Ravi Shankar & Yehudi Menuhin - West Meets East: The Historic Shankar Menuhin Collection

Without renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin, the West may not have found Indian classical music until decades later, much beyond the late 1960s. Thanks to Menuhin's chance meeting and later lasting friendship with the master sitarist Ravi Shankar, the West witnessed the sublimity that the merging of Western and Indian classical music could produce. The two collaborated in key performances during the late 1960s and mid-1970s, the highlights of which are captured here on West Meets East. In an incredible, interwoven dance between violin and sitar, Shankar and Menuhin spin a new yarn from the wool of ancient and rare Indian ragas, capturing the ecstasy of Hindustani praise while spontaneously bringing forth their own voices in the music. Menuhin's violin sings in beautiful sadness alongside Shankar's twanging sitar amid the droning of tanpura and occasional tabla rhythms. It's as if the two greats are playing a game of tag, taking the other's notes and stretching them into their own inspired shapes while creating a timeless music where love and respect swirl up like blessed smoke. --Karen H. Hugg Amazon.com

Brilliant and Ingenious collaboration

Of all the Ravi Shankar's 'fusion' compositions in the sixties, seventies and some more later, this one stands apart from the others. First of all, performances are of highest class as usual. One cannot imagine a better quality. Regardless of difference of grammar and notation, the final product from, as they say it, east and west, overwhelms the listener. The mood is more oriental here, at least in my opinion. Virtuoso performances by Menuhin makes that impression more stronger. However, this one actually combines the musical conception of the two parts of the globe better than other 'fusion' works.

If you are in the West and are interested in Indian music, this can be an outstanding start. Same goes for Indian listeners who are not familiar with western concert music. Within the complex web of Violin, Sitar and orchestra, the good melodies are always there to enjoy and relish.
November 3, 2008

Ravi Shankar - West meets East

Completely joyous. In traditional Indian style, ragas begin in a slow,
mournful and longing motif and gradually move to universal joy. Menhuin
is the ambassador of the West par excellance. October 15, 2008

Such catholic taste...

I was into the Yehudi Menuhin-Ravi Shankar collaborations back when I first purchased the "West Meets East" albums twenty five years ago. This CD features all thier sessions. Sir Yehudi, the "classical" American violinist; and Ravi Shankar, the Indian sitar virtuoso touch the soul of India in the passion that is captures in these recordings.

Sir Yehudi also collaborated with jazz violinist Steff Grappelli; and Ravi Shankar with Jean-Pierre Rampal, Andre Previn and jazz drummer Buddy Rich. Shankar taught the sitar to George Harisson of "The Beatles". Who could doubt two men of such catholic taste? April 28, 2007

Better than metal

this is a great pairing of two masters the pace tempo and speed beat metal November 10, 2006

Two musical instruments made for each other

The Ravi Shankar Collection: West Meets East, The Historic Shankar/Menuhin Sessions comprises seven invigorating ragas in which violinist Yehudi Menuhin and Sitarist Ravi Shankar masterfully blend the distinct sounds of the violin and the sitar, creating what can only be described as an exotic auditory repast. Accompanying some of the melodic compositions are the tanpura and the tabla. I enjoyed six of the ragas very much, but track five, entitled "Raga Ananda Bhairava," left me wanting for something else, I am sad to say; and track five is the longest playing of the compositions, lasting fifteen minutes and forty-one seconds. My dog was even begging me to do something about the music, which I did: I skipped to track six, which was no sacrifice on my part, as the sixth composition is by far my favorite on the CD, so poignant and lovely. I was only too happy to accommodate my discriminating pooch.

If you enjoy the sitar, and the violin, this CD will not disappoint.
August 1, 2006

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