The declining popularity of the sarangi
over the past few decades has been a cause for concern
among many musicians and connoisseurs. Concerted efforts
from noted maestros have brought the instrument back into
public gaze, but, when a talented young musician like
Murad Ali takes to sarangi with single-minded devotion,
one can rest assured that future generations will also
take pleasure in absorbing subtleties that the instrument
is capable of producing.
Born in a family of musicians originally from Muradabad,
Murad Ali is a sixth generation sarangi player. The intensive
training he had under his grandfather Ustad Siddique Ahmad
Khan and father Ustad Ghulam Sabir Khan has stood him
in good stead, and he is presently regarded as one of
the leading sarangi players of the younger generation.
His
ancestors, Ustad Sagheer Ahmed Khan Sahab, Ustad Fakir
Ahmed Khan Sahib, Ustad Rafique Ahmed Khan Sahab and his
grandfather later Ustad Siddique Ahmed Khan Sahib were
all renowned sarangi players, musicologists and gurus
of the Moradabad Gharana.
Beginning his performing career at the early age of ten,
Murad Ali won the first prize in the All India Radio national
music competition held in 1992. An 'A' grade artiste of
the All India Radio, he has also been a frequent performer
at several music festivals in India and abroad. He has
received accolades for his accompaniment to many noted
vocalists and tabla players. Unfettered by orthodox musical
beliefs, Murad Ali has on several occasions participated
in cross-cultural and experimental musical endeavours.
Performance in Abroad: World Music Festival in Austria,
World Music Festival in Holland, France Music Festival.
Murad Ali has also performed in England, Germany, Russia,
Singapore, Japan, U.S.A. Tunisia, Morraco, South America,
Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh,Sri Lanka, Mauritius,
Reunion Island etc.