RIP Pandit Ravi Shankar: Legendary Sitar Maestro…
“Pop changes week to week, month to month. But great music is like literature.” Pandit Ravi Shankar
RIP Pandit Ravi Shankar: Legendary Sitar Maestro…
RIP Pandit Ravi Shankar: Legendary Sitar Maestro…
Pandit Ravi Shankar – Raga Asa Bhairav
GRAMMY Live – Lifetime Achievement Award: Ravi Shankar
Pandit Ravi Shankar was a gifted musician and composer whose expertise on the sitar, and powerful, evocative music, brought him international recognition and well deserved accolades. He was often called the “Godfather of World Music ” as he cut across cultural boundaries to share his music globally. His genre was classical Indian music with a contemporary feel and his performances were long, inspiring musical feats that could make the spirit soar as if in deep meditation. In fact, I was exposed to his music during my ashram living years and that was the first way I got to learn about, and fall in love, with his body of work. I found his music both captivating and meditative and would listen to his performances and interviews on my CDs and TV/Radio for hours.
Over the years, Ravi Shankar traveled around the world performing his special brand of music which, as time went by, included performances with his daughter Anoushka, a talented musician in her own right. The equally talented Norah Jones is his daughter. If you’ve never heard his music, I invite you to devote some time to sit back, listen, and let the sounds wash over your body and soothe your soul. His music came into my life at an important phase in my growth and I remain grateful for the exposure. Above and below, I’ve included a few more of my favorite musical pieces from his best work for your listening pleasure including some linked back to YouTube; Raga Parameshwari and Mishra Bhairav, below.
More below!
“In our culture we have such respect for musical instruments, they are like part of God.” Pandit Ravi Shankar
RIP Pandit Ravi Shankar: Legendary Sitar Maestro…
RIP Pandit Ravi Shankar: Legendary Sitar Maestro… Ravi and Anoushka in concert 2005
Pandit Ravi Shankar & Anoushka Shankar – Raga Anandi Kalyan
RAVI SHANKAR INCREDIBLE raga charukauns
RAVI SHANKAR LIVE CONCERT AT BBC
We often hear about how the power of great instrumental music can draw us closer to the divine… While this might not be our daily experience, Ravi’s music spoke to something ancient and steady in the soul. Whenever I settled into listening to any of his long performances, a sense of calm descended and transported me to a place of quiet contemplation. As India’s most esteemed musical Ambassador, he was in huge demand and collaborated with many notables including André Previn, Zubin Mehta, Philip Glass, and George Harrison.
Throughout his career, Ravi Shankar received many awards including three Grammy Awards, and an Academy Award nomination. Right up to and beyond his last concert on November 4, 2012, he remained a shining light and phenomenon in the world of classical Indian music. Pandit Ravi Shankar passed away on December 11th and is survived by his wife, Sukanya, daughters; Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones, and other family members. He was 92. RIP Maestro and Thank You for your musical contributions to the world…
Stay Inspired! What are your thoughts? Are you familiar with Ravi Shankar’s music? Do you have any favorites on your playlist? Would you recommend some to my readers? Do share! Thank you. 🙂
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: Daily Prompt: Mix Tape. Put together a musical playlist of songs that describe your life, including what you hope your future entails.
*Please bear with me as I continue to catch up on your blogs and commenting… Thank you all for your patience! 🙂
Positive Motivation Tip: Great Music has the power to heal and bring us closer to the divine. When we are caught in a web of worries, we can turn to the sacred sounds of our favorite instrumental music for there is comfort and blessing there. 🙂
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos Ravi Shankar, Ravi Shankar 2009, Ravi and Anoushka, via Wikipedia, Flickr and/or my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Related articles
- Pandit Ravi Shankar (1920-2012) (thehindu.com)
- Farewell, Pandit Ravi Shankar (ndtv.com)
- Indian Sitar Virtuoso Ravi Shankar Dies (abcnews.go.com)
- Pandit Ravi Shankar passes away (thehindu.com)
- Indian sitar maestro Ravi Shankar dies – BBC News (bbc.co.uk)
- Playlist: Pandit Ravi Shankar’s best compositions (ibnlive.in.com)
- R.I.P. Ravi Shankar (pitchfork.com)
- Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar dies at 92 (ibnlive.in.com)
- RIP Pandit Ravi Shankar: Legendary Sitar Maestro… (mirthandmotivation.com)
A loss to us but a gain for the Divine Collective.
Indeed. The saints are celebrating his arrival with ragas and a bhandara feast! 🙂 TY Eileen!
I have always enjoyed his music. He will be missed. Great tribute here.
TY Walter! I’ve always loved his music and sad to hear that he had passed away… magical quality to the way he played the sitar.
