West Meets East: The Historic Shankar Menuhin Collection

Amazon.com
Without renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin, the West may not have found Indian classical music until decades later, much beyond the late 1960s. Thanks to Menuhin's chance meeting and later lasting friendship with the master sitarist Ravi Shankar, the West witnessed the sublimity that the merging of Western and Indian classical music could produce. The two collaborated in key performances during the late 1960s and mid-1970s, the highlights of which are captured here on West Meets East. In an incredible, interwoven dance between violin and sitar, Shankar and Menuhin spin a new yarn from the wool of ancient and rare Indian ragas, capturing the ecstasy of Hindustani praise while spontaneously bringing forth their own voices in the music. Menuhin's violin sings in beautiful sadness alongside Shankar's twanging sitar amid the droning of tanpura and occasional tabla rhythms. It's as if the two greats are playing a game of tag, taking the other's notes and stretching them into their own inspired shapes while creating a timeless music where love and respect swirl up like blessed smoke. --Karen H. Hugg

Tracks:

West Meets East: Prabhali
West Meets East: Swara Kakali
West Meets East: Raga Piloo
West Meets East: Dhun
West Meets East: Raga Ananda Bhairava
West Meets East: Tenderness
West Meets East: Twilight Mood

Amazon.com

Without renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin, the West may not have found Indian classical music until decades later, much beyond the late 1960s. Thanks to Menuhin's chance meeting and later lasting friendship with the master sitarist Ravi Shankar, the West witnessed the sublimity that the merging of Western and Indian classical music could produce. The two collaborated in key performances during the late 1960s and mid-1970s, the highlights of which are captured here on West Meets East. In an incredible, interwoven dance between violin and sitar, Shankar and Menuhin spin a new yarn from the wool of ancient and rare Indian ragas, capturing the ecstasy of Hindustani praise while spontaneously bringing forth their own voices in the music. Menuhin's violin sings in beautiful sadness alongside Shankar's twanging sitar amid the droning of tanpura and occasional tabla rhythms. It's as if the two greats are playing a game of tag, taking the other's notes and stretching them into their own inspired shapes while creating a timeless music where love and respect swirl up like blessed smoke. --Karen H. Hugg

Customer Reviews:

Such catholic taste..........2007-04-28

I was into the Yehudi Menuhin-Ravi Shankar collaborations back when I first purchased the "West Meets East" albums twenty five years ago. This CD features all thier sessions. Sir Yehudi, the "classical" American violinist; and Ravi Shankar, the Indian sitar virtuoso touch the soul of India in the passion that is captures in these recordings.

Sir Yehudi also collaborated with jazz violinist Steff Grappelli; and Ravi Shankar with Jean-Pierre Rampal, Andre Previn and jazz drummer Buddy Rich. Shankar taught the sitar to George Harisson of "The Beatles". Who could doubt two men of such catholic taste?

Better than metal.......2006-11-10

this is a great pairing of two masters the pace tempo and speed beat metal

Two musical instruments made for each other.......2006-08-02

The Ravi Shankar Collection: West Meets East, The Historic Shankar/Menuhin Sessions comprises seven invigorating ragas in which violinist Yehudi Menuhin and Sitarist Ravi Shankar masterfully blend the distinct sounds of the violin and the sitar, creating what can only be described as an exotic auditory repast. Accompanying some of the melodic compositions are the tanpura and the tabla. I enjoyed six of the ragas very much, but track five, entitled "Raga Ananda Bhairava," left me wanting for something else, I am sad to say; and track five is the longest playing of the compositions, lasting fifteen minutes and forty-one seconds. My dog was even begging me to do something about the music, which I did: I skipped to track six, which was no sacrifice on my part, as the sixth composition is by far my favorite on the CD, so poignant and lovely. I was only too happy to accommodate my discriminating pooch.

If you enjoy the sitar, and the violin, this CD will not disappoint.

