Gharana

A gharana is a lineage school of Hindustani classical music: a stylistic tradition transmitted from guru to disciple within families and teaching lines, each guarding a distinctive treatment of raga, ornamentation and repertoire. Named for the towns of their founding courts, gharanas such as Gwalior, Kirana, Agra, Jaipur-Atrauli and Patiala define how khayal singing and instrumental styles sound and are taught. Masters including *Abdul Karim Khan*, *Bade Ghulam Ali Khan* and *Kishori Amonkar* made their gharanas' aesthetics audible, and affiliation remains a primary identity for Hindustani performers.