‘Live In Concert’ A performance, be it live or a studio recording is an experience every artiste cherishes. In a studio recording, the artiste’s limitless caliber might tend to get constricted by space and time constraints. However, a live concert works on slightly different parameters. The acoustics and ambience of the performance venue are critical factors and help set the artiste’s mood initially. But the quality of the audience is what matters most. An appreciative audience can enhance the performance level. After all, when someone chooses a career as a performing artiste, the most motivating factor is appreciation. And when that is forthcoming, all else including economics, takes a back seat. The chemistry between the main artistes and their accompanists also gets a boost in the presence of a live audience. Besides, even the accompanists are encouraged to show off their musical prowess and draw personal appreciation.
When a simple ‘Wah’ converts to an ‘Aha an artiste’s ‘Sadhana’ towards the pursuit of the art form is justified. This further inspires the artistes to surpass their own levels. A few such precious moments of creativity have been captured by Saregama and are presented in this series ‘Live In Concert.
Pt. Ravi Shankar Pt. Ravi Shankar is a name synonymous with Indian Classical Music. If Indian Classical Music is accepted and appreciated by the West today, the credit goes to Panditji. His dedication, his training, his keen musical sensibility and the rare intellectual comprehension he possesses, make Panditji the numero uno artiste of this musical era. Born on 7 April, 192.0 in Varanasi, he spent his youth touring Europe and India with the dance group of his brother Uday Shankar. This is when he was introduced to the Western culture, music, jazz and French. He gave up dancing in 1938 to study Sitar playing under court musician Acharya Allauddin Khan, the doyen of the Maihar Gharana.
At age 25 he composed music for the popular song ‘Sare Jahan Se Achcha Soon after, he began recording music for HMV India and worked as a music director at All India Radio.
In 1952 Panditji met the western violinist Yehudi Menuhin during the latter’s first visit to India. In 1956, he began to tour Europe and America playing Indian classical music and increased its popularity there in the l960s through teaching and performances.
George Harrison of The Beatles met Panditji in London in 1966. He was so impressed with the music that he visited India for 6 weeks to learn Sitar playing from Panditji. In 1967, Panditji performed at the Monterey Pop Festival and won a Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance for West Meets East, a collaboration with Yehudi Menuhin.
Panditji served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 12 May 1986 to 11 May 1992 after being nominated by Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi…
In Celebration is a career compilation by Panditji which was much appreciated. This encouraged him to write a second autobiography Raga Mala with Harrison as editor.
In the 2000s he won a Grammy Award for best world music album for full circle Carnegic hall 2000 and toured with Anoushka who released a book about her father Bapi Love of my life in 2002.
Panditji was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1962 and was named a Fellow of the academy in 1975. Panditji was also bestowed the three highest national civilian honors the Padma Bhushan in 1967 Padma Vibhushan in 1981 and Bharat Ratna in 1999. He Received the music award of the UNESCO international Music Council in 1975 three grammy Awards and was nominated for an Academy Award.
CD 1 1. Raga – Madhuvanti (1963)Aalap, Gat in Vilambit, Madhyalaya & Drut Teentaal 2. Raga – Mishra Mand (1963)Dhun in Kaharwa & Drut Teentaal 3. Raga – Manj Khamaj (1994) Gat in Vilambit & Drut Teentaal
CD 2 1. Raga – Asa Bhairav (1991) Gat In Vilambit Teentaal & Drut Teentaal 2. Raga – Mishra Bhairav (1991) Dhun in Aasha Teentaal & Drut Teentaal AccompanistTabla: Ustad Zakir Hussain
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