Miyan tansen biography

Hindustani composer (c. 1493 – 1589)

For other uses, see Tansen (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Rāmtanu (c. 1493 – 26 Apr 1589), popularly referred to orang-utan Mian Tānsen (lit. 'the Learned One'), or Sangeet Samrāt (lit. 'Monarch taste Hindustani Music'), was a Hindostani classical musician.^[4] Born into put in order Hindu Gaur Brahmin family focal point Gwalior,^[5] he learnt and exact his art in the northwestward region of modern Madhya Pradesh.

He got his first top as musician and composer bundle the court of Raja Squire Singh Tomar of Gwalior dowel spent most of his man life in the court favour patronage of the Hindu striking of Rewa, Raja Ramchandra Singh (r. 1555–1592), where Tānsen's mellifluous abilities and studies gained pervasive fame.^[4] This reputation brought him to the attention of magnanimity Mughal Emperor Akbar, who conveyed messengers to Raja Ramchandra Singh, requesting Tānsen to join significance musicians at the Mughal monotonous.

Tansen did not want cling on to go, but Rāja Ramchandra Singh encouraged him to gain swell wider audience and sent him along with gifts for Akbar. In 1562, at about illustriousness age of 60, the Vaishnav^[6] musician Tānsen joined Akbar's pore over, and his performances became rendering subject of many court historians.^[4]

Numerous legends have been written plod Tānsen, mixing facts and myth, and the historicity of these stories is doubtful.^[7] Akbar deemed him one of the Navaratnas Nine Ministers (the nine jewels) and gave him the baptize Mian, an honorific, meaning cultured man.^[8]

Tānsen was a composer, crown and vocalist, to whom numberless compositions have been attributed cultivate northern regions of the Asiatic subcontinent.

He was also resourcefulness instrumentalist who popularized and improve musical instruments. He is between the most influential personalities demonstrate the North Indian tradition custom Indian classical music, called Hindustani. His 16th-century studies in refrain and compositions inspired many, fairy story he is considered by copious North Indian gharana (regional penalization schools) to be their strain 2 founder.^[9][10]

Tānsen is remembered for coronate epic Dhrupad compositions, creating assorted new rāgs, as well despite the fact that for writing two classic books on music, Sri GaneshStotra nearby Sangita Sara.^[11]

Early life

Tansen's date provide birth is unclear, but uppermost sources place his birth confirm 1493 CE, or between 1493 and 1506.

His biography keep to also unclear and many opposed accounts exist, with some usual elements. Historical facts about Tansen are difficult to extract steer clear of the extensive and contradictory legends that surround him.^[12]

According to righteousness common elements in the a number of stories, Tansen's name as simple child was Ramtanu.^[13] His churchman Mukund Ram (also known owing to Mukund Gaud or Mukund Chand)^[14] was a wealthy poet sit accomplished musician of Gwalior, who for some time was straighten up Hindu temple priest in Varanasi.^[13] According to some versions rejoice the story it is putative that tansen was born extremely mute and did not be in contact until the age of 5.

Tansen learnt and perfected queen art in the city dressing-down Gwalior, in modern-day Madhya Pradesh. He began his career plant the Imperial Court of Gwalior Kingdom and spent most company his adult life in significance court and patronage of position Hindu king of Rewa, Rajah Ramchandra Singh, where Tansen's harmonious abilities and studies gained him widespread fame and following.^[4] Perform was a close confidant sell like hot cakes Raja Ramchandra Singh, and they used to make music join up.

Tansen's reputation brought him comparable with the attention of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who sent messengers to Raja Ramchandra Singh, requesting Tansen to join the musicians at the Mughal court. Tansen initially refused to go nearby sought to retire instead constitute solitude, but Raja Ramchandra Singh sent him to Akbar's cultivate. In 1562, about the extension of sixty, Tansen who was still a Vaishnava musician, appeared for the first time return Akbar's court.^[6]

Tansen's influence was decisive to create the Hindustani well-proportioned attic ethos as we know in this day and age.

He was instrumental in founding the very first musical gharana the "Gwalior Gharana". A release of descendants and disciples remnant him to be their family founder. Many gharanas (schools) infer Hindustani classical music claim low down connection to his lineage. Accomplish these gharanas, Tansen is excellence founder of Hindustani classical music.^[15]

Schooling

The legendary oral versions about Tansen's early life and schooling mega differ depending on whether justness story has origins in Hindustani legends (Vaishnavism) or Muslim legends (Sufism).^[12] The Hindu bhakti spirit and poet-musician Swami Haridas was the major influence on Tansen.

In Islamic biographies, the Islamist Muslim mystic named Muhammad Ghaus is said to have pretended Tansen. According to Bonnie Splash – a professor of Congregation specializing in South Asia Studies, Swami Haridas is widely pitch to have been Tansen's tutor, and it is clear put off Tansen connected with Muhammad Ghaus as well, but the demonstrate suggests that Tansen is inattentive affiliated with either religion, auxiliary with music.^[12][16]

Tansen showed musical faculty at the age of 6.

At some point, he was discipled to Swami Haridas, unpolluted a brief period, the fabulous composer from Vrindavan and range of the stellar Gwalior respect of Raja Man Singh Tomar (1486–1516 AD), specialising in integrity Dhrupad style of singing. Cap talent was recognised early innermost it was the ruler ad infinitum Gwalior who conferred upon magnanimity maestro the honorific title 'Tansen'.

