I n d i a n C l a s s i c a l
Indian Classical Music Recommended Recordings
Northern Indian classical music is called Hindustani while music from the south of India is termed Carnatic.
The two most famous northern Indian musicians in the West are sitar master Ravi Shankar and the sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan. In fact they both studied together for many years as their teacher, Allauddin Khan, was the father of Ali Akbar Khan and a great musician in his own right.
Ali Akbar Khan was a noted sarod player and the first Indian to be recorded in the West. In fact Yehudi Menuhin called him "the greatest musician in the world". Considered a "National Living Treasure" in India, Khan was the first Indian musician to be honored by the MacArthur Foundation with its "Genius Grant", which he received in 1991. He was also awarded the National Endowment for the Arts' prestigious National Heritage Fellowship, the highest U.S. honor in traditional arts, in 1997.
If you have ever listened to The Concert for Bangladesh by George Harrison and Friends you have already heard Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, as "Bangla Dhun", which is the first cut on the album after the introduction, features them playing together.
Regardless of whether you are familiar with Hindustani music, below are some recommended recordings for your enjoyment:
The two most famous northern Indian musicians in the West are sitar master Ravi Shankar and the sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan. In fact they both studied together for many years as their teacher, Allauddin Khan, was the father of Ali Akbar Khan and a great musician in his own right.
Ali Akbar Khan was a noted sarod player and the first Indian to be recorded in the West. In fact Yehudi Menuhin called him "the greatest musician in the world". Considered a "National Living Treasure" in India, Khan was the first Indian musician to be honored by the MacArthur Foundation with its "Genius Grant", which he received in 1991. He was also awarded the National Endowment for the Arts' prestigious National Heritage Fellowship, the highest U.S. honor in traditional arts, in 1997.
If you have ever listened to The Concert for Bangladesh by George Harrison and Friends you have already heard Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, as "Bangla Dhun", which is the first cut on the album after the introduction, features them playing together.
Regardless of whether you are familiar with Hindustani music, below are some recommended recordings for your enjoyment:
Ali Akbar KhanSignature Series Vol. 1 CD-AMMP 9001Ragas Chandranandan, Gauri Manjari and Jogiya Kalengra
Ali Akbar KhanSignature Series Vol. 2CD-AMMP 9002Three Ragas: Medhavi, Khammaj and Bhairavi Bhatiyar with Ragmala
Ali Akbar KhanSignature Series Vol. 3 CD-AMMP 9404Marwa and Misra Shivranjani
Ali Akbar KhanSignature Series Vol. 4 CD-AMMP 9405Duets with Nikhil Banerjee, sitar. Manj Khammaj and Misra Mand
Ali Akbar KhanPlays Alap-A Sarod Solo CD-AMMP 9303Alaps in Shri Rag, Pilu Baroowa and Iman Kalyan
Ali Akbar KhanMorning VisionsCD-AMMP 9406Rag Mian-ki Todi and Rag Sindhu Bhairavi
Ali Akbar KhanSignature Series Vol. 2CD-AMMP 9002Three Ragas: Medhavi, Khammaj and Bhairavi Bhatiyar with Ragmala
Ali Akbar KhanSignature Series Vol. 3 CD-AMMP 9404Marwa and Misra Shivranjani
Ali Akbar KhanSignature Series Vol. 4 CD-AMMP 9405Duets with Nikhil Banerjee, sitar. Manj Khammaj and Misra Mand
Ali Akbar KhanPlays Alap-A Sarod Solo CD-AMMP 9303Alaps in Shri Rag, Pilu Baroowa and Iman Kalyan
Ali Akbar KhanMorning VisionsCD-AMMP 9406Rag Mian-ki Todi and Rag Sindhu Bhairavi
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For a complete discography of Ali Akbar Khan click here.
For a complete discography of Ravi Shankar click here.