Uninformed concert presenters and event managers, and uninitiated listeners often rush to the conclusion that Hindustani instrumental concerts are duets or jugalbandis between the main performer and the percussionist. While the word "duet" is apt for a performance featuring two artistes, it often does not represent the musical process in which an instrumental performer is accompanied by a percussionist. More boisterous listeners mistakenly believe that the performance is in fact a duel, where one musician is trying to outdo the other.
Jugalbandi in the original sense of the term has been conventionally used in the context of two instrumentalists performing together accompanied by a percussionist, or two vocalists performing with percussion and melodic accompaniment. Today, it is also used in the context of a vocalist being featured with an instrumentalist, and both being accompanied by a percussionist.
Unfortunately, the term "jugalbandi" has also at times been misused, particularly so in cases where the accompanist is a well-known figure. It is therefore not surprising to hear some ill-informed listeners speak elatedly of jugalbandis between the sitar player or the santoor player on the one hand and the tabla accompanist on the other.
The jugalbandis that have captivated audiences often featured musicians from the same stylistic tradition or disciples of the same guru. At times, the performers have been siblings. Their association with the same tradition allowed them an insider’s view into each other’s artistry and musicianship, in turn lending an ease to the manner in which they responded musically to each other. Importantly, jugalbandis in the past featured contemporaries; juniors could not be a part of jugalbandis with their seniors.
Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan
This concert audio track features a jugalbandi between maestros Ravi Shankar (sitar) and Ali Akbar Khan (sarod). Both performers had studied under Allauddin Khan, the revered guru and founder of the Maihar-Senia gharana. They are accompanied by tabla exponent Alla Rakha. The detailed exposition of the morning raag Lalit comprises of a vilambit gat or slow tempo instrumental composition in Teentaal followed by a drut or fast tempo composition in the same taal.
Faiyaz Ahmed Khan and Niaz Ahmed Khan
Kirana gharana vocalists and siblings Faiyaz Ahmed Khan and Niaz Ahmed Khan sang as a duo. This audio track features a short clip of raag Darbari Kanada. They are accompanied by tabla exponent Sheikh Dawood.
Kishori Amonkar and Hariprasad Chaurasia
A jugalbandi between a vocalist and an instrumentalist is a more recent phenomenon. Here, Kishori Amonkar and Hariprasad Chaurasia present two compositions in raag Lalit, both set to Teentaal. They are accompanied by tabla players Anindo Chatterjee and Balkrishna Iyer.
Shivkumar Sharma and Hariprasad Chaurasia
The next video features a thematic jugalbandi concert by santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma and bansuri virtuoso Hariprasad Chaurasia, accompanied on pakhawaj by Bhavani Shankar and on tabla by Subhankar Bannerjee.
Vilayat Khan and Bismillah Khan
We conclude with raag Bhairavi presented by maestros Vilayat Khan (sitar) and Bismillah Khan (shehnai).
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Jugalbandi in the original sense of the term has been conventionally used in the context of two instrumentalists performing together accompanied by a percussionist, or two vocalists performing with percussion and melodic accompaniment. Today, it is also used in the context of a vocalist being featured with an instrumentalist, and both being accompanied by a percussionist.
Unfortunately, the term "jugalbandi" has also at times been misused, particularly so in cases where the accompanist is a well-known figure. It is therefore not surprising to hear some ill-informed listeners speak elatedly of jugalbandis between the sitar player or the santoor player on the one hand and the tabla accompanist on the other.
The jugalbandis that have captivated audiences often featured musicians from the same stylistic tradition or disciples of the same guru. At times, the performers have been siblings. Their association with the same tradition allowed them an insider’s view into each other’s artistry and musicianship, in turn lending an ease to the manner in which they responded musically to each other. Importantly, jugalbandis in the past featured contemporaries; juniors could not be a part of jugalbandis with their seniors.
Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan
This concert audio track features a jugalbandi between maestros Ravi Shankar (sitar) and Ali Akbar Khan (sarod). Both performers had studied under Allauddin Khan, the revered guru and founder of the Maihar-Senia gharana. They are accompanied by tabla exponent Alla Rakha. The detailed exposition of the morning raag Lalit comprises of a vilambit gat or slow tempo instrumental composition in Teentaal followed by a drut or fast tempo composition in the same taal.
Faiyaz Ahmed Khan and Niaz Ahmed Khan
Kirana gharana vocalists and siblings Faiyaz Ahmed Khan and Niaz Ahmed Khan sang as a duo. This audio track features a short clip of raag Darbari Kanada. They are accompanied by tabla exponent Sheikh Dawood.
Kishori Amonkar and Hariprasad Chaurasia
A jugalbandi between a vocalist and an instrumentalist is a more recent phenomenon. Here, Kishori Amonkar and Hariprasad Chaurasia present two compositions in raag Lalit, both set to Teentaal. They are accompanied by tabla players Anindo Chatterjee and Balkrishna Iyer.
Shivkumar Sharma and Hariprasad Chaurasia
The next video features a thematic jugalbandi concert by santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma and bansuri virtuoso Hariprasad Chaurasia, accompanied on pakhawaj by Bhavani Shankar and on tabla by Subhankar Bannerjee.
Vilayat Khan and Bismillah Khan
We conclude with raag Bhairavi presented by maestros Vilayat Khan (sitar) and Bismillah Khan (shehnai).