Album: Call of the Valley

Song Title

Time

Ahir Bhairav/Nat Bhairav: Ahir Bhairav

Rag Piloo

Bhoop Ghara

Rag Des

Rag Pahadi

Ghara-Dadra

Dhun-Mishra Kirwani

Bageshwari

Album: Call of the Valley

Song Title

Time

Ahir Bhairav/Nat Bhairav: Ahir Bhairav

Rag Piloo

Bhoop Ghara

Rag Des

Rag Pahadi

Ghara-Dadra

Dhun-Mishra Kirwani

Bageshwari

Performer Notes

Personnel: Shivkumar Sharma (dulcimer, santur); Brij Bhushan Kabra (slide guitar); Hariprasad Chaurasia (flute); Shivkumar Sharma; Brij Bhushan Kabra (acoustic guitar); Hariprasad Chaurasia; Manikrao Popatkar (tabla).
Liner Note Author: Ken Hunt.
Shivkumar Sharma, the guitarist Brijbhushan Kabra, and flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia were all aged about 30 when they made Call of the Valley. Shivkumar Sharma, who had made his first solo album in 1960, was responsible for establishing and popularizing the instrument in Hindustani classical circles. Kabra was also having to prove himself because of the guitar's Western and Indian popular music associations Chaurasia's problem was the wide popularity of the bansuri -- a bamboo transverse flute -- and his need to establish himself with the instrument. In 1967, the concept behind this album was as revolutionary as it was traditional. Conceived as a suite, they used their instruments to tell the story of a day in the life of a shepherd in Kashmir using ragas associated with various times of the day to advance the dramatic narrative. If the newcomer buys only one Indian classical recording, it should be Call of the Valley. ~ Ken Hunt

Professional Reviews

The Wire (2/00, p.34) - "...As success stories go this album is the DARK SIDE OF THE MOON of the Hindustani recording industry..."

Dirty Linen (2-3/96, p.81) - "...The recording itself is a "concept" album, weaving instrumental impressions of a Kashmiri valley from dawn to dusk....The overall mood of the album is pastoral and mediative, while being extremely visual in it its musical images..."

Mojo (Publisher) (7/95, p.121) - "...unfettered magic and one of the most influential Indian classical albums of all time. It is widely tipped as the perfect introduction to the genre."