Today the people of the world are paying their respects to Ravi Shankar, and extending their sympathy to his family and loved ones.
Here is the audio of a short remembrance which aired today on NPR (here is the written version of the same broadcast). It contains some samples of his inimitable sitar-playing, as well as some recordings of his own perspectives on the music that he shared with the world.
The chosen quotations are poignant; in the first (beginning at the 2:32 mark) he says:
In the second (beginning at about 3:20), he explains that his sitar guru taught him as the most important lesson:
It's absolutely . . . like a prayer.
Respect.
Here is the audio of a short remembrance which aired today on NPR (here is the written version of the same broadcast). It contains some samples of his inimitable sitar-playing, as well as some recordings of his own perspectives on the music that he shared with the world.
The chosen quotations are poignant; in the first (beginning at the 2:32 mark) he says:
Well it sort of is a combination of shanta and karuna, which means the tranquility and also a sadness. And this sadness is something which is like wanting to reach out, and not finding it -- whether for a lover, or for God.Previous posts which have discussed something related to this subject can be found here and here.
In the second (beginning at about 3:20), he explains that his sitar guru taught him as the most important lesson:
that we have to earn our livelihood, and for that we have to perform and accept money. But: music is not for sale. The music that I have learned, and I want to give, is like worshipping God. It's absolutely . . . like a prayer.In the video clip above, we can see and hear a glimpse of that sentiment. The music is evocative, but perhaps even more moving is the joy we can see in the expressive sitar master as he plays -- the joy in the music and in playing and communicating with his daughter as he plays.
It's absolutely . . . like a prayer.
Respect.
