The Best of Sarangi (Set of 2 Audio CDs)

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Ustad Sabri Khan
Ustad Sultan Khan
Pandit Ram Narayan
Kamal Sabri

Sarangi is a bowed instrument of Hindustani classical music said to have originated from Nepal India and Pakistan. It is one of the early instruments of Hindustani music. Before instruments gained popularity as stand-alone performers Hindustani music was largely vocal-centric owing to the sarangi’s ability to emulate the human voice it became one of the first instruments to have received recognition.

It is believed that the term sarangi was derived from the word sau-rangi which means a hundred colors. There are various versions regarding its origins. One legend is that in ancient times a travelling doctor was inspired to construct the first sarangi by the sound of wind blowing over the dried up skin of a dead monkey stretched between some branches in a tree. Others quote instruments like the pinakini veena the raven hathha or the saran as for runners to the sarangi.

It was used extensively to the accompaniment of thumris and light music around the 19th century. Dhrupad and khayal singers also continued to prefer the sarangi for accompaniment in the early 20th century. Over the years the sarangi exerted a very powerful influence on various vocalists like Abdul Karim Khan Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali, and thumri exponents like Siddheshwari Devi.

The sarangi is carved out a single piece of hard wood. The hollowed lower portion is covered with goat skin the middle with wood to form a fretless fingerboard and the top is a box with fixed pegs. There are three main gut strings along with 35 to 40 taraf (Sympathetic) strings that provide a sonorous resonance. Sliding the gaj (bow made of horse-hair) on the gut strings produces the basic melody. The specific notes are produced by stopping the strings sideways with the cuticles of the fingers. Considered to be a difficult instrument to play the sarangi first started out to be an honest accompaniment to a vocalist. It is later with great maestros like Pandit Ram Narayan, Ustad Sabri Khan, Ustad Bundu Khan and others that it began to be celebrated and loved as a solo instrument.

This album presents a collection of tracks by the exponents of sarangi Ustad Sabri Khan, Ustad Sultan Khan, Pandit Ram Narayan & More recently Kamal Sabri.

Music is sublime Indian classical music is nirvana! For long Indian classical music has held a distinct identity of one rooted in cultural antiquity. That rich is its lineage and that glorious its heritage. This art form is more than just an expression of India’s cultural ethos it is art all its beauty. From the grandeur of the maestros bearing ensembles characteristic of their time to instruments that not only produce the most sublime of melodies but stand picturesque in their detailed structure and form this album is a saga of the very best of Indian classical instruments. We present to you instruments. We present to you instruments that have evolved and stood the test of time to represent India’s map of instrumental music. These are captured by none other than stalwarts who have mastered these instruments and presented them in all their glory.