Search - Hariprasad Chaurasia :: Maestro of the Indian Flute

A perfect introductory CD

Andrew W | Japan | 06/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When you first approach a genre like Hindustani Classical Music, it can be very daunting for the novice to make a successful purchase. If you buy something, a performance you dislike it will likely mar your understanding and appreciation of the entire genre or Artiste, themself. Sadly, the truth is, of course, that it could simply be THAT performance or that recording which is not to your taste, and not the entire genre. One usual way around this problem is to purchase a compilation. However, whilst compilations might work in pop and rock in Raga music they usually do not.



The simple reason being that it is the entire performance one should listen to, the entire progression of the Raga from its origins in Alap through its growth into Jor and finally its culmination in Jhala. To cut out a third or an even smaller portion is like picking out a few pages of sentences from a great work of Literature and putting it in a collection of literary works as being representant, something which you simply wouldn't do.



Having stated the above, however, I have to say that this CD is absolutely first-rate and very surprising for three reasons. Firstly the editor (Iain Scott) CLEARLY knows his stuff, he has clearly and consciously selected excellent tracks. Secondly, he has actually cheated a little, insofar as he has included numerous tracks of one previous recording, therefore, every track is not from a different source. And finally, because Scott had the intelligence to make this a two CD production, he could easily separate the chosen works into 'contemporary' and 'classical' thereby being able to include much shorter modern pieces on the first CD.



This CD works for a number of reasons. Firstly, although it goes without saying, the Artist is a TRUE Master of his chosen art-form (a rare achievement in this day and age of 'guitar heroes') and these CDs capture a wide range of his extensive repertoire. Secondly, the recording quality is absolutely superb. Next it make a potentially daunting genre very accessible for the as yet uninitiated. Finally, even for those who know Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia's work, this collection should still contain something you have yet to hear.



The only downside is that the liner-notes are VERY sparse and very uninformative, which seems the antithesis of what should be the case, given the argument already presented, pertaining to aiming to attract the uninitiated. The liner-notes are all rather badly written and even more poorly edited and quite uninformative, which is a great shame.



To conclude, this is a superb collection of works by the foremost leading exponent of the Bansuri, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia and whatever you are looking to hear, you will probably find on this diverse and joyous collection. Highly recommended."