During the Mughal period in India (16th to 18th centuries), music flourished as an integral part of courtly culture. It was patronized by emperors like Akbar, who promoted a diverse range of musical styles, including Hindustani classical music and Persian-influenced compositions. Musicians received royal patronage, leading to the development of new musical forms and instruments. Music was not only a form of entertainment but also a means of spiritual expression and cultural identity.

The concept of "thāt" is an important part of Hindustani classical music, which is discussed in "Sangeet Ratnakar." A thāt is a group of seven notes (or swars) forming the basic framework of a raga. It provides a structure for organizing musical compositions and improvisations within a particular raga. Each thāt has its own distinct character and mood, helping musicians understand and navigate the intricate world of Indian classical music.

Ustad Allauddin Khan was a legendary Indian classical musician and multi-instrumentalist who lived from 1862 to 1972. He was a maestro of the sarod, but he also mastered several other instruments including the sitar, violin, and surbahar. Baba, as he was lovingly called,  was not only a virtuoso performer but also a highly influential teacher. He founded the Maihar gharana, a school of music that produced many renowned musicians including his own children, Ali Akbar Khan and Annapurna Devi. His contributions to Indian classical music are immense, and he is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the history of Indian music.

EP 10: Indian Music ~ Origin, History & Evolution (The Mughal Period) covers the following topics:

1. Mughal Era & New genres

2. Types of Gaayan: Nibaddh & Anibaddh

3. Prabandh & Composition formats

4. Dhrupad Gayan & Raja Man Singh Tomar

5. Dhrupad singers & instrumentalists

6. Navratna and the prominent musicians

7. Compilation of Dhrupad by Raja Man Singh Tomar

8. Akbar’s patronage of Music & Tansen Ragas

9. Ragas composed by Tansen and his son Bilash Khan

10. Music during Akbar’s reign

11. Music during later Mughal period

12. Significance of Sangeet Ratnakar

13. Classification of Ragas and the concept of thāt

14. Chaturdandi Prakashika and concept of Melkarta

15. Theoretical concept of Melkarta and its application

16. Importance of thāt in understanding Ragas

17. Microtones & the concept of Shruti

18. Seven Shrutis and their importance

19. Distorted forms of notes and & selection of 12 notes

20. Varieties of notes in Indian Classical Music

21. Worldwide acceptance of the 12 notes

22. Simplification of Music with 12 notes

23. Importance of Dhrupad in Ancient Music

24. Evolution of Indian Musical Instruments

25. Fusion of Musical Instruments

26. Rabab & Rampur Gharana

27. Mixing traditional and new instruments

28. Influence of Wazir Khan & Allauddin Khan

29. Introduction to Ustad Allauddin Khan

30. Development of different schools (Gharanas) in Indian Classical Music

31. Decline of Mughal Era and rise of Indian Classical Music

32. The vulnerability & sensitivity of musicians

33. Changes in the profile & lifestyle of musicians

34. Introduction to the topic of thāt