Pandit Pran Nath

Pandit Pran Nath was a master of the Kirana gharana, one of the principal schools of North Indian classical music. Born in India in 1918, he studied under the legendary vocalist Abdul Wahid Khan and became known for his deep devotion to the purity and spiritual depth of raga. His signature was the slow, meditative development of ragas, often unfolding over extended performances centered on the sacred sound of the drone and microtonal precision.

In the 1970s, Pandit Pran Nath moved to the United States, where he became a pivotal figure in introducing Hindustani classical music to Western audiences. He taught and influenced several prominent minimalist composers and experimental musicians, including La Monte Young, Marian Zazeela, and Terry Riley. His recordings, such as The Raga Cycle series, document his rich vocal style and the profound emotional weight he brought to his art.

Genres