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His collaborations include a piece composed
for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yoshikazu
Fukumora titled Tribute to Hong Kong, duets with gutarist
Charley Byrd, Violinist Igor Frolov, Suprano Glenda Simpson,
Guitarist Barry Mason and UK Cellist Matthew Barley. He has
been a visiting professor at the Universities of Yorkshire,
Washington, North Eastern and New Mexico. BBC Magazine had
voted one of his recent CDs titled 'Bhairav' among the best
50 classical albums of the world for the year 1995. In 1994,
his name was included Biographical in International Directory
of Distinguished Leadership, 5th edition. In 1999, Mr. Khan
inaugurated the World Festival of Sacred Music with His Holiness
the Dalai Lama. In 1998, Khan composed the signature tune
for the 48th International Film Festival. In March 2002, Mr.
Khan released his Carnegie Hall concert recording, Sarod for
Harmony-Live at Carnegie Hall to commemorate his fiftieth
performing year. Once again this year, Maestro Amjad Ali Khan
performed for His Royal Highness Prince Charles at his Highgrove
Estate for the second time after earlier recitals in 1989,
1995 and 1997(at St. James Palace).
He has been a regular performer at the Carnegie Hall, Royal
Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Kennedy Center, Santury
Hall (First Indian performer), House of Commons, Theater Dela
Ville, Muee Guimet, ESPLANADE in Singapore, Palais beaux-arts,
Mozart Hall in Frankfurt, Chicago Symphony Center, St. James
Palace and the Opera House in Australia.
In his case, the term 'beauty of the Ragas' acquires a special
meaning as he has to his credit the distinction of having
created many new Ragas. It is love for music and his belief
in his music that has enabled him to interpret traditional
notions of music for a new refreshing way, reiterating the
challenge of innovation and yet respecting the timelessness
of tradition.
Two books have been written on him. The World of Amjad Ali
Khan by UBS Publishers in 1995 and Abba-God's Greatest Gift
To Us by his sons, Amaan and Ayaan published by Roli Books-Lustre
Publications in 2002. A documentary on Mr. Khan called Strings
for Freedom won the Bengal Film Journalist Association Award
and was also screened at the Ankara Film Festival in 1996.
'Coming Masters' as the New York Times calls them, his two
sons, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash are well known
names in the music scene and are the seventh generation of
musicians in the family. Amjad Ali Khan's wife Subhalakshmi
Khan has been a great exponent of the Indian classical dance,
Bharatnatyam, which, she sacrificed for her family. As a soul,
so in his heart, he is a man who has proven his indomitable
belief in the integration of two of life's greatest forces,
love and music. He is a living example of a man who practices
that integration each day of his life, both on stage and off
stage.
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