Music during Delhi Sultanate

  • The important phase in the development of music during this period belongs to the time of Amir Khusrau.
    • Amir kusrau was the first to describe Kashmir as Eden on earth.
    • He proclaimed himself as tuti-i-hind or parrot of India.
    • He was contemporary of Jalaluddin Khalji, Alauddin Khalji,Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
    • He witnessed rule of eight sultans.
  • It is during this period that the qawwali style is said to have developed. He is also credited for the development of many modern ragas like aiman, gora and sanam.
  • He is credited with the creation of a new musical instrument, the sitar that was a combination of the Indian vina and the Iranian tambura.
  • New musical instruments such as sarangi and rabab were introduced during this period
  • Raja Man Singh of Gwalior was a great lover of music. He encouraged the composition of a great musical work called Man Kautuhal.

Musical instruments sitar, sarod and sarangi respectively shown in above pictures.