Feroze Khan, who used the pen name Adarang, was a Hindustani musical composer and artist.

Career

Mughal Emperor

Muhammad Shah Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Muḥammad Shah (born Roshan Akhtar; 7 August 1702 – 26 April 1748) was the 13th Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1719 to 1748. He was son of Khujista Akhtar, the fourth son of Bahadur Shah I. After being chosen by the ...

patronized Adarang, who revolutionized Hindustani classical music through propagation of Khayal. In the context of

Sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in medieval India, flourished in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form in ...

the mention of Adarang deserves attention. Feroze Khan Adarang was one of the chief musicians in the royal court and is considered as the first musician who introduced sitar in the 18th century through the Delhi court. Nawab Dargha Quli Khan's description of his mehfils in Muraqqa-e-Dehli is taken as the earliest mention yet found of Sitar in Northern India. Later Sadullah Khan the son of

Ali Mohammed Khan Ali Muhammad Khan (bf. 1714 – 15 September 1748) was a Rohilla chief who succeeded his foster father Sardar Daud Khan Rohilla at the age of fourteen. He eventually went on to found the Kingdom of Rohilkhand in the northwestern region of the U ...

used to invite Adarang to Aonla for musical conferences.Tareekh-e-Rohilla by Nafees Siddiqui

Personal life

Adarang was the nephew and son-in-law of

Sadarang Sadarang (1670–1748) was the pen name of the Hindustani musical composer and artist Naimat Khan, who was active in the eighteenth century. He and his nephew Adarang changed the Khayal style of Hindustani music into the form performed today. Na ...

. He was the son of Naubat Khan II. Adarang was the descendant of

Naubat Khan Naubat Khan (also known as Ali Khan Karori) was an Indian classical music composer, musician and instrumentalist who was made a Mansabdar by Mughal Emperor Akbar. He is known today for his skills with the ''rudra veena'' or ''bīn'', which he is sh ...

and Hussaini (

Tansen Tansen ( – 26 April 1589), also referred to and commonly known as Sangeet Samrat () , was a Hindustani classical musician. Born in a Hindu Gaur Brahmin family, he learnt and perfected his art in the northwest region of modern Madhya Pra ...

's daughter).

References

Indian male classical musicians Indian royalty Mughal nobility Indian Shia Muslims Hindustani instrumentalists Bandish composers Veena players {{India-musician-stub