Ram Narayan – Plays Sarangi – Raga Asavar / Raga Des – Solomon's Mines – SME 4, released in 1955 (10 inch, 33 RPM)
%200%2036.jpg "MusicRepublic INDIA – INDE – Ram Narayan – Plays Sarangi – Raga Asavar / Raga Des – Solomon's Mines – SME 4")
%2014%20100.jpg "MusicRepublic INDIA – INDE – Ram Narayan – Plays Sarangi – Raga Asavar / Raga Des – Solomon's Mines – SME 4")
Born near Udaipur, Rajasthan, in 1927, Ram Narayan (or Ram Narain) is India's most renowned sarangi player. Traditionally, this instrument was used exclusively for vocal accompaniment. However, he elevated its status to that of a solo instrument and became the first sarangi player to achieve global recognition for his abstract and sensuous flights with the bowed instrument’s rich earthy sonorities.
According to Narayan, “I began my professional career as a sarangi player, accompanying top musicians like Omkarnath Thakur, Pandit Krishna Rao, Shankar Pandit, among others, from 1944 onward. After a certain period, I realized that my role as an accompanying musician was restricted and limited, and if I was to grow as a musician it was essential for me to explore new possibilities. I felt that the sarangi definitely deserved solo concert status.”* Narayan decided to definitively abandon the role as accompanist in 1956 to become a solo concert artist, despite (initially) tepid interest from the orthodox musical milieu in India. But his utterly brilliant playing, magnificent albums, and the rapturous reception of his music in the West, established Narayan as one of the Hindustani greats.
This exquisite first long-play album released by Narayan in 1955 showcases his genius and awesome mastery of his instrument, which produces a full-bodied, spellbinding, almost celestial, sound.
He is accompanied here by Abdul Karim on tabla.
Né en 1927 près d’Udaipur dans le Rajasthan, Ram Narayan (ou Ram Narain) est le plus célèbre joueur de sarangi, un instrument traditionnellement réservée à l’accompagnement des chanteurs qu’il a élevé au rang d'instrument solo. Il fut le premier joueur de sarangi à être mondialement reconnu grâce à ses envolées lyriques abstraites et sensuelles sur les riches sonorités caverneuses de la vièle à archet.
Selon Narayan, « J’ai commencé ma carrière professionnelle en 1944 en tant que joueur de sarangi aux côtés de chanteurs comme Omkarnath Thakur, Pandit Krishna Rao et Shankar Pandit. Après un certain temps, j’ai réalisé que le rôle de musicien accompagnateur était finalement limité et que pour grandir musicalement, il était essentiel pour moi d’explorer de nouvelles possibilités. Je sentais que le sarangi méritait le statut d’instrument de concert solo »*. En 1956, Narayan décida d'abandonner définitivement son rôle d'accompagnateur pour se consacrer à une carrière solo, en dépit de l'intérêt limité et du scepticisme initialement exprimé par le milieu musical orthodoxe en Inde. Mais son jeu brillantissime, ses magnifiques albums et l’accueil enthousiaste de sa musique en Occident finirent par établir Narayan comme l’un des plus grands musiciens d’Inde du nord.
Ce disque exquis publié en 1955 illustre parfaitement son génie et sa maîtrise époustouflante du sarangi, qui produit des sonorités riches, envoûtantes, quasi célestes.
Il est accompagné ici par Abdul Karim aux tablas.
*August 11, 2012 Ram Narayan interview here
Our other sarangi music posts:
Ram Narayan & Chatur Lal – HMV EPE 1212, 1961 here
Ram Narayan – HMV EASD 1340, 1969 here
Bundo Khan – Sarangi Nawaz – LKDE 20004 here
%200%2041.jpg "Sarangi, Punjab, second half of the 19th century, from Gloire des Princes, Louange des Dieux – catalogue for the March-June 2003 Musée de la Musique exhibition in Paris")
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Amazing as always. Only found the site this year and have been working my way through. Thank you for preserving these and sharing in GOOD quality.
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