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Born on November 15th 1927 at Agra, Yunus Husain Khan,
the eleventh direct descendent of the Agra gharana,
received intensive training from an early age from his
illustrious father, the late Ustad Vilayat Husain
Khan. He also studied under other great masters like
the Late Ustad Faiyaz Khan and his maternal uncle,
Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan of Atrauli. His innate talent
for music coupled with the rigorous training he
received gave him full command over the great heritage
of the Agra Gharana.
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Possessed with a rich voice and superb musicianship,
he sang the Agra gayakee in his own individual style:
varied in music, rich in ideas and full of colour. He
was prominent in the Hindustani Musical scene for more
than five decades and gave numerous recitals both in
India and abroad. |
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Khan Saheb was not only a sensitive vocalist but also
noted for his versatility as an erudite scholar, gifted
composer and teacher of music. He was a Professor of Music
at University of Delhi, Visva Bharati University of
Shantiniketan and was also a guru at the ITC Sangeet
Research Academy at Kolkata. He was an exceptionally liberal
teacher, parting with his knowledge effortlessly to
deserving pupils. |
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During 1985-86, he taught at the
University of Washington in the Ethnomusicology Programme
and also gave lectures and demonstrations in the University
of British Culombia, Canada. During his association with
Delhi University, he was Director, Composer and Conductor of
Sargam Choir, Delhi Youth Choral Group and his own Darpan
Choir. |
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Associated with the All India Radio
between 1962 and 1964 as Music Composer, he was a composer
of distinction, and has left as a legacy, a valuable
collection of his compositions under the nom-de-plume
`Darpan` and several ragas, like Sujani Malhar, Devyani, Nat
Deepak, Husaini Bhairav, Nohar Todi, Ahiri Bihag, Lalita
Sohini, Jogwanti etc. |
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As a musicologist, he had to his credit
many articles, books and papers on music. He has been
recorded by Sangeet Natak Akademi and Unesco and has
featured on European documentary films. |
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Yunus Husain Khan died of a
heart attack on September 29,1991, in New Delhi. |
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