3.The Delhi Sultanate Era

Turkic Muslims invaded many times over the years, built a kingdom and set up the capital in Delhi.

As many dynasties were established since then, this period is called the Delhi dynasties. Due to the music influence of the northwestern region such as Persia, which was transmitted around this time, music of the regions where dynasties had influences, centring on Delhi, gradually grew independently.

Amir Khusrow, who was active in the 13th and the 14th centuries, tried to combine Indian music with Persian music, devised instruments such as sitar, new styles of vocal and instrumental music, and also several existent Raags such as “Yaman”, “Bahar”, “Kafi” are said to have been created by him.

The vocal form “Khayal”, which is said to have been produced by him, was deprived of its position by the vocal form “Dhrupad”, which flourished during the zenith of Mughal Empire, but in modern times it has reserved and is central singing of North India.

He has also left many works in Islamic religious vocal music “Qawwali”, has been featured and sung by many modern musicians. It is sung with lyrics in Urdu, Persian, Punjabi, etc.