2023 Nomination for ARSC Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research

Online Release as a Colour Digital Second Edition, with Twenty-two previously unissued Digital Audio Files
Now available for Download

Sangeet Ratna, The Jewel of Music, Khan Sahib Abdul Karim Khan
A Bio-Discography (PDF Format)
Author: Michael Kinnear
22 Digital Audio Recordings
A 90-minute collection of Out-takes and Test Pressings

AUD $35.00 Download

SYNOPSIS

A biography of Khan Sahib Abdul Karim Khan, the legendary Hindustani vocalist and musicologist of Kairana.  Born in 1872, Abdul Karim Khan became one of the most respected and admired vocalists of India and is considered to be the doyen of the musical style known as the ‘Kirana’ Gharan, a tradition which has continued into modern times.  Abdul Karim Khan died in 1937, but fortunately his musical legacy has been preserved in the numerous sound recordings he made in 1905, and several years later between 1934 and1936, which has enabled later generations to appreciate and enjoy the majestic quality of Abdul Karim Khan’s musical abilities.  During his earthly sojourn of 65 years, this great vocalist enthralled those lucky enough to have heard him in the flesh, and also championed the cause of the preservation and continuance of all that is most sublime in Hindustani music.  This work attempts to piece together the achievements and success along with the trials and tribulations in the life of this great musician, around whom so much anecdote and hearsay has arisen, but whose musical prowess has fortunately been committed to sound recordings, by which present and future generations may enjoy the magnificent quality of his musicianship.

Abdul Karim Khan’s personal life and his career as a professional musician were a mixture of success and tragedy, as often befits the stature of supremely talented people, but Abdul Karim Khan is still fondly remembered and revered throughout the Indian subcontinent as – Sangeet Ratna -The Jewel of Music.

This bio-discography attempts to trace the lines of ancestry of Abdul Karim Khan and numerous other musicians associated with the ‘Kirana’ musical tradition, and cast some light on the rather confusing and obscure relationships of the many families that have contributed to the growth of this tradition.

Illustrated with numerous rare and unpublished photographs, along with reproductions of documents, program notices and other materials pertinent to the life of Abdul Karim Khan, and a complete discographical listing of all recordings made by Abdul Karim Khan between 1905 and 1936, originally issued on 78 rpm discs, along with information about test pressings, rejected recordings, alternate versions and unissued recordings, and the details of all reissues of the issued recordings in other formats.

Supplementary to the life and work of Abdul Karim Khan, this bio-discography provides information about his close associates in the music world, including Rahimat Khan, Abdul Wahid Khan and others, and also his children, Hirabai Barodekar, Suresh Babu Mane, Kamalabai Barodekar and Saraswati Rant, all of whom achieved considerable success and acclaim in the musical world.

MICHAEL KINNEAR

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The 2nd Digital Edition, published in August 2022, ISBN:  978-0-9577355-9-0. (The ‘First Edition’ published in 2003 – Black and White Perfect Bound, 14+290 pages – ISBN-13: 9780957735552) is a revised and expanded Biography and Discography of Khan Sahib Abdul Karim Khan (1872-1937), 12+346 pages.  With over 300 rare, mainly black and white, colour, sepia photographs, record labels, publicity brochures, most previously unpublished. The discography details all Abdul Karim Khan’s recordings from the 1905 sessions for The Gramophone & Typewriter, Ltd., and the 1934–1936 sessions for the ‘Odeon’ label, through the Ruby Record Co. Bombay.  With details of un-issued recordings, out-takes, and reissues and numerous illustrations and label examples.  This edition also includes Supplement Two with the four ‘Notation Books’ published by Abdul Karim Khan in 1911 and 1912 and Supplement Three with additional Concert Programs. Supplement Four, Digital Download Music Files, ‘ODEON’ Out-takes and Test Pressings, 1934-1936, Abdul Karim Khan.

