Rampur-Sahaswan gharana


Rampur-Sahaswan gharana is a gharana of Hindustani classical music centred in the North-Uttar Pradesh towns of Rampur and Sahaswan. Ustad Inayat Hussain Khan was the founder of this gharana.

History

The gharana find its origins in Ustad Mehboob Khan, the chief khayal singer in the royal court of Rampur State, his tradition was followed by his son Ustad Inayat Hussain Khan and in turn by Inyat's brothers-in-law, Ustad Haider Khan,Ustad Fida Hussain Khan and Padma Bhushan Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan (, thus all the singers were connected with each other, and gharana was named after their ancestral place, Sahaswan, in present Badaun district. Amongst most famous and relevant vocalists of the Gharana are Padmabhushan Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan, Padmavibhushan Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan and Padmashri Ustad Rashid Khan
Inayat Khan was a child prodigy, and his first married the daughter of Haddu Khan of the Gwalior gharana.

Singing style

The Rampur-Sahaswan gayaki is closely related to the Gwalior Gharana, which features medium-slow tempos, a full-throated voice and intricate rhythmic play. The gharana style is also known for the diversity and intricacy of the taans, as well as tarana singing.
The renowned singers of this gharana include the first and, perhaps the foremost disciple of Ustad Inayat Hussain Khan, Ustad Hyder Khan sahab. In fact, Ustad Hyder Khan and his family plays a vital role in upbringing the legacy of this illustrious family as, not only him but, after his demise, his son Ustad Fida Hussain Khan and his grandson, the renowned maestro Padma Bhushan Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan made sure that the legacy carries forward to the next generation.
Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan was not just a singer but a great teacher who has given the gharana what it has in the modern Ustad Nissan Hussain Khans disciples are great Vocalists Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Ustad Rasheed Khan Lateef Ustad Hafeez Ahmed Khan, Ustad Sarfaraz Hussain Khan etc.,another legendary singer of this gharana is Padma Bhushan Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan, who was a disciple of Ustad Hyder Khan and later on, groomed by Ustad Inayat Hussain Khan sahab. He was the recipient of the first Padma Bhushan award in singing.
Currently, the gharana is represented by 2 major families, all inter related to each other. This consists of the direct blood of Ustad Inayat Hussain Khan sahab and his other relatives and disciples.
In 2006, Dr Sakuntala Narasimhan, herself a disciple of Hafeez Ahmed Khan, published a book on the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana titled The Splendour of Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana.