Pandit Ravi Shankar is perhaps among the most well-known Indians outside India. His long life, ebullient creativity and refusal to be confined to a genre made him a version of the famous gun slinger whose calling card read, "Have Gun. Will Travel." Shankar’s card might have stated: "Have Sitar. Will Travel. Anywhere.”
In the following clips, we get just a glimpse of the restless and relentless spirit of one of the 20th century’s great musical pioneers, a man who knew where he came from but was agnostic about his ultimate destination as well as the many stops on the way.
Ravi Shankar (with George Harrison)
I am Missing You
A raggedy, rambling live performance with members of the Shankar clan, including vocals by Laxmi Shankar (none related to the sitarist), interwoven with a flute and friends of Beatles member George Harrison doing early 70s sort of stuff.
Ravi Shankar (with Philip Glass)
Ragas in Minor Scale
Shankar’s collaborations with Yehudi Menuhin and later with Zubin Mehta are highlights in the story of the blending of west and east classical approaches to music.
In 1990, Ravi hooked up with American modern minimalist composer Philip Glass to create with an album as unlikely as, in the words of one reviewer, "ice skating on the River Styx".
The same reviewer went on to affirm, however, that the music was brilliant with Shankar’s smoothness offsetting and balancing Glass’s often discordant orchestrations. This clip is luminous.
Ravi Shankar
Alice in Wonderland Theme
In 1966, Shankar was commissioned to write the score for the British film production of Lewis Carroll’s classic, Alice in Wonderland. The film was considered somewhat avant garde at the time with its period costumes and live action, later becoming a small cult hit.
That Shankar delivered a soundtrack that fit the mood of this most bizarre of tales, outwardly just a children's story, is further evidence of his ability to do far more with a raga than many of his peers.
Ravi Shankar
Mishrank
Unbelievably, I passed by this album on eBay some years ago. It is a rarity. Here, Shankar turns his mind to the world of early 1960s jazz, and with his Indian acolytes manages to create a completely unique take on a form that has proved to be an endlessly rich lode for musicians in both hemispheres. There are echoes of big band, live NY club acoustics, Bollywood strings and Brubeck in this!
Ravi Shankar (with Yehudi Menuhin)
Prabhati
Based on Raga Gunkali, this jugalbandi, or duet, between old friends and comrades in arms, Ravi and Yehudi, is stunning.
Nate Rabe was born and raised in India. He comments on South Asian culture and music from Kuala Lumpur. He also nurtures two blogs dedicated to music: The Harmonium Music Blog and Washerman’s Dog.
Listen to these tracks as a single playlist on our YouTube channel.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
In the following clips, we get just a glimpse of the restless and relentless spirit of one of the 20th century’s great musical pioneers, a man who knew where he came from but was agnostic about his ultimate destination as well as the many stops on the way.
Ravi Shankar (with George Harrison)
I am Missing You
A raggedy, rambling live performance with members of the Shankar clan, including vocals by Laxmi Shankar (none related to the sitarist), interwoven with a flute and friends of Beatles member George Harrison doing early 70s sort of stuff.
Ravi Shankar (with Philip Glass)
Ragas in Minor Scale
Shankar’s collaborations with Yehudi Menuhin and later with Zubin Mehta are highlights in the story of the blending of west and east classical approaches to music.
In 1990, Ravi hooked up with American modern minimalist composer Philip Glass to create with an album as unlikely as, in the words of one reviewer, "ice skating on the River Styx".
The same reviewer went on to affirm, however, that the music was brilliant with Shankar’s smoothness offsetting and balancing Glass’s often discordant orchestrations. This clip is luminous.
Ravi Shankar
Alice in Wonderland Theme
In 1966, Shankar was commissioned to write the score for the British film production of Lewis Carroll’s classic, Alice in Wonderland. The film was considered somewhat avant garde at the time with its period costumes and live action, later becoming a small cult hit.
That Shankar delivered a soundtrack that fit the mood of this most bizarre of tales, outwardly just a children's story, is further evidence of his ability to do far more with a raga than many of his peers.
Ravi Shankar
Mishrank
Unbelievably, I passed by this album on eBay some years ago. It is a rarity. Here, Shankar turns his mind to the world of early 1960s jazz, and with his Indian acolytes manages to create a completely unique take on a form that has proved to be an endlessly rich lode for musicians in both hemispheres. There are echoes of big band, live NY club acoustics, Bollywood strings and Brubeck in this!
Ravi Shankar (with Yehudi Menuhin)
Prabhati
Based on Raga Gunkali, this jugalbandi, or duet, between old friends and comrades in arms, Ravi and Yehudi, is stunning.
Nate Rabe was born and raised in India. He comments on South Asian culture and music from Kuala Lumpur. He also nurtures two blogs dedicated to music: The Harmonium Music Blog and Washerman’s Dog.
Listen to these tracks as a single playlist on our YouTube channel.
