A lonnnnggg longgggggg time ago I heard a review of a collection of ragas somewhere on NPR (Morning Edition or ATC or possibly Fresh Air.) It was called something like “The Ultimate Guide to Ragas” (but that’s not right and I can’t remember it now). It was a multi-CD set with extensive liner notes. I went so far as to track it down at B&N, but balked at the pricetag. I also caught an episode of Schickele mix that mentioned ragas as an example of non-Western meter system (if you’d call it a meter at all.)
Since then, I’ve had an ear out, and downloaded a couple of ragas from iTunes, and I really want to get some more. (My music collection needs a kick in the pants. I think it’s been six months since I bought anything new.)
Can anyone recommend an album or set, or a website or book that would get me going? I’ve surfed around a bit, but I’m feeling a touch overwhelmed. It’d be really cool if there was a place with little samples to listen to, with explanations.
I’d really like to learn to appreciate Indian music beyond, ya know, bopping my head and grooving along. Thanks in advance for your help.
Are you talking about Ravi Shankar-esque Indian Food Restaurant classical or the hardcore Indian classical which is someone moaning out “aaaaah aaaahhhh aaaaahhh” with tablas in the background and your crazy Indian parents warbling in tune to with them? Or Carnatic which I find absolutely unbearable?
Here’s one suggestion:
A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas
Hariprasad Chaurasia / Buddhadev Das Gupta / Shruti Sadolikar Katkar / Vidyadhar Vyas
Nimbus Records 5536/9 (4 CDs w/ 184 p. book)
If you can wait a couple of weeks I can go home and figure out some of the hardcore stuff for you. My father has thousands of tapes (that he’s methodically transferring to CD the poor darling) and is a big-time classical music appreciator.
I will admit that I find the sitar-heavy instrumental stuff more listenable, but I am open to learning more about the hardcore stuff. I’ve actually been avoiding Ravi Shankar on the suspicion that he’s more “commercial” or “Westernized.” His work seems a little . . . how do I put it . . . peppy?
I don’t have any Indian parents for accompaniment, but I have a German father who likes to sing along with opera. Will he do?
From surfing the web, I’ve learned that there is a difference between Carnatic and Hindustani ragas, but I’m afraid I haven’t the foggiest notion what it is.
Ah HA, that’s the one I heard about on the radio! I recognize the cover art. I think I’m over the sticker shock, and I’ll probably get that. Thanks so much! And I may get back to you about the hardcore stuff.
If anybody else has any suggestions, do feel free.
I feel a little uneasy to talk about fusion when you ask about classical but John McLaughlin’s collaboration with Indian classical music (through a “band” named Shakti) is simply out of the world.
There are about 3-4 albums that Shakti has released. You cannot go wrong with any of them and they are affordable. Try the samples through the Amazon link.
If you’re willing to listen to something else than Indian classical music, I suggest you listen to Qawwali. Although not in the Indian classical genre, it is a very emotive, powerful and spiritual genre of music. Usually it is performed to the percussion of the tablas and hand-clapping.
In particular, try out Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sabri Qawwals.
Carnatic Corner is a useful starting place if like me you are interested in the music but know nothing about it. I have attended a couple of concerts and they are fascinating. It is hard to credit that it is mostly being made up on the spot.
Oh, I second Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan…the man was a genius. He helped arrange a lot of the music on Dead Man Walking, if I remember correctly. My dad has a bunch of his music.
The Hindi movie industry used to shamelessly steal his melodies for Hindi songs, too.
By the way, my dad is totally hardcore on artistic Indian music and won’t listen to Hindi film music recorded after 1970something (except for anything Mangeshkar/Bhosle b/c being Marathi and all on top of Indian he owns every single recording they ever made) and is basically a total music snob…and he agrees that Ravi Shankar is a complete genius and adores his music. So I mean, just b/c he is popular here doesn’t mean that the reputation is undeserved :). I actually just saw Ravi Shankar in concert last semester as he came to my university and I waited for an hour and begged 20 bucks off my friend to get my dad an autographed CD.
Absolutely. The thing is that Ravi Shankar has recorded plenty of 100% pure “classical” music in the Hindustani tradition, and he definitely proves he’s the real deal there; but he has also made records especially tailored to the western audience, and various east-west fusion projects with western classical, jazz, and/or electronic artists. So I can see why some purists (not me, mind you) might get a little snobby about him.
