gharana

genresgah-RAH-nahfrom Hindi (from ghar, meaning house)

A lineage-based school of music in Hindustani classical tradition, each with its distinctive style.‌​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍

In Depth

Gharanas are musical families or schools that transmit a particular approach to performance through generations of guru-student relationships.‌​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍ Major gharanas include Gwalior (the oldest vocal gharana), Jaipur-Atrauli, Agra, and Kirana for vocal music, and Lucknow and Farukhabad for tabla. Each gharana has characteristic ornamentations, repertoire, and philosophical approaches. A musician's gharana affiliation shapes their entire aesthetic and technical approach to music.
Did you know?

The guru-student bond in gharana training is so intense that students traditionally lived in the guru's home for years, learning through constant immersion rather than formal lessons.

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