Veteran Hindustani classical vocalist Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan passed away in Kolkata due to old age problems at the age of 107. Khan, the oldest performing musician, was awarded a Padma Bhushan in 2013. Born in a family of musicians of the Gwalior ‘gharana’, Rashid Khan received his initial training from his father Chhote Yusuf Khan and uncle Bade Yusuf Khan as also other elders from the family. Khan has written some 2,000 poems and used to write under the pseudonym of ‘Rasan Piya’.

His traditional compositions have been recorded by reputed broadcasters and institutes like BBC, Iraq Radio and Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lucknow. The musician found much appreciation in the last decade for being able to perform all over the world at festivals alongside artistes half, and even less than half, his age. His last concert was almost a month ago in Hyderabad.

Did You Know???

• Hindustani music is mainly found in North India. Khyal and Dhrupad are its two main forms, but there are several other classical and semi-classical forms
• Carnatic music, from South India, tends to be more rhythmically intensive and structured than Hindustani music.
• Carnatic raga elaborations are generally much faster in tempo and shorter than their equivalents in Hindustani music.