Ameen Ali Khan & Himmet Bahra

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Trafalgar Sq
London, WC2N 4JJ United Kingdom
26 September 2025
1:00 pm
St Martin-in-the-Fields, Lunchtime Concerts

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Indian classical music at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, with a lunchtime concert featuring the evocative sounds of the sarod and tabla. This enchanting performance by the talented Ameen Ali on sarod, accompanied by Himmet Bahra on tabla, will transport audiences into the deeply expressive and meditative realms of Indian classical tradition.

The sarod, known for its haunting, soulful timbre, invites listeners to experience the full emotional breadth of Indian classical music. Ameen Ali, a distinguished sarod artist, brings both technical brilliance and heartfelt expression to his playing, weaving intricate ragas with rich textures and gentle, flowing melodies. With years of training under some of India’s most esteemed musicians, Ameen’s performances have earned him acclaim for their subtlety and depth, connecting each listener to the music’s spiritual essence.

Himmet Bahra’s mastery on the tabla adds a rhythmic vibrancy that pulses throughout the recital. Known for his precision, creativity, and sensitivity, Himmet has studied under Harkirat Rayatt and other gained knowledge from other tabla master’s and is celebrated for his ability to both anchor and elevate the sarod’s melody with complex rhythms. His dynamic playing ranges from delicate accompaniment to rapid-fire rhythms, adding layers of excitement and energy.

This performance promises an unforgettable journey through Indian classical music, blending meditative calm with exhilarating intensity. Don’t miss this unique chance to witness two brilliant artists bringing this ancient tradition to life in the intimate, resonant setting of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

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Ameen Ali Khan Himmet Bahra

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Location
St Martin-in-the-Field is located in the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square. Our address is St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4JJ

Address
Trafalgar Sq,

London

WC2N 4JJ

United Kingdom

Public Transport

The closest stations are Charing Cross for rail and underground and Leicester Square for underground.

Bus routes include numbers 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29 53, 87, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176 and 453.

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Café in the Crypt

Accessibility Information

Most areas of St Martin’s have step-free access. We also have a range of facilities to aid visitors with disabilities:

Toilets suitable for wheelchair users and visitors with buggies as well as baby-changing facilities are located in the Café in the Crypt and in the Meeting Rooms area during our opening hours.

Sales counters at a lower height that are suitable for wheelchair users are located in the Box Office and Shop.

An induction loop is in place in church and St Martin’s Hall. Hearing aids should be adjusted to the T position.

Service sheets and newsletters are produced in a large font.

Guide dogs are welcome and we supply water.

Group visitors with disabilities can call 020 7766 1100 for assistance.

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Alam Khan | Mishra Piloo | Sarod

Alam Khan | Mishra Piloo | Sarod

Recorded at Darbar Festival 2011, on 22nd April, at King's Place, London. Musicians: - Alam Khan (sarod) - Anubrata Chatterjee (tabla) - Debipriya Das (tanpura) Raag Piloo: Thaat: Kafi; Samay: Afternoon We hope you enjoy this excerpt from Alam Khan's Director's Cut concert where he plays two beautiful compositions, the first one is a dhun in Mishra Piloo set to a serene, madhyalay 7-beat cycle in Rupak taal and the second, a famous drut gat in Raag Piloo spread over a 16-beat cycle. Khan forays amply into the interiors of this hybrid raga with expansive vistaar and taut laykari. He maintains a calm, pleasing temperament throughout in this part in madhyalay. In the second composition set to Raag Piloo in a faster tempo, he soars with more varieties of taans and rhythmic intricacies. This gat is an age-old gem from the Maihar gharana which was handed down by Baba Alauddin Khan to Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. The trio had popularised this composition through decades of performances. Its ornamentations typify the nuances of a rebab – the Afghan predecessor of the sarod. Alam Khan gives a refined presentation, projecting deftly, all the elements of ‘tantrakari’ (instrumental nuances) that lend beauty to this composition. A sublime sawal-jawab between the sarod and tabla concludes this performance. Anubrata Chatterjee gives an energetic support, interpreting Khan’s phrases on his tabla, turning the happy finale into a grand celebration of rhythms and melody. As the name suggests, Mishra Piloo is a cocktail of various ragas with Raag Piloo as the mainstay. It is a melodic form that has influenced lighter compositions played towards the end of a Hindustani classical recital. ‘Mishra’ means a mixture and Raag Piloo is derived from its parent scale Kafi. Having its origins in the folk music of India, Kafi is a versatile scale that lends it’s characteristics to all ragas coming under its aegis. Piloo is one of its antecedents that has been chosen time and again by composers for both classical and the lighter songs and tunes. Subscribe to the Darbar Player to access the full, uncut performance.