This 1960s classic is a perfect introduction not only to Ravi Shankar's brilliant work on the sitar, but also to classical Indian music in general. Shankar offers brief, informative explanations of Indian ragas, scales, rhythms, song structures, and time signatures to set the stage for each spiritual piece he, Chatur Lal (tabla), and N.C. Mullick (tamboura) perform. Though Western listeners may not be able intellectually to pinpoint the subtle purposes of the various ragas' rhythms and movements, unconsciously listeners will feel them vividly. For instance, the plodding tension created by the 2/3/2/3 rhythm in "Máru-Bihág" well reflects the raga's poetic metaphor of separated, longing lovers. The loose, playful improvisation on "Sindhi-Bhairavi" mirrors the passionate romance of lovers. Overall, classical Indian music is diverse and complex, but The Sounds of India simplifies it beautifully for those interested in exploring it and its greatest ambassador.
Mondo India by Various Artists
Price: $14.49
While a compilation, Mondo India is essentially a celebration of the work of A.R. Rahman--possibly the greatest of the modern filmi composers, and a man who can seamlessly marry Indian and Western melodies, instruments, and techniques in a way no one has managed before. While there's a track each from his mentor R.D. Burman and his disciple Vishal, it's Rahman's work that sparkles with melody upon melody and an almost infinite sense of invention in the songs. He is to the Bollywood scene what Ennio Morricone or Nino Rota have been to European cinema: people who transcend the idea of score and soundtrack to bring forth pieces like "Dheeme Dheeme" that can stand alone as pieces of music.
Anthology of South Indian Classical Music by L. Subramaniam (4 CDs)
Price: $46.97
Anthology of South Indian Classical Music compiled (with extensive notes) by L. Subramaniam. This CD begins in the traditional Indian manner, with Stotras or invocations to the Gods and Goddesses, excerpts from Vedas, Alakaras, Gitams, Varnams, Javali, Tillana, Jatiswaram, Raga Alapanas, and tradional precussion ensemble. Samples of all the songs can be heard.
Odissi Sacred Dances
by Raghunath Panigrahi
Price: $17.97
Traditional Odissi dance music from the famous guru
Contents: Mangala Charan, Batu Nrutya, Pallavi, Abhinaya, Yugma Dwanda, Moksha Nata
With: Guru. Kelucharan Mahapatra on mardala, Mohini Mohan Patnaik onFlute; and Kumar Das on Sitar
Bharata Natyam
by Jahnavi Jayaprakash
Price: $12.57
Traditional Bharata Natyam dance music from the famous guru
Contents: Pushpanjali & Alarippu, Varnam, Padam, Tillana / Navaras: Sringara Of Love, Veera or Valour, Karuna or Pathos, Raudra or Fury Haasya or Humour, Bhayaanaka or Fear
Quiet by Sheila Chandra
Price: $14.99
Quiet, initially released by Indipop in 1984, marks vocalist Sheila Chandra's departure from the pop dance-beat style of her work with Monsoon, and lays the foundation for her successive recordings. These 10 pieces of a cycle (entitled Quiet 1-10) are layer upon layer of traditional Indian instrumentation coupled with Chandra's now trademark wordless vocals. Even at this stage in her early development and musical collaboration with Martin Smith and her husband Steve Coe, Chandra's exotic voicing registers as something quite special. Not as nuanced or centered as later work like AboneCroneDrone or Zen Kiss, Quiet remains an ambitious and innovative selection in what would become world music.
Weaving My Ancestors' Voices by Sheila Chandra
Price: $13.99
Approaching the voice as an instrument, British-born Indian Sheila Chandra brings an expansive, timeless quality to this collection of improvised songs based on ragas and modern folk music. Most of the tracks, outside of the drone, are unadorned--as is Chandra's pretty voice, simple in its low tone and unaffected in vocal style. Still, Chandra travels to expansive places, reliving her days as Monsoon's lead singer on "Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean." Though Chandra revisits British and Celtic music, her voice is at its strongest when borrowing from traditional Indian vocal technique and ragas. "Bhajan" is a soothing hymn with drone as are "Sacred Stones" and "Om Namaha Shiva," proving Chandra has indeed succeeded in connecting to ancestral voices for a lovely, meaningful album.
Songs of the Carnatic Tradition by Ramnad Krishnan
Price: $11.97
These are beautiful traditional devotional songs in the best Carnatic tradition. The singer is accompanied by violin, tanpura, and tabla. Each song is a wonder of South India's finest classical music. A treasure for all who enjoy classical Indian classical Carnatic music. In Telugu.
Carnatic Flute by K.S. Gopalakrishnan
Price: $19.97
South Indian classical style flute by K.S. Gopalan Krishana. This CD includes songs such as; Calamela, Vatapi Ganapatim Bhajeham, Paramapurusam, Rama Katha Sudha, Bhaja Bhaja Manasa (bhajan), Tillana, and Bhagyadalakshmi Baramma.
Making Music by Zakir Hussain
Price: $15.99
It's a simple enough concept: gather four great musicians--percussionist Zaikir Hussain, flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia, guitarist John McLaughlin, and saxophonist Jan Garbarek--into a studio, push "record," and see what happens. In the case of Making Music, quite a bit does happen. The meditative flute work of Chaurasia gives this disc a much deserved Indian feel, Garbarek's soaring horn lines add plenty of soul, and the interplay between McLaughlin and Hussain forms a rich tapestry of sounds. Soothing and soaring, here's an example of genre-fusing at its finest.
Shabda Yoga by Russill Paul
Price: $13.99
"Shabda," musician Russill Paul explains in the liner notes to this collection of traditional Indian music, represents the earliest stage in the "yoga of sound," which was cultivated more than 4,000 years ago. The disc features Paul performing on a 10-string creation that he calls a "unitar," and accompanied minimally by bansuri flute, sarangi, and percussion. The principal attraction here, however, is Paul's sincere chanting of Vedic verses that, Paul mentions in the disc's well-reasoned liner notes, are considered by some to be the world's oldest extant scriptures. Likely to appeal primarily to advanced yoga practitioners and those who have an interest in ancient Indian musical traditions.
Cultural Centre of India
Kudiyattam Dance Drama
Price: $16.97
Traditional Kathakali dance music
Contents: Mizhavu Ochapeduthal, Triputa Tala & Eka Tala
Dances of India- Bharata Natyam Arangetram Songs
Price: $9.89
Dances of India – Bharata Natyam Arangetram Songs album brings you the traditional Bharata Natyam music used during the formal performances. It also has all the songs used during Arangetram (solo graduation recital) which is done after many years of intense dance training from the guru. More info
Compact, palm sized model - 3 notes, Separate tuning controls for SA, PA and higher SA. Coarse and fine tuning knobs provided. Recommended for trained musicians and teachers. Comes with a storage case and can also be battery operated.
