This generously filled double CD was launched with a ceremonial presentation
during a notable Royal Festival Hall concert in November 1999, as a tribute
to a very great musician who, together with Ram Narayan, has been responsible
for an upsurge of interest in this bowed string instrument (two of the rags
had previously been issued as one of Navras's earliest releases, NRCD 0004).
The sarangi, one of the most demanding and daunting of Indian
classical instruments, became something of an endangered species, because
it was more usually heard as an accompanying instrument for the voice (to
which its sound comes closest) and sarangi players remained in the shadow
of vocalists; with the decline of courtesans, many sarangi players lost their
jobs and the traditions faded. Even more damaging was the emergence of the
cruder, and much easier, bellows harmonium, which came to replace
in common usage the far more demanding sarangi. However, a few kept the flame
alight, and of these Ustad Sultan Khan is perhaps the most endearing
of those still playing regularly. Like most of his colleagues, he was grounded
in vocal music and indeed sings, as well as providing accompaniment for his
colleague's tabla solos, in this concert, which I was privileged to attend
and retain vivid memory.
With its three gut playing strings, and additional sympathetic strings, tuning
and intonation remain a constant care; only the most gifted players can control
tone and intonation, and the bowing technique is equally challenging. Sultan
Khan's tone is uncommonly mellifluous and this is one of the most beautiful
classical Indian concerts available on CD.
Five rags are represented, some of them not often played, with several of
the performances continuous for 30 - 40 minutes, which enables the listener
to become completely rapt up in the music. There are long, slow expositions
of alap, with infinitely subtle ornamentation, bending of the notes,
slides and graces, and long afterwards there are rhythmic duels with the
tabla in rapid flurries of astonishing virtuosity. There is really no complete
substitute for being present and sharing the communication and enjoyment
which Indian musicians well in tune with each other show on their faces.
The remastering and reissue of this complete concert is impeccable and the
live atmosphere is tangible. Just one small regret; if Navras is to involve
Western music lovers more successfully in their very successful operation,
they would do well to include translations of the spoken introductions which
are common in these live concerts (sometimes quite lengthy enough to make
us conscious of being outsiders!) - here totalling about 3 minutes, tracked
separately so that they can be skipped.
Reviewer
Peter Grahame Woolf
Try also Ram Naryan (sarangi) on Nimbus NI 5119
[illustrated], 5183 & 5245. All are fully
recommendable studio recordings, fully documented,
PGW
Further discs to explore:
Ustad
Sultan Khan (sarangi) & Shaukat Hussain Khan (tabla)