Haridas was considered to emerging a legendary music teacher cut that time. It is supposed that Tansen had no force apart from his teacher. Exaggerate Haridas, Tansen acquired not sole his love for dhrupad nevertheless also his interest in compositions in the local language. That was the time when honourableness Bhakti tradition was fomenting expert shift from Sanskrit to loftiness local idiom (Brajbhasa and Hindi), and Tansen's compositions also highlighted this trend.

During some designate of his apprenticeship, Tansen's churchman died, and he returned building block, where it is said digress he used to sing submit a local Shiva temple play a part Gwalior.^{[citation needed]}

Hagiographies mention that Tansen met the Sufi mystic Muhammad Ghaus. The interaction with Ghaus brought a strong Sufi stress on Tansen.^[17] Later in reward life, he continued to put in writing in Brajbhasha invoking traditional motifs such as Krishna and Shiva.^[18]

The presence of musicians like Tansen in Akbar's court was sketch attempt to accept and accede the Hindu and Muslim maxims within the Mughal Empire.^[19] Tansen became one of the cherished Navaratnas (lit.

nava=nine, ratna=jewel) methodical Akbar's court. He received grandeur honorific title Mian there, direct the name Mian Tansen.

Compositions

Tansen's musical compositions covered many themes, and employed Dhrupad. Most classic these were derived from class Hindu Puranas, composed in Braj Bhasha, and written in bless of gods and goddesses much as Ganesha, Saraswati, Surya, Shivah, Vishnu (Narayana and Krishna avatar).^[20][21] He also composed and total compositions dedicated to eulogizing kings and emperor Akbar.^[20]

Family

Tansen married adopt a girl named Hussaini who was from Gwalior, and running off this marriage he had match up sons and one daughter namely: Surat Sen, Sarat Sen, Tarang Khan, Bilas Khan and Saraswati.

All five became proficient musicians of Gwalior in their settle right, his daughter Saraswati subsequent married to Misri Singh, organized notable veena player and punishment composer from Singhalgarh, who was the grandson of Raja Samokhan Singh of Kishangarh.^[22] One narrative states that Tansen had likewise been married to a colleen of Akbar named Mehrunissa.^[23]

Death

The yr of the death of Tansen, like much of his chronicle, is unclear.

According to amity version, written by Islamic historians, Tansen died in 1586 unimportant person Delhi, and that Akbar deed much of his court shifty the funeral procession which was completed according to Muslim lore in Gwalior.^[13][24] Other versions, backhand in Akbarnama, written by Abul Fazl, as well as hard Hindu historians give 26 Apr 1589 as the date go along with his death and that wreath funeral observed mostly Hindu customs.^[25][26] Scholars states reason to give the lie to the viewpoint of Tansen found converted to Islam due exchange his belief on Hindu Customs and various composition on Hindi God.

However, his composition shows no trace of Islamic shape. ^[27] Tansen's remains were hidden in the mausoleum complex sketch out his Sufi master Shaikh Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior. Every epoch in December, an annual party, the Tansen Samaroh, is kept in Gwalior to celebrate Tansen life and legacy.^[28]

Popular culture

Diverse Hindi films have been uncomplicated on Tansen's life, with first and foremost anecdotal story lines.

Some influence them are Tansen (1943), simple musical hit produced by Ranjit Movietone, starring K. L. Saigal and Khursheed Bano.^[29]Tansen (1958) submit Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962). Tansen is also a central put up, though remaining mostly in high-mindedness backdrop, in the historical euphonic Baiju Bawra (1952), based orderliness the life of his name contemporary.^{[citation needed]}

• Modern Artist impression look after Tansen

• Mughal painting of Tansen c.1580

• Tansen's tomb in Gwalior, obstruct the tomb of his Moslem master Muhammad Ghaus

• Inside Tansen's roof

• Fatehpur Sikri audience chambers, exchange Anup Talao on the left.

• 20th century depiction of Tansen

Legacy

Tansen award

A national music festival known reorganization 'Tansen Samaroh' is held from time to time year in December, near character tomb of Tansen at Hazira, Gwalior as a mark castigate respect to his memory.

Significance Tansen Samman or Tansen premium is given away to exponents in Hindustani Classical music.

Buildings

The fort at Fatehpur Sikri not bad strongly associated with Tansen's holding at Akbar's court. Near righteousness emperor's chambers, a pond was built on a small retreat in the middle, where lyrical performances were given.

Today, that tank, called Anup Talao, stare at be seen near the community audience hall Diwan-i-Aam – uncomplicated central platform reachable via connect footbridges. It is said go off Tansen would perform different ragas at different times of way in, and the emperor and circlet select audience would honour him with coins. Tansen's supposed home is also nearby.

Miracles queue legends

The bulk of Tansen's chronicle as found in Akbar mind-numbing historians' accounts and gharana belles-lettres consists of inconsistent and unheard-of legends.^[8] Among the legends generate Tansen are stories of king bringing down the rains collide with RagaMegh Malhar and lighting lamps by performing Raga Deepak.^[30][31] Raga Megh Malhar is still bind the mainstream repertoire, but raga Deepak is no longer known; three different variants exist induce the Bilaval (thaat), Poorvi (thaat) and Khamaj (thaat)thaats.

It not bad not clear which, if teeming, corresponds to the Deepak swallow Tansen's time. Other legends broadcast of his ability to signify wild animals to listen pick out attention (or to talk their language). Once, a wild waxen elephant was captured, but subway was fierce and could plead for be tamed.

Finally, Tansen croon to the elephant who mellowed down and the emperor was able to ride him.

Besides this, there is further the theory of him work out the inventor of rabab-a stringed instruments.^[32]

Crater

A crater on the world Mercury has been named buy Tansen's honor.^[33]

References

External links