Maestro of the Indian Flute (2 DISC SET)

Hariprasad Chaurasia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Times Square Records
• ASIN: B000VAQXDW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,017 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #31 in Music > World Music > India & Pakistan > General
  • #57 in Music > World Music > India & Pakistan > India

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect introductory CD, June 28, 2009

By 

Andrew W "We are limited only by our imaginat... (Japan) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Maestro of the Indian Flute (2 DISC SET) (Audio CD)

When you first approach a genre like Hindustani Classical Music, it can be very daunting for the novice to make a successful purchase. If you buy something, a performance you dislike it will likely mar your understanding and appreciation of the entire genre or Artiste, themself. Sadly, the truth is, of course, that it could simply be THAT performance or that recording which is not to your taste, and not the entire genre. One usual way around this problem is to purchase a compilation. However, whilst compilations might work in pop and rock in Raga music they usually do not.

The simple reason being that it is the entire performance one should listen to, the entire progression of the Raga from its origins in Alap through its growth into Jor and finally its culmination in Jhala. To cut out a third or an even smaller portion is like picking out a few pages of sentences from a great work of Literature and putting it in a collection of literary works as being representant, something which you simply wouldn't do.

Having stated the above, however, I have to say that this CD is absolutely first-rate and very surprising for three reasons. Firstly the editor (Iain Scott) CLEARLY knows his stuff, he has clearly and consciously selected excellent tracks. Secondly, he has actually cheated a little, insofar as he has included numerous tracks of one previous recording, therefore, every track is not from a different source. And finally, because Scott had the intelligence to make this a two CD production, he could easily separate the chosen works into 'contemporary' and 'classical' thereby being able to include much shorter modern pieces on the first CD.

This CD works for a number of reasons. Firstly, although it goes without saying, the Artist is a TRUE Master of his chosen art-form (a rare achievement in this day and age of 'guitar heroes') and these CDs capture a wide range of his extensive repertoire. Secondly, the recording quality is absolutely superb. Next it make a potentially daunting genre very accessible for the as yet uninitiated. Finally, even for those who know Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia's work, this collection should still contain something you have yet to hear.

The only downside is that the liner-notes are VERY sparse and very uninformative, which seems the antithesis of what should be the case, given the argument already presented, pertaining to aiming to attract the uninitiated. The liner-notes are all rather badly written and even more poorly edited and quite uninformative, which is a great shame.

To conclude, this is a superb collection of works by the foremost leading exponent of the Bansuri, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia and whatever you are looking to hear, you will probably find on this diverse and joyous collection. Highly recommended.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Maestro of he Indian Flute (2007) ... Hariprasad Chaurasia ... Times Square Records", November 2, 2007

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Maestro of the Indian Flute (2 DISC SET) (Audio CD)

Times Square Records presents "MAESTRO OF THE INDIAN FLUTE" - featuring Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (b. Allahabad, July 1, 1938) is known internationally as a player of the bansuri, the North Indian bamboo flute --- Chaurasia is a classicist who has made a conscious effort to reach out and expand the audience for classical music --- He has collaborated with several western musicians, including John McLaughlin and Jan Gabarek, and has also composed music for a number of Indian films --- He has performed throughout the world winning acclaim from varied audiences and fellow musicians including Yehudi Menuhin and Jean Pierre Rampal --- He serves as the Artistic Director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory in the Netherlands.

MAESTRO OF THE INDIAN FLUTE (2007) - Listing of Tracks:
Disc 1
1 Raga Pahadi / Manikrao Popatkar 6:48
2 Anand: Based on Raga Bhairavi 8:22
3 Exuberance: Based on Raga Shivranjani / Jayantilal Gosher 17:52
4 Raga Jhinjhoti / Shivkumar Sharma 21:06
5 Dhun Sindhi Bhairavin / Zakir Hussain 11:04

Disc 2
1 Raga Bageshwari in Ektaal 10:49
2 Raga Mishra Pilu in Addha Taal 9:37
3 Raga Gujri Todi, Vilambit in Matta Taal, Drut in Tritaal 20:46
4 Raga Latangi, Vilambit in Ektaal, Madhyalaya in Teentaal 29:46
5 Dhun 'Vaishnava Jan to Tene Kahiye' 5:39

The following list the credits to this cohesive instrumental album of Indian Flute

Performance Credits
Hariprasad Chaurasia ... Primary Artist, Flute
Shivkumar Sharma ... Santoor
Zakir Hussain ... Tabla
Manikrao Popatkar ... Tabla
Vijay Ghate ... Tabla
Jayantilal Gosher ... Guitar

Footnote, in Chaurasia's own words
"In my past there is a Krishna --- In my dreams I dream of recreating a huge college of flautists, a veritable Vrindaban in which students will arrive to learn and study with satchels full of flutes, live in mud huts, eat at a common langar --- A modern Vrindaban from which a thousand flutes will ring out everyday. For what else is there? --- When my breath is gone and I cannot play anymore what do I leave behind? --- Some dedicated students! When you leave nothing behind, you cry at the point of death, but I still dream, I dare to dream that through my playing and through my students my flute will be left behind as the memory of Krishna".

Hats off to Times Square Records --- strongly recommend this CD to all music lovers and others who need to hear some great music --- Hariprasad Chaurasia please stand up and take a bow for this well deserved rare jewel you've given us --- this is a keeper!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Times Square Records ~ (10/09/2007)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a compilation. Not an album., September 3, 2011

By 

Steve Crow "Radio Crow" (Western MA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Maestro of the Indian Flute (2 DISC SET) (Audio CD)

This is a compilation. Not an album. If you want an overview, OK. If not, don't buy it.
"Call of the Valley," (a collaboration, not under Hariprasad's name) much of which is included here, is available in it's entirety in CD form. Some of the other material may be hard to find.
The insert booklet is very well annotated, with a list of musicians and which album and year each track is from.
Material spans from late 60's to mid 90's.
I originally gave it only one star, not because of the quality of the music (Hariprasad is 5-star on anything recorded), but because it is a compilation and very little is done to convey this.