|
In 1967, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, the flutist and Shivkumar Sharma,
theSantoor player created the"The Call of The Valley", the first
thematic recording in Indian classicalmusic. It remains one of
the greatest hits to date. It was about a boy anda girl who belong
to the Kashmir Valley - a romantic musical interlude set in the
serenity and the beauty that pervaded these Himalayan valleys.
It began with the music evoking the calmness and the gentleness
of thepre-dawn hours, the first rays setting the mountain peaks
aglow, and the valley gradually filling with light, the heat of
the noon and the cool of the evening and the waters of the Kashmiri
lake dancing with stars.
Almost thirty years later, Shivkumar and Hariprasad have revisited
their valley of the yester years. They recognise the change in
the last thirty years that has overtaken their nostalgic vale.
The innocence is lost, the peace of mind and harmony between peoples
has disappeared.
Shivkumar Sharma and Hariprasad Chaurasia played together this
week at the Royal Festival Hall in London which was a soldout
concert. In the first half, they played Anadi, the beginning and
in the second half of the concert, they played anant, the limitless
imporvisation. It was anuplifting evening indeed.
Recordings of these and other concerts are published by Navras
on CDs which are now available in London by post.
|