A meeting of musical geniuses........2005-11-17

Menuhin is the master of the violin arguably the greatest violinist of the 20th century (from what I understand). Since I don't really care for western classical music I wouldn't have been exposed to his virtuosity if it weren't for this collaboration. Menuhin he plays music which is rooted in the Indian classical tradition (except portions of a couple of tracks which have a western sound to it) without sounding uncomfortable or making the music awkward. He violin has a decidedly western sound yet it blends in seamlessly into the Indian classical music.

Aside: The violin has been adopted almost "as is" into South Indian Karnatak music (as opposed to the Hindustani system which Shankar is from). Apart from some(?) structural changes which have been incorporated into it, what makes the Indian (read: Karnatak) violin sound so different is the radical tuning and specially devised fingering techniques to enable the musicians render Karnatak music with its emphasis on gamaks, meends and the ability to play microtones.

Menuhin gets the lion share of airtime while Shankar (the composer) is the perfect host letting Menuhin explore Hindustani Music. Menhuhin lets his virtuosity shine through especially on the standout track Swara Kakali. Having said that Menuhin's playing is soulful without sacrificing emotion for virtuosity. Ravi Shankar on his part adds deft touches to the overall music by stepping in with perfect timing, elevating the music to greater heights. Note, this CD is highly improvised so it speaks volumes for both musicians sense of melody and timing.

Ravi Shankar isn't the greatest sitarist of the past century although is one its most famous proponents and poster boy of Indian music in the West. The honor of the greatest sitarist in the 20th century might well go to either Vilayat Khan or Nikhil Banerjee. However, Ravi Shankar's brilliant musical mind is attested to by this recording as is his ability to compose some profound and complex music.

Swara Kakali and Piloo are the standout tracks. The former is a composition based on an Indian raga (don't know which). The latter is a beautiful rendering of Raga Piloo. Menuhin again is amazingly fast, melodic and soulful. I get goose flesh each time I hear the concluding portion of Swara Kakali. Prabhati is an excellent pathos laden track and Menuhin's violin sings with emotion. Ananda Bhairavi is entirely Ravi Shankar and it is probably the hardest composition to appreciate. It is a richly complex Raga and Ravi Shankar employs his kharaj (bass) strings to good use creating a powerful statement. It is a slow and rich in nuance; appreciating its beauty requires some knowledge of Indian Classical music.

Tenderness and Twilight Mood both have split personalities. They alternately have a Western and Indian sound to it. They are far from the best compositions but do not suffer unduly from "heavy" fusion work which Shankar has unsuccessfully attempted by introducing orchestration and harmony into Indian classical ragas in the other West Meets East CD's. However no such misadventures are attempted here.

This CD lives up to its name. Menuhin is the honored guest and he does justice to the venerable Hindustani tradition. It helps that both musicians have ample respect for each other's ability and heritage. There is no musical duelling whatsoever which at first thought might seem like a lot of fun, but often the music gets lost in blatant showmanship. This CD does not flow smoothly as there is no common uniting theme for the different compositions and therefore I have never listened to the CD start to finish.

Highly recommended!

Like Discovering a New Planet in the Musical Solar System.......2004-12-16

I heard this music as a teenager, when it first appeared in the 60s, and it was my entry into Indian and other Far Eastern musics. Only recently, I bought it again in CD format, and began to reminisce. Now it sounds very different to me. Forty years ago, it was the sound of the sitar that captured my mind and heart. I had grown up listening to and playing (on the cello) classical music, and then heard Duke Ellington and Charlie Mingus and turned to jazz. Indian music was a mind-blower! Now I hear Yehudi Menuhin in a different light: the tremendous emotional depth and courage, the bittersweet Jewish pathos and mysticism, the intense psychic electricity that he brings to the duet. And I hear (or at least I imagine hearing) Pandit Ravi Shankar responding with equally intense interest in what Menuhin is saying, with equal musical respect. The result should NOT be judged in terms of Western classical music or Indian classical music (as the late master sitarist Nikhil Banerjee mistakenly did). It is something new -- a meeting of worlds, a meeting of minds, and as such it transcends the traditions these two consummate masters represent.

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