The Art of Sarangi

A reissue of recordings made in 1971, this disc features the maestro Ram Narayan, who became the first internationally renowned exponent of the sarangi (a boxed, unfretted lute played with a bow), which was traditionally always used as accompaniment for vocal music, its sound closely resembling the human voice. But the mid-20th century saw a decline, with classical vocalists preferring the more portable harmonium, relegating the sarangi to accompaniment of courtesans, who usually performed lighter forms of music. Its revival as a fully-fledged solo classical instrument was largely due to Narayan who, despite a humiliating attempt at giving a solo performance in Mumbai in 1954 and being driven from the stage by an impatient audience, soldiered on.
Taking heart from sitar maestro Ravi Shankar's success in the West, Narayan began touring and performing outside India, receiving much critical acclaim for a rarely heard instrument. This disc includes the original, rather laboriously detailed liner notes from 1971, and features four full-length raga recitals including the deeply meditative morning ‘Raga Bairagi-Bhairav’, the romantic ‘Madhuvanti’, depicting sensuous desire and ‘Kirwani’, which is borrowed from the Karnatic (South Indian classical music) tradition. The best comes last – an additional recording made in India in 1979 of the ‘Raga Shankara’ – where, in the alap (slow introduction), Narayan affirms the sarangi's capabilities as a serious classical instrument.