Collection
Earlier Generations
Classical musicians of earlier generations, no longer living. Ordered by editorial standing — the tier recorded for each musician, with its sourced reasoning — then by birth year. Membership is by era; the ordering is an editorial judgement, open to correction.
Foundational figures first, then by birth year
Ustad Alla Rakha
Tabla · Punjab
Shaped modern tabla accompaniment and solo repertoire, and his partnerships with leading soloists set a standard still studied today.
Pandit Ravi Shankar
Sitar · Maihar
Introduced Hindustani classical music to audiences across the world through recordings, festivals and collaborations, while composing and teaching extensively.
Ustad Zakir Hussain
Tabla · Punjab
Brought the tabla to solo concert prominence worldwide and worked across traditions without loosening his grounding in the Punjab gharana.
Continue exploring
- Ustad Bande Ali KhanIn this collection. Their profile, with sources and recordings.
- Kesarbai KerkarIn this collection. Their profile, with sources and recordings.
- All collectionsOther curated paths through the archive.
- Every musician in the archiveThe full directory, ordered by editorial standing.
- Explore the archiveInstruments, gharanas and teaching lineages.