Bismilah Khan & N.Rajam - Barat Ratna Series Vol.2

Certain instruments become indelibly linked with particular performers. In the Hindustani realm, the santoor is closely associated with Shivkumar Sharma and the rudra vina with Zia Mohiuddin Khan, but historically, perhaps the closest and most intimate association has been with Bismillah Khan and the shehnai.

Born in 1916, he has raised the status of one of India's most distinctively voiced instruments unprecedentedly. In its folk form this double-reeded instrument is used on a variety of ritual occasions but is especially associated with weddings. Bismillah Khan has recorded extensively and like many Indian classical artists most of his early work was released by EMI India or its overseas partners. His historic jugalbandi with Vilayat Khan was chosen to inaugurate the Music of India series on EMI India's parent company in Britain. This series licensed the work of masters such as Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan and Nikhil Banerjee. The debut release in the Music of India series, however, featured in the terminology of the album duettos on "Chaiti-Dhun" and "Bhairavee Thumree." The third in the series was another shehnai jugalbandi, this time with violinist V.G. Jog. It was a further indication of the esteem in which Bismillah Khan was held. Time has only reinforced that.

This doughty musician from India's holiest city, Varanasi, would play his auspicious Shehnai (Indian oboe) each morning at the gate of Varanasi's most important temple, Kashi Vishwanath. Over the decades he raised the status of the Shehnai from its limited role as "Mangal Dhwani" (auspicious sound) at weddings to that of a solo concert instrument. Doordarshari offers a splendid selection of Ustad Bismillah Khan. Highlight of this compilation is Raga Purya Dhanashree which the artiste played inside Diwan-e-Aam of the Red Fort on 50th Anniversary of Independence in 1997.

Coming together of Three Great Artistes Ustad Bismillah Khan plays Raga Yarnan in a rare Jugalbandi with Dr N Rajam, the Hindustani Violinist from South India, and Pandit Kishan Maharaj on Tabla. A recording from the Ganga Mahotsav, Varanasi, 1986.