The Ravi Shankar Music Circle · RSMC-D-102
Recorded in Concert, Occidental College — 29.3.1986
The Ravi Shankar Music Circle · RSMC-D-102
Recorded in Concert, Occidental College — 29.3.1986
01 - Khyal in Raga Dhaani [35:17]
Slow Khyal in Ektaal (12 beats) - Tarana in Teental (16 beats)
A pentatonic (five notes) Raga similar to western scales heard in jazz
and the blues.
Usually performed in the late afternoon.
02 - Lai Thumri in Raga Mishra Khamaj - Tala - Deepchandi (14 beats)
[14:33]
This Raga is used in light classical forms such as the thumri heard
here.
The term mishra means mixed and indicates the performer may use
any notes
to accentuate or enhance the beauty of the composition.
03 - Bhajan. Gopala [6:48]
by the 16th century poet Nidhiram. Keherwa Tal (8 beats)
04 - Bhajan. Janama Marana [9:21]
by the saint-poetess of the 16th century, Mirabai,
who gave up her life as a Queen for the love and devotion to Lord
Krishna.
Lakshmi Shankar
Viji Subramaniam, vocal support
Shyam Kane, tabla
Recorded in Concert, Occidental College — 3/29/86
Produced by Richard Bock
A magnificent, rich voice which easily encompasses three octaves, her
sense of proportion and the emotional content of her singing are
qualities that have made Lakshmi Shankar one of the foremost vocalists
of India. She has appeared abroad in most of the major music festivals,
including Edinburgh and Shiraz, where one reporter said,
No one at the festival contributed so much, so directly and so
beautifully. Lakshmi Shankar displayed an elegant virtuosity and
musical complexity unknown to the tradition which represents the
coloratura soprano as the highest achievement of the human voice.
Her performances reward the audience not only with astute musical
presentations, but with a sense that she sings as her way to share her
deep convictions — the music is her offering. It is in the
Bhajans — the devotional songs — that we are permitted
insight into an aspect of music often lost in the contemporary concert
hall. In Bhakti — the way of salvation through devotional service
— one offers what one does best. It is the deeply devotional
nature of Lakshmi's offering that makes her one of the great masters of
this form.
Her career in the arts began in Madras as a gifted young dancer of the
Bharat Natyam style. When she was only 13 she went to Almora to study
and eventually perform with Uday Shankar as a dancer. Her formal vocal
studies began under the guidance of Abdul Rehman Khan. In a few short
years she was able to make the difficult transition from South India
dance to emerge as one of North India's most popular vocalists.
Lakshmi has recorded many albums and has sung for many films —
one of the most recent being the award winning Gandhi for which
she provided most of the vocal music under the direction of her
brother-in-law, Ravi Shankar.
GLOSSARY
Bhajan — a devotional song
Khyal — imagination, fancy. An important form of classical
music popular today. In vocal khyals, the texts can cover
subjects from the sublime to the mundane, serving mainly as vehicles
for the music.
Thumri — A form of light classical vocal music especially
popular since the late nineteenth century. The texts of the thumri
are usually concerned with aspects of love.
Gat — A fixed composition which provides motives for
improvisation.
Raga — A prescribed selection of melodic material which is
the basis for composition and improvisation. Literally, color, that
which colors the mind. Each raga is distinguished by particular
notes, characteristic progressions, motives, emphases, associated
emotions, and time of performance.
Tala — Rhythmic cycle. The many different Tala patterns
are distinguished by their total number of matra (beats)
grouping or divisions.
Tarana — A vocal form having meaningless syllables as text.