About 'Seven Ragas in Seven Talas'

This unique recording introduces seven different ragas (melodic structures) in seven different talas (rhythmic cycles) drawn from the dhrupad tradition of Indian classical music. With each raga, a vocal composition--devotional in nature, and representing the rich synthesis of Hindu and Muslim elements that distinguishes Hindustani classical music (the music of the northern Indian subcontinent)--is sung, accompanied by the surbahar, thus uniting both the vocal and instrumental dimensions of this tradition. 

This recording is also singular in presenting the nineteen-stringed surbahar (Indian base lute--the solo stringed instrument itself, and a comparative rarity, as the larger and deeper-voiced relative of the sitar) ) in combination with the rhythmic accompaniment of the pakhawaj (Indian barrel drum), the oldest generic classical drum of South Asia. Only a handful of such recordings exist. 

The seven ragas performed on this recording reflect the stages of the day in a forward progression from pre-dawn to midnight. 

© Copyright 2011 Shubha Sankaran

Raag Suha ~ In Tivra Tala

Raag Sohini ~ In Sultal

Shubha Sankaran is the only woman actively performing the surbahar on the global concert circuit, and the only artist focusing exclusively on that instrument. She studied instrumental music with Ustad Imrat Khan, vocal music in the khayal style with the late Pandit Shrikant Bakre, the South Indian technique of tanam with Kalaimamani Ranganayaki Rajagopalan, and dhrupad with the Gundecha Brothers. For more info: www.surbahar.com 

Shubha Sankaran

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