Tracks
- An Introduction to Indian Music
- Dádrá
- Máru-Bihág
- Bhimpalási
- Sindhi-Bhairavi
The Sounds of India is a hypnotic album. The pieces are classical Hindustani music. On the first track, Ravi Shankar describes what Indian music is and makes it clear that it doesn't follow the conventions of Western music. He also explains what the three instruments featured on the album are and what they do. Then, before each piece, he explains a little about its structure like scale and beats. I understood some of what he talks about, but his explanations are meant for smart people and musicians.
Of course, I'm not sure why this is on the 1001 Albums list. This album certainly has significance in the late 1960s for Western musicians and Western music listeners. This album would best be considered for a list that isn't devoted primarily to Western popular music.
I liked the album a lot. The music has a distinct boundaries, but within those boundaries, there's a lot of opportunity for variation. It's good music to put on and relax to. Despite not thinking it should be on the 1001 Albums list, I do think it's worth listening to. All four pieces are excellent and intricate. And if you do pay attention to Ravi Shankar's introductions, they really are informative despite their brevity.
★★★★★★★★★★
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