Heard this morning and it brought back waves of memories from when I first heard of him. Sad.
TY Gemma! His music will live on and Anoushka now carries that torch. He was a phenomenal performer…
Beautiful Tribute. The quote above is so true : “Pop changes week to week, month to month. But great music is like literature.”
TY Angie It is attributed to PRS and is apropos to his mastery… He was truly a maestro.
lovely post Elizabeth x
TY! Do you have any favorites on your playlist?
here’s a lovely one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RunqR_7bSf8
I don’t specifically have any favourites but love those clips where he’s playing with his daughter – the joy on both their faces 🙂
Beautiful… TY! 🙂
What a wonderful musician. Thank you for sharing such a nice tribute. 🙂
TY for leaving feedback Angelia… he was a gifted musician and I wish I had attended that performance in November.
His music was so inspirational and so incredibly beautiful. It would take me far away… I remember going to see him play – I think it was forty years ago! – in London, with a good friend. I went into a reverie… Thanks for this post.
TY Petchary! Your words describe it well… a reverie!
Beautiful tribute to a divine master, Eliz. I kept the youtube clips playing while I blogged today, and it accented the beauty that exists in so many different forms in our world. Thank you for sharing.
TY Kozo and I’m doing the same as I read and respond across to this and other posts. 🙂
Sorry to hear about the passing of such great artist. Their songs and legacy will live on.
TY IT. He left an impressive body of work so yes, his music will live on for others to enjoy and emulate.
Lovely tribute Eliz ! A true musical genius he was.
TY Deepa! He was such and I hope when you have a moment, you might share a favorite or two with me.
He was a lovely man!
True… TY for your feedback Willowdot!
2012 has witnessed loss of a lot of great talent.. 🙁 Pandit Ravi Shankar Ji will always be remembered by music lovers across the world…..
Hi Shibin! It has been quite the year with such losses in the world of music. His great music will be remembered and enjoyed for years to come. TY! How are you doing? Quite busy eh?
What a man and an inspiration he was. I’m so pleased you wrote this post about him
TY Peter! I discovered his music during an important phase in my life and it always gave me such peace and joy… we don’t forget…. ever.
Thanks so much for all your kind comments 🙂 and for sharing this .. I look forward to listening to the songs in your post ..here on this computer I can’t hear music (it’s just for work and does not have a soundcard) but I will catch up later in the evening from my laptop 🙂
TY for checking in to leave a comment too… much appreciated. I hope you listen later on, it would be a wonderful way to relax after a day’s work.
Oh yes, that’s true.. the music is very relaxing and I’m enjoying it right now after work..
thank you for the inspiration 🙂
I only knew him as Norah Jones’ father. May he rest in peace.
Amen! Yes, he’s Norah’s dad. TY for your comment.
Beautiful tribute, Elizabeth. Lovely relaxing music, which when I close my eyes, transports me to a higher place for sure. Thanks so much for sharing.
TY Adin for your comment… I love the soothing nature of his music too.. It always calms me. He will be sorely missed. 🙂
A loving tribute!
TY Allyson… He was brilliant.
Way back in the late 60’s, when I was probably about 5, my college age cousin played me some of his music. It made a big impression on me, I must have thought ‘What …is … This!!!’. I have him to thank for exposing me to Shankar’s music, as well as the music of so many others.
What a beautiful share… I can imagine that not only did people meditate or relax with it, they indulged all the recreational treats popular during that decade with it too. 😆
I was reluctant to say it, but yes he was a hippie! Nothing wrong about that though. He had a memorable experience seeing The Beatles, I remember him talking about that for weeks.
Actually, I was glad you reminded me of it because it was an important period in the evolution of his music… I appreciated it. TY! 🙂 {{{HUGS}}}
That is true about the positive music. I really believe that it heals as does singing. I love to hear people singing. Singing people are happy people. 🙂
Yes… they are… music is healing for sure. 🙂
Wonderful, thank you for sharing your tribute to this great man.
He was the best in at his craft… TY!
I love his music and I’m thankful he has two incredibly gifted daughters…to pass on his legacy of music, regardless of their styles. Music is healing.
I concur and they have a great legacy standing behind them… TY Lynne! 🙂
I am not familiar with his music. it is lovely and i thank you for sharing it.
TY for listening… I love many types of music and this falls in the calming category. 😉
I love different types of music, although I didn’t know about this artist Ravi Shankar, I’m sure I have heard some of his music before. This is a very interesting post! 😉
Thank you. Listen to one of the videos I uploaded. His music is deeply moving and restorative.
I had no idea that Norah Jones was his daughter, now I can see where she gets such talent from! Rest in peace to this talented man.
Yes, she is his daughter and her first album won about 8 Grammys. He won 3 and the extended Shankar family is very well respected and talented.