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... more » 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« less
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
Joan S. (DrLadyBos) from HENDERSONVLLE, NC Reviewed on 6/12/2015...
I love anything from Ravi Shankar. This collaboration with Yehudi Menuhin is, of course, different. As the title suggests, classical Indian music comes together with Western-style melodies. Different from ragas, but no less beautiful.
CD Reviews
I completely disagree-- This CD is amazing
Carl A Jacobson | Manchester, NH United States | 11/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love this album. My dad made me a tape of this from his vinyl when I was 12 years old, and it completely expanded my musical horizons. I'm 27 now and I still listen to it at least once a month. The interplay between Yehudi & Ravi is breathtaking, the improvisation is top notch, and the technique is astounding. I'm so excited this has been reissued on CD because my dog ate the tape last week, even dogs like this album!"
Like Discovering a New Planet in the Musical Solar System
For Two Cents Plain | Brooklyn, New York United States | 12/16/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
A masterpiece by two masters
Michael P. Goldenberg | Ann Arbor, MI USA | 02/19/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To anyone who might be moved by the negative review posted on this site, two words: ignore it. This album, which was thrilling when first released in the late '60's, is still full of surprises and delights. If it consisted of nothing more than the lengthy piece that ended the first side of the vinyl release, it would be a must for any discerning listener's collection. The passion and imagination brought to this collaboration by two geniuses of their respective instruments and musical genres combines in a tour de force of invention and humor. Anyone fortunate enough to have seen them perform live or on televison at the United Nations anniversay concert (the second album in this series contains that music) will want to share the joy Menhuin and Shankar brought listeners and themselves."
Fabulous Music
Max Leiva | 12/14/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album exceded my expectations. The level of complexity of the music contained in this cd is very high. It is very soothing to the mind and soul. One has to listen to this outstanding music at least once in one's life."
Two musical instruments made for each other
Jody Rose | U.S.A. | 08/01/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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.