In our continued efforts to showcase rare, unreleased recordings from the archive, we’ve created an audio presentation of a lecture given by Ravi Shankar in 1967 while a visiting professor at City College of New York. Learn how to answer the question, What is Raga? by listening to this 30 minute lecture. Learn about the origins of raga, Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande’s modernization of melas and thaats, the arohana (ascending) and the avarohana (descending) structures of ragi, terminology of notes like Vadi-Swar (the root, king, most important), Samavadi (fifths, consonants), Anuvadi (assonants), and Vivadi (dissonants, the who fights, or the note that is not there at all)….
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Live Talks: Oliver Craske on the Writing of Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar
To celebrate the paperback release of Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar, author Oliver Craske will be talking about the surprises, challenges, and delights of writing the official biography of Ravi Shankar, sitar maestro and ambassador of world music. Paperback available from Faber & Faber Thu 1 July: Nehru Centre: Online launch of Indian Sun paperback. In conversation with the writer and filmmaker Nasreen Munni Kabir. Sun 4 July: Bradford Literature Festival. With live sitar demonstrations by Jasdeep Singh Degun. 3.30pm. Thu 15 July: Ways With Words literature festival, Dartington, Devon. In conversation with William Gallois. 1.15pm. Fri 13 August, The Red House,…
Blackwing Pencil Vol. 3 – Ravi Shankar
What an honor to have Blackwing Pencils celebrate the meeting of the Maestro and pop icon George Harrison with the newest edition to their limited edition 602 pencil sets. The pencils feature Blackwing’s unparalleled extra-firm graphite and a matte turmeric finish accented with a pattern inspired by one of Ravi’s iconic sitars. The pattern prominently features the ॐ (Om), a sacred Sanskrit symbol with three phonetic components that correlate to the waking, dream, and unconscious states of being. A portion of every purchase goes toward the Ravi Shankar Foundation, whose ongoing mission includes the preservation of recordings by the Maestro, the continued expansion of dialog between East…
Revisit Ravi Shankar: A Life In Music at the Grammy Museum’s Digital Experiences
The GRAMMY Museum celebrated Ravi Shankar – India’s most esteemed musician – with the April 29, 2015 opening of Ravi Shankar: A Life In Music. The exhibit gave visitors a unique look into the GRAMMY-winning world music icon’s early life, the roots of his musicality and his vast impact on Western music – including John Coltrane, Philip Glass, Yehudi Menuhin and The Beatles. Revisit this exhibition at the Grammy’s new digital experiences site! View exhibition >>
In Celebration: Ravi Shankar’s Centennial
On April 7th, Ravi Shankar would have turned 100. In celebration of the life and music of the Maestro is a special musical tribute to the Maestro. Even in uncertain times, music is the great conduit for community and love. Take a journey into the realm of Ravi Shankar’s music with his senior disciples Vishway Mohan Bhatt (mohan veena), Shubhendra Rao (Sitar), Gaurav Mazumdar (sitar), Aditya Verma (Sarod), Barry Phillips (cello), Ravichandra Kulur (bansuri flute), Ashwini Shankar (shehnai), Bickram Ghosh (tabla), BC Manjunath (mridangam) and led by his daughter, Anoushka Shankar (sitar).
Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar by Oliver Craske
The definitive biography of the Maestro, told with the cooperation of his estate, family, and friends. Rigorously researched and lovingly presented, Oliver Craske offers a detailed and compelling account of the life of Ravi Shankar and the worlds he touched through his music and personal journey. More Info. “This first authorized biography is the product of 25 years’ research and interviews. For fans of Shankar and Indian classical, Oliver Craske’s mighty work will surely be a delight.” – The Guardian
Nine Decades Series 2020 Releases Announced!
On April 24th, we will be releasing two fantastic recordings from the Ravi Shankar Foundation’s archives. • Nine Decades Vol. 6: Dutch-India Airwaves On May 27, 1957 Ravi Shankar (sitar), Chatur Lal (tabla) and Nodu Mallick (tanpura) performed in Amsterdam at the Concertgebouw. It was Shankar’s first appearance as a solo artist in The Netherlands. Though there is no audio of that concert, we are lucky to have this music, recorded earlier in the day at the Radio Netherlands studios in Hilversum as well as an interview with Ravi Shankar, done in both Hindi and English, recorded at a museum in Leiden. As a rare glimpse…
Chants of India Vinyl Re-Issue
To celebrate Ravi Shankar’s Centennial, Dark Horse Records will release the George Harrison produced 1997 album ‘Chants of India’ on vinyl for the first time for Record Store Day 2020. The album will be available on 2 x 12” LP 180-Gram Red Vinyl and include an exclusive 12”x12” photo print. Head to your local record store on April 18th to buy your copy! recordstoreday.com
Celebrating 100 Years – The Life & Legacy of Ravi Shankar
EMWMusic is pleased to announce a set of concerts produced by the Ravi Shankar Foundation celebrating the life and legacy of Ravi Shankar and to mark the centennial anniverasary of what would have been the Maestro’s 100th birthday. These concerts will feature Norah Jones, Anoushka Shankar, Philip Glass, Dhani Harrison, Nitin Sawhney and Ensemble of Ravi Shankar’s Foremost Disciples. Come on out and celebrate the life of one of the most lauded musicians of our time. Tuesday, April 7, 2020 Southbank Centre (London, United Kingdom) Anoushka Shankar, Norah Jones, Nitin Sawhney Saturday, May 16, 2020 San Diego Civic Theatre (San Diego, CA) Anoushka Shankar, Dhani Harrison…
‘Musical Icon: Ravi Shankar’ at Musical Instrument Museum
Musical Icon: Ravi Shankar, a two-day celebration of the life and music of The Maestro, will take place on October 20 and 21, 2018 at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix. Events include hands-on activities, lectures, film screenings, and performances. The MIM Artist Gallery currently displays two of Ravi Shankar’s sitars, as well as a traditional Indian dress worn by Ravi’s daughter, Anoushka Shankar. For more information on the event, visit the MIM website. Musical Icon: Ravi Shankar is presented in partnership with the Ravi Shankar Foundation.