Performer Notes

Personnel: Ravi Shankar (sitar); Yehudi Menuhin (violin); Prodyot Sen, Kamala Chakravarti, Nodu Mullick (tanpura); Alla Rakha (tabla).
Recorded in England, The United States and France in 1966, 1967 and 1976. Includes liner notes by Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menhuin.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
This is part of Angel's The Ravi Shankar Collection series.
That a Western violinist should choose to pair with the illustrious Ravi Shankar is not in itself surprising. The violin was fully absorbed (and tuned much lower) by the Indian classical music establishment by the 19th century, and more recently has produced performers such as Dr. L. Subramaniam, Lalgudi Jayaraman, and the highly experimental L. Shankar. However, aside from being a highly accomplished set of recordings, the WEST MEETS EAST series--three Menuhin-Shankar collaborations that were later distilled into this one--elevated world music to new heights.
Menuhin had championed Indian music in the West for years before learning how to play it. His sensitivity to the material is demonstrated on "Swara Kakali," particularly during the tremendous duet that closes the track. On the evening raga, "Raga Piloo," Menuhin and Shankar glide in and out of each other's styles in a performance that is alternately Indian and Russian/Jewish, bound by their obvious empathy.

Professional Reviews

Q (9/99, p.133) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...odd but beautiful recordings....their combined virtuosity is breathtaking..."

CMJ (12/13/99, p.29) - "...this material helped pave the way for much of the genre-blending and multi-cultural musical efforts one hears today. As an introduction to the world of Shankar, this disc is a superb place to start."

Mojo (Publisher) (5/00, p.109) - "...The 2 of the finest classical musicians from East and West enjoyed a sporadic, 10-year collaboration and 3 albums. The 1st, released in 1967 and including 2 of the tracks on this compilation, was acclaimed, sold in huge numbers and won a Grammy..."