Composer

:

Ravi Shankar

Genre

:

Concerto

Style

:

Concerto

Average_duration

:

52:02

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Ravi Shankar's Concerto for sitar & orchestra No. 2 Raga Mala, a Garland of Ragas is a masterpiece of Indian classical music. It was composed in 1981 and premiered on October 5, 1981, at the Royal Festival Hall in London, with Shankar himself playing the sitar solo. The concerto is divided into six movements, each based on a different raga, or melodic mode, and showcasing the virtuosity of the sitar and the richness of the orchestral accompaniment. The first movement, "Alap," is a slow and meditative introduction, in which the sitar improvises on the raga Yaman, accompanied by the strings and the harp. The second movement, "Pancham Se Gara," is a lively and rhythmic composition in the raga Pancham Se Gara, featuring the tabla and the pakhawaj, two Indian percussion instruments, as well as the brass and the woodwinds. The third movement, "Mian Ki Malhar," is a haunting and melancholic piece in the raga Mian Ki Malhar, evoking the monsoon season and the longing for love. The fourth movement, "Sindhi-Bhairavi," is a joyful and exuberant composition in the raga Sindhi-Bhairavi, showcasing the sitar's fast and intricate runs and the orchestra's colorful and dynamic interplay. The fifth movement, "Bhimpalasi," is a serene and contemplative piece in the raga Bhimpalasi, featuring the sitar's delicate and expressive phrasing and the orchestra's subtle and nuanced accompaniment. The sixth and final movement, "Khamaj," is a grand and majestic finale in the raga Khamaj, bringing together all the elements of the concerto in a triumphant and uplifting climax. The Concerto for sitar & orchestra No. 2 Raga Mala, a Garland of Ragas is a unique and groundbreaking work that blends the traditions of Indian classical music and Western classical music in a seamless and innovative way. It showcases Ravi Shankar's mastery of the sitar and his visionary approach to music, as well as his ability to bridge cultural divides and create a universal language of music that speaks to all.

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