Biography
Ustad Bundu Khan was the most celebrated sarangi player of the first half of the twentieth century, elevating the sarangi from its traditional accompaniment role to solo classical performance of the highest order. He developed a playing style of remarkable expressiveness, with vocal tone quality, exquisite meend work, and raag knowledge rivaling the greatest vocalists. His recordings of Darbari Kanada, Bhairav, Yaman, Todi, and Puriya Dhanashree reveal a master of the first rank. His mastery of the sarangi's fiendishly difficult technique—fingernail pressure on unfretted strings with complex bowing—was unmatched. His legacy paved the way for Ram Narayan and Sultan Khan.
This biographical summary is based on commonly available sources and is presented with respect. Details may vary across references.