Sample Pages

Digital Audio File Details

Included with the 2nd Digital Edition are 22 – MP3 digital audio files by Khan Sahib Abdul Karim Khan of the previously unissued ‘Odeon’ Test Pressings and Outtakes from the Odeon Recording Sessions of 1934-1936 from  the ‘Michael Kinnear Collection’.

ODEON’ – Ruby Record Company, Bombay – Out-takes and Test Pressings. Shortly after each recording session organised by the Ruby Record Company, Bombay, the master recordings were sent to The Gramophone Company, Limited factory at Dum Dum for processing.  In most cases up to three recordings had been taken of each selection, although in some cases only two takes were recorded. After the processing of the master recordings, sample copies were provided to Abdul Karim Khan to choose which version he preferred to be commercially released.  The remaining stock of test pressings and out-take recordings from the 1934-1936 recording sessions were given to Michael Kinnear to preserve so that they would not be lost to history, at the Ruby Record Company’s office, Dady House, Churchgate Street, Bombay in July 1978, by the late Rustomjee D. Sethna.  Mr. Sethna was a former proprietor of Ruby Record Company, Bombay, and was directly involved with Abdul Karim Khan’s recording sessions between 1934 and 1936.

Tracklist 2 – Track 2. “Dira Dira Ta Noma – MARWA TARANA”
by Abdul Karim Khan -ODEON Out-takes and Test Pressings, 1934-36

Tracklist 1 – Track 3. “Aba Maine Dedkari – VASANT KHYAL” By Abdul Karim Khan – ODEON – Out-takes and Test Pressings, 1934-36

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Ruby Record Co., Second floor of Spinner Building, (later known as Calicot House)
8-10 Tamarind Lane, Fort, Bombay. Photo: July 1978

Michael Kinnear and Rustomjee D. Sethna at the office of Ruby Record Co., Bombay, July, 1978

Photograph taken during the Odeon recording sessions of December 1936.
Left to Right:  R.D. Sethna (Ruby Record Co.), Shamsuddin Khan, Dashrath Mule, Balkrishna Kapileshwari, Harishankar Kapileshwari, Max Birckhahn (Recording Engineer), Seated: Abdul Karim Khan
Photo: ‘Sangeet Ratna, The Jewel of Music, Khan Sahib Abdul Karim Khan – A Bio Discography’, Back Cover

Books on ‘Notation’, by Abdul Karim Khan

Abdul Karim Khan’s interest in musical theory and notation continued to expand with the result that in 1911, the first of his four books on notation was published under the title of “Sangit Svaraprakesh”, by Prof. Abdul Karim Khan Badodekar – Singer. Printed by Shri Ramtatva Prakesh Press, Belgaum.  A further small book of eight pages under the title of “Sangit Notation Panchehavali” was also published by Abdul Karim, from the same printers shortly after the larger book. In 1912, the Aryabhushan Press, Poona, printed two further volumes of Abdul Karim’s notation books: “Manoranjan Notation Band” a slim book of fourteen pages, and “Sangit Svaraprakeshachon” (Pustak – Junior) of sixteen pages, and it is noteworthy that Abdul Karim referred to himself as the publisher of these works in the name of Principal Abdul Karim Khan Badodekar – Singer.

1- Sangit Svaraprakesh, Belgaum, 1911
2- Sangit Notation Panchchavali,  Belgaum, 1911
3- Sangit Svaraprakshachon (Pustak Junior), Poona 1912
4- Manoranjan Notation Band, Poona, 1912

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Product Details

♦ Published Independently: Bajakhana, Victoria, Australia, August, 2022
♦ Language:  English
♦ Digital Download PDF Book:  14+343 pages
♦ Digital Download MP3 Music Files:  22 Digital Audio Recordings, 90 minutes
♦ ISBN-10:  0-9577355-9-6
♦ ISBN-13:  978-0-9577355-9-0

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$ AUD – Australian Dollars

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