and his nephew, Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan has carried this torch into the present day.

Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, sitar maestro performing at a concert accompanied by Pandit Kishan Maharaj

Early life

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young Shahid Parvez Khan, sitarist performing at a concert accompanied by Pandit Samta Prasad of the Benaras Gharana

Born in Mumbai, India, Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan was trained by his father Ustad Aziz Khan,[2] who was the son of the sitar and surbahar player Wahid Khan.[3][4] As is the custom among musical families with a storied lineage, Aziz Khan first initiated his son into vocal music and tabla before training him on the Sitar over many years.[1] Shahid's uncle, Hafeez Khan (a prominent singer and surbahar/sitar player), also trained him. He also trained extensively in the art of tabla for over 10 years under Munnu Khan of the Delhi Gharana.

His family has produced many instrumentalists in Hindustani classical music including Imdad Khan (his great grandfather), Enayat Khan, Wahid Khan (his grandfather) and Vilayat Khan.[1]

Performing career

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Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan has performed in all major musical festivals in India and abroad including the Festival of India held in the US, Europe, USSR, Canada, Africa, Middle-East and Australia. He has a distinguished performance career in India and around the world.[1]

A major Indian English-language newspaper says about him, "We are talking about Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, considered Indian classical music personified and a synonym for the sitar. A leading exponent of the Etawah gharana, which produced legends like Imdad Khan, Enayat Khan and Vilayat Khan, Shahid Parvez is known for his rendition".[1]

The French-language Publication “Le Devoir”, based in Montréal, Canada, has this to say about the Ustad’s talent and presentation:[5]

“The maestro embodies the Etawah Gharana style, which was developed by one of the oldest music schools in India. Here, the particularity is to give an echo to the human voice at the end of the strings, or rather from the resonance chamber of the sitar. Having heard it in 2010, we can say that the effect is striking. The technique makes it possible to tame genres, such as the dhrupad, which is said to be the oldest song in North India, and the khayal, which is that of the great virtuosos. It's all built into the music.

Shahid Parvez Khan marries this with the techniques of tantrakari, which allows him to explore all kinds of rhythmic patterns with the right hand.”[5]

Students

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Ustad Shahid Parvez's students include Shakir Khan and Sameep Kulkarni.[6]

Awards and honours

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Amrita Dasgupta (1 July 2010). "Seven strings to the rainbow: Sitarist extraordinaire Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan on music and musicianship". The Hindu (newspaper). Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan mesmerizes audience". The Tribune (Indian newspaper). 9 August 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. ^ Paula J. Owen (31 March 2018). "Sitarist, Massachusetts Symphony to perform in benefit concert for Joy Guru Humanitarian Services in Worcester". telegram.com website. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Magic happened on stage (Classical Music Festival 2012)". The Daily Star. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b Yves, Bernard (14 June 2014). "Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan". Le Devoir. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  6. ^ Tanvi Salkar (23 June 2009). "Stringing together". Indian Express (newspaper). Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  7. ^ Sinha, Manjari (27 February 2020). "A Rewarding Performance". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  8. ^ "List of all awards (scroll down to read (Instrumental – Sitar) section) for Shahid Parvez". Sangeet Natak Akademi website. 27 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Padma Shri for Anup Jalota, Dr. V. Mohan, Vanraj Bhatia (also includes award for Shahid Parvez)". The Hindu (newspaper). 25 January 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
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