<Tr> <Th> Occupation (s) </Th> <Td> musician, instrumentalist, vocalist, music studies </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> Till 1562: Raja Ramchandra Singh, Rewa (princely state) After 1562: Emperor Akbar </Td> </Tr> <P> Tansen (c. 1500--1586), also referred to as Tan Sen or Ramtanu, was a prominent figure of North Indian (Hindustani) classical music . Born in a Hindu family, he learned and perfected his art in the northwest region of modern Madhya Pradesh . He began his career and spent most of his adult life in the court and patronage of the Hindu king of Rewa (princely state), Raja Ramchandra Singh (r. 1555--1592), where Tansen's musical abilities and studies gained widespread fame . This reputation brought him to the attention of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who sent messengers to Raja Ramchandra Singh, requesting Tansen to join the musicians at the Mughal court . Tansen did not want to go, encouraged him to gain wider audience, and sent him along with gifts to Akbar . In 1562, about the age of 60, the Vaishnava musician Tansen joined the Akbar court, and his performances became a subject of many court historians . </P> <P> Numerous legends have been written about Tansen, mixing facts and fiction, and the historicity of these stories is doubtful . Akbar considered him as a Navaratnas (nine jewels), and gave him the title Mian, an honorific, meaning learned man . </P>

The famous musician in emperor akbar's court