Album Notes

Two classical music traditions co-exist in India: that of the North (Hindustani) and that of the South (Karnatic). Althought they both use raga (tonality) and tala (rhythm), they differ in their concept of musical expression. Karnatic music stayed within the temple complex for a longer part of history and, thus, is considered to be more sacred. Hindustani music was patronized by the Maharajas of India and is considered to be a more secular, although very elevated, form of art.
It is rare for a musician to master both traditions yet K. Sridhar has done so. From infancy he was trained in the Karnatic tradition by his mother who descends from thirteen generations of temple musicians including the saintly Narasimhar Bhagavatar. Around the age of four he began his studies under the guidance of Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, a lineage bearer in the traditionally devotional Hindustani Dhrupad style, and eventually devoted his life to playing the Sarod.
Raag Charukeshee has only recently been adopted into the Hindustani system from the Karnatic system. It is a sunset raga whose mood is shringara or devotional. This recording was captured live at a concert in Copenhagen.