Know About Folk Music

The charming and joke-cracking 76-year-old, Lakha Khan has hailed from Rajasthan in northern part of India and is now celebrated as the top master of the Sindhi Sarangi, which is a bowed instrument and has similarities compared with the violin. Lovers of Rajasthani as well as Sufi music, say that the instrument that is comprised of 26 strings, has a rare ability that it can imitate the human voice.
Many of the Indian folk musicians have this complain that they are being ignored in their own country by the promoters and also by the government, and they are being looked down on by these classically trained performers. Yet, it is a fact that some of them tour internationally, that ranges from Japan to the US, and they perform there in front of sell-out audiences.
Khan is currently on his latest tour to the US, where he is along with his son, Dane Khan, who always accompanies him on the dholak, which is a double-headed drum.
In a recent gig at the New York City at University’s Elebash Recital Hall, he along with his son earned a standing ovation from the audience for a two-hour set that included amazing Sufi poetry, Hindu religious songs, folk tunes or bhajans, and classical ragas. He also shared with the audience some couple of jokes.
“A lot of the old masters have now passed away and others have got old and aged,” he said. He further added that the younger generation plays, but there is not exactly the same experience which they deviate.
Khan is hoping that our Indian rich culture should spread all over the world and it can get recognition in our own country which runs after foreign traditions and art. He also said that he hopes his efforts to capture preserve and promote the great folk and roots music of India and also beyond gets successful and will create new enthusiasm and can inspire generations to come.

By: Prerana Sharma
Content: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/lakha-khan-inida-musician-rajasthans-traditional-folk-historian-muslims-hindus-islam-a7635671.html