The Sounds of India

The Sounds of India

Category: (Music)

19 new, starting at $2.88

7 used, starting at $4.00

Buy Now

Editorial Reviews

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. --Karen Karleski

Customer Reviews

Raga saga

Reviewed by Igor Lurye, 2009-06-25

This is a sort of educational cd by Ravi Shankar, where he sometimes talk between the compositions, however this doesn't preclude music to be what it is - a flowing indian symphony of what came to be percieved in the West as "psychedelia", becuase the structure of the music itself grows from and revolves around the center, just as this whole Universe revolves and grows from the one center which is Brahman.

Great for Christmas

Reviewed by Master of Taste, 2008-12-24

I played this album one year on Christmas and my wife asked if it was a family tradition to listen to Ravi Shankar on Christmas. I said starting this year it is. So now we start off Christmas morning with this worderful record and continue on to other magical ragas.

Lesson in Sitar

Reviewed by G. Sidhu, 2007-09-23

Quite disappointing CD. There's some dis-jointed sitar music which is interjected by instructons and historical lessons by Mr Shankar. Difficult to enjoy in the normal sense.

Classic Ravi Shankar

Reviewed by Neelie Jane, 2007-07-24

This is Classic Ravi Shankar. The bonus is that this production has a tutorial that introduces the music to a novice listener. Highly recommended.

The Sounds of India

Reviewed by E. M. Gilbert, 2007-04-08

I have enjoyed Ravi Shankar since the 70's, when he was "in." In my opinion, he still is. He is a master of the sitar and his explanations of the music was the only thing that I did not care for. I would much preferred that that brief time had been spent in playing more beautiful music. But, I would recommend it to anyone who likes the sitar as I have never heard anyone who has a command of it like Ravi.