meditative Morn: A Pensive Santoor. Review of Omprakash Chourasiya's Santoor Recital by Shruti Shankar

Meditative Morn – TRADITIONAL INDIAN SANTOOR
ARTISTE: PT. OM PRAKASH CHOURASIYA
TABLA SOLO & ACCOMPANIMENT: MUKUND BHALE
PUBLISHER: MADHUKALI [2007]
Raga Ahir Bhairav
Dhun

Audio CD released in February 2007. Raga Ahir Bhairav & Dhun on Santoor. Accompaniment & Tabla Solo by Pt. Mukund N. Bhale.

Pt. Omprakash Chouraisya is one of the early Santoor players. His initial training as a vocalist, inclination towards choral music and intensive training under Guru Pt. Lalmani Misra makes his playing unique. Santoor, carrying the largest numbers of strings is still is a ghan-vadya (struck chordophone) that makes music in its own limited fashion. Pt. Chourasiya employs his learning and experience to grant full unfurling of Ahir Bhairav on Santoor. His playing technique is measured. It makes full use of the serene tone of the instrument.

Mukund Bhale plays with complete control and at correct junctures grants imagination full play. The Santoor and Tabla are well matched in this volume. Apart from appealing to conversant listeners, this volume would also appeal to younger and more casual listeners of Indian classical music.

meditative Morn: A Pensive Santoor

By Shruti shankar