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● Indian Classical Music
Northern Indian classical music is called Hindustani while music from the south of India is termed Carnatic.
The two most famous northern Indian musicians in the West are sitar master Ravi Shankar and the sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan. In fact they both studied together for many years as their teacher, Allauddin Khan, was the father of Ali Akbar Khan and a great musician in his own right.
Ali Akbar Khan was a noted sarod player and the first Indian to be recorded in the West. In fact Yehudi Menuhin called him "the greatest musician in the world". Considered a "National Living Treasure" in India, Khan was the first Indian musician to be honored by the MacArthur Foundation with its "Genius Grant", which he received in 1991. He was also awarded the National Endowment for the Arts' prestigious National Heritage Fellowship, the highest U.S. honor in traditional arts, in 1997.
If you have ever listened to The Concert for Bangladesh by George Harrison and Friends you have already heard Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, as "Bangla Dhun", which is the first cut on the album after the introduction, features them playing together.
Regardless of whether you are familiar with Hindustani music, below are some recommend recordings for your enjoyment:
Ali Akbar Khan-Signature Series/Vol.1 CD-AMMP
9001
Ragas Chandranandan, Gauri Manjari and Jogiya Kalengra
Ali Akbar Khan-Signature Series/Vol.2 CD-AMMP
9002
Three Ragas: Medhavi, Khammaj and Bhairavi Bhatiyar with Ragmala
Ali Akbar Khan-Signature Series/Vol.3 CD-AMMP
9404
Marwa and Misra Shivranjani
Ali Akbar Khan-Signature Series/Vol.4 CD-AMMP
9405
Duets with Nikhil Banerjee, sitar. Manj Khammaj and Misra Mand
Ali Akbar Khan-Plays Alap-A Sarod Solo CD-AMMP
9303
A 2 CD set with Alaps in Shri Rag, Pilu Baroowa and Iman Kalyan
CD-Ali
Akbar Khan-Morning Visions CD-AMMP 9406
Rag Mian-ki Todi and Rag Sindhu Bhairavi
For a complete discography of Ali Akbar Khan click here.
For a complete discography of Ravi Shankar click here.