The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and NadSadhna Institute for Indian Music & Research Centre from its treasured archives, presents NadNinad: 2nd listening session on the Artistry of Vilayat Khanon 25thJanuary 2020 at Kalaneri Art Gallery, JLN Marg, Jaipur. 

This programme makes available NCPA’s archival recordings to lovers of Hindustani classical music. NCPA has planned a series of sessions based on rarely heard recordings of the sitar maestro, Vilayat Khan (1927–2004), which were specially recorded for archives during 1976, where the maestro speaks at length about his forefathers and their style,and chronicles his own journey with ample demonstrations.

These sessions are guided by Arvind Parikhin recordings, who has had the privilege of training with Khan. The close association lasting over six decades has given him an insight into the subtleties and repertoire of the Etawah Imdadkhani gharana.

Commenting on the Listening Session, Dr. Suvarnalata Rao, Programming Head-Indian Music at NCPA, said, “The NCPA has always been committed to preserving the rich legacy of Indian classical music. We are delighted to present from NCPA's enormous archives, the legendary sitar maestro, Vilayat Khan’s exhaustive 30-hour long interview - based recordings over eight sessions, for our patrons. Guided by his senior most disciple, Arvind Parikh, these sessions chronicle Vilayat Khan’s own journey where the maestro speaks at length about his forefathers and their style with ample demonstrations”. 

Vilayat Khan was born in Gauripur (now in Bangladesh) in a family of outstanding musicians: his grandfather Imdad Khan and father Inayat Khan were the most celebrated surbahar and sitar players of their time. A child prodigy, Vilayat Khan went on to become one of the most influential instrumentalists of the 20th century. His distinctive gayakiang (vocalized style) made his sitar “sing” and is probably the most widely followed sitar style today.