I've discovered that I own a copy of our welcoming and dedication chant on a commercial compact disc I bought years ago at the old Gateways book store in Santa Cruz.
The CD is Chants of India, and features an ensemble of instrumentalists and singers put together and led by Ravi Shankar. The album was produced by the late George Harrison, former lead guitarist for the Beatles.
Unfortunately, it's out of print. Even though a few copies are available on Amazon, the prices are unrealistic. But maybe we can figure something out.
The chant lasts four and a half minutes. It's a beautiful treatment, with a long instrumental lead-in. The words are chanted three times by one male and one female vocalist.
Shankar is one of only three Indian musicians to have received the Bharat Ratna, India's highest and most prestigious civilian honor. The other two were the Tamil vocalist M.S. Subbulakshmi, who died in 2004, and the master of the shehnai (Indian Oboe) Ustad Bismillah Khan, who died in 2006.
Dave B
1 comment:
Shankar does seem a person I have heard of.
Post a Comment