THIS IS A RARE AND USED ITEM. IT IS NOT MANUFACTURED ANYMORE. NO RETURNS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma is not merely an unrivalled santoor virtuoso, but a phenomenon that has just “come off”! He has done to his santoor what the late Pandit Pannalal Ghosh did to his bansuri.

 The emergence of the Santoor on the musical scene is of very recent origin, and it was the compulsive urge of a highly educated young man – who would have made a mark in any other field – that made it possible. He introduced several changes to make this folk instrument suitable for classical music.

 Listening to its soft, lyrical sensuous sound, you will feel the santoor come to life and sing in Shivkumarji’s hands.

 This disc of santoor music provides further testimony to the ever growing popularity of Shivkumar Sharma, and the santoor, among connoisseurs in India and abroad.

Shafaat Ahmed Khan

 Accompanying Shivkumar Sharma is 26 year old Shafaat Ahmed Khan an excellent exponent of the table. A creation of Delhi Gharana, he began playing the table at the early age of six under the guidance of his father, Ustad Chhamma Khan. Shafaat, one of the most talented young artistes we have in the country today, has travelled abroad extensively and has at this young age already received much international acclaim.

 Apart from having given numerous solo performances, Shafaat has accompanied particularly all the top ranking artistes in the field of dance, vocal and instrumental music. He is gifted with a perfect sense of cadence and harmony, and synchronises perfectly with the temperament of the leading artiste.

MUSIC

SIDE ONE:

 RAGA CHANDRAKAUNS

 This is a sub-melody of the celebrated Malkauns. Rendered towards midnight, it makes use of “Shuddha nishad” instead of “komal nishad” of “Malkauns”. Chandrakauns is first rendered in a “gat bandish”, set to medium tempo in Jhaptaal (10 matras), followed by a drut composition in tritaal (16 matras).

 SIDE TWO:

 RAGA MISHRA KAFI

 This is based on the main raga Kafi, which is also conventionally rendered around midnight hours. Mishra Kafi is first played as a “dhun” (lighter tune) in “dadra taal” (6 matras) and then as a gat set to tritaal (16 matras).

Artists:

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Santoor), Shafaat Ahmed Khan (Tabla)

Tracks:

 Side 1

Raga Chandrakauns         Gat Madhya laya : Jhaptaal

Raga Chandrakauns         Gat Drut: Teentaal

Side 2

Raga Mishra Kafi               Dhun: Taal Dadra

Raga Mishra Kafi               Gat: Tritaal