Indian Classical Interactions

This album celebrates the work of British-based Indian musician Baluji Shrivastav and features four separate original works combining the melody and rhythm inherent in Indian classical music with various other musical traditions and collaborating with numerous artists. Connections between India and the flamenco of Andalucia are celebrated on the first track, ‘A Dream of Andalucia’, with Shrivastav on sitar and Ignacio Monteverde on guitar. The second work of ten tracks, Antardrishti, is inspired by the ancient Hindu epic, Bhagavad Gita, and is performed in conjunction with Inner Vision Orchestra whose blind musicians are ‘unable to see but definitely want to be heard.’

‘Sohini’s Aria’, from the world’s first opera in Urdu, features vocals by Linda Shanson. Composed by Shrivastav with Dario Marianelli, it is based on a popular Sindhi-Punjabi folk tale of doomed lovers. While all the pieces featured here are pleasing and innovative, the high point is the Sitar Guitar Suites in four movements with Boo Boo Sianturi, a UK-based Indonesian guitarist. Starting with an exploration of chords and harmonies and moving on to an improvisation in various irregular rhythm cycles, the third movement features a raagmala (garland of ragas), in which 13 ragas are unfolded and seamlessly blended into one another.