Celebration 80th Birthday

About the Artist
Dr.Chandrakant Sardeshmukh, sitar player and Indian musician, has the rarest of qualities: a humane spirit combined with prodigious talent. Not content with living in his own artistic isolation, he has a genuine inner urge to reach out and communicate with people from all walks of life.

He started his musical journey early in life. He played the Sitar at the age of 4. Recognized as "a sheer prodigy" at the age of eight by Pandit Ravi Shankar, he was immediately accepted as a student by the Sitar maestro. Chandrakant had a rare privilege of strict training of traditional Indian music of Maihar Senia Gharana under the tutelage of Mrs. Annapurnadevi Ravi Shankar, who is a gifted artist in her own right, being daughter of Allaudin baba.

He rapidly emerged as a promising young artist performing live Sitar concerts in India and abroad. But he gave up the fame and glamour of the concert circuit to return to Pune to pursue research in the Vedic tradition of Indian music on his father's bidding, whom he considers his philosopher and guide. He then went on to write a thesis on 'Samavedic basis of Indian Music' and achieved a doctorate in Sanskrit.

Dr. Chandrakant has today established his reputation in the world of music as a versatile and innovative Indian musician. He has performed numerous Sitar solo concerts in many parts of the globe including Japan, U.S.A.,Germany and Australia. Music aficionados appreciate his approachability and eagerness to engage in one-to-one dialogue with them.

But perhaps the most important aspect of this multi-faceted personality is his inquisitive bend of mind urging him on to experiment with innovative new directions. His instinctive understanding of Ayurveda, which is a part of his family tradition, has lead to successful forays in music therapy. His spirit remains deeply rooted in Indian philosophy and religion.

Today Dr.Chandrakant wishes more than anything else to pass on his knowledge and art of Indian traditional music to the new generation which he considers as his mission in life.

Band members: Damodar Shiravalkar (Tabla), Michael Junius (Tanpura)

Product Description
Celebrated Event in the Life of World Music Maestro/Student Releases Celebration CD on Teacher Ravi Shankar's 80th Birthday (Canberra, Australia)----Ravi Shankar, the legendary Sitar Maestro will turn 80 on 7th April. To celebrate this day, his student Chandrakant Sardeshmukh will release a new Sitar CD album entitled Celebration-To my guru, Pt. Ravi Shankar on his 80th birthday. This unusual and remarkable event will be highlighted by Chandrakant's CD release concert on the evening of Saturday, April 8th at the John Fairfax Theatre in the National Gallery of Australia. The event meant only for invited foreign diplomats and dignitaries in Canberra is hosted by the Indian High Commission here.

The Sitar Maestro, Ravi Shankar, who made Indian music popular all over the world and especially to the West, is considered to be a living legend in World Music. The student Chandrakant, in releasing this CD is following the footsteps of his guru by promoting the thousands of years old tradition of spiritual Samavedic Indian music abroad through his Sitar performances and lecture-demonstrations.

The Celebration CD (74 minutes) has two compositions from one of Chandrakant's Sitar concerts recorded live in Australia. The first piece titled Happiness Forever in Raga Hemant represents the season winter and was composed by Ustad Allauddin Khan Baba. This joyous and deeply poignant interpretation of Happiness Forever is a delicate yet supremely dazzling performance counterbalanced with a rolling majesty. It evokes feelings of shelter from the elements as nature prepares for rebirth and warmth before the fireside that lends itself to contemplation of deepest longings.

The second composition In Search of Happiness is Raga Shuddha Kaushi. Chandrakant's research on 'Gandhar Grama', the Samavedic basis of Indian Music, led him to composing the original 'Shuddha' (Pure) version of Raga Kaushi (which is otherwise always used in combination with different ragas such as Kaushi Kanada, Kaushi Bhairav and so on). In Search of Happiness expresses divine emotions and melodies in such a mysterious fashion as though the gods themselves were voicing sentiments of approval.

Celebration CD is dedicated to the legendary Sitar Maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, rejoicing the occasion of his 80th birthday. It is a gesture of heartfelt gratitude from Chandrakant, combined with an abiding love and affection as well as a wish for the long, healthy and happy life for the Maestro, written in the Sanskrit language as Jeevet Sharadaha Shatam inside the CD's booklet. There is also a poetic letter by Chandrakant who witnessed the 50th, 60th and 70th birthday celebrations of his guru in various places in India. He says: " . . . with all those melodies still ringing in my ears, this is my humble present to you, Guruji, on your 80th birthday, wherever you are in the world . . ."

Chandrakant, born to play the Sitar, was declared as a child prodigy by Pandit Ravi Shankar at the age of eight in 1963. The Maestro immediately accepted young Chandrakant as his student. When he started travelling abroad, Mrs. Annapurnadevi, his then wife and daughter of his guru, Ustad Allauddin Khan Baba bagan teaching little Chandrakant. Years of practice, years of discovery and growth, years in the passing down of knowledge from teacher to student, followed at the feet of the renowned guru in the completely traditional Indian style. This training has enriched Chandrakant's Indian music melodies today, which are gaining increasing popularity on line at the MP3 web site.

Celebration 80th Birthday,Dr. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh,Darshanam,This is the special album dedicated to Pandit Ravi Shankar, a legend in World Music. Enjoy and experience the Indian tradition of classical music.

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Celebration 80th Birthday
Dr. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh
Manufacturer: Darshanam
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004U2HJ
Release Date: 2000-04-08

Tracks:

Happiness Forever: Raga Hemant
In Search Of Happiness: Raga Shuddha Kaushi

Album Description

Celebrated Event in the Life of World Music Maestro/Student Releases Celebration CD on Teacher Ravi Shankar's 80th Birthday (Canberra, Australia)----Ravi Shankar, the legendary Sitar Maestro will turn 80 on 7th April. To celebrate this day, his student Chandrakant Sardeshmukh will release a new Sitar CD album entitled Celebration-To my guru, Pt. Ravi Shankar on his 80th birthday. This unusual and remarkable event will be highlighted by Chandrakant's CD release concert on the evening of Saturday, April 8th at the John Fairfax Theatre in the National Gallery of Australia. The event meant only for invited foreign diplomats and dignitaries in Canberra is hosted by the Indian High Commission here.

Listen and let your heart and soul soar. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh embarks on the new millennium with Celebration CD (74:00) featuring two traditional Indian ragas on Sitar with one underlying theme: happiness.

Shankaragamala: A Celebration of the Maestro's Music by his Disciples
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Shankaragamala: A Celebration of the Maestro's Music by his Disciples
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Ravi Shankar Foundation
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAEBYE
Release Date: 2005-06-21