Ram Narayan
The sarangi has been taken from its traditional accompanying role and transformed into a solo instrument of creative expression by Udaipur Rajasthan, born Ram Narayan. Urdu poet Ali Sardar Jafri claimed that Narayan "has discovered the sau rang (100 hues) of this instrument"; classical violinist Yehudi Menuhin explained, "I cannot separate the sarangi from (Narayan). So thoroughly fused are they, not only in my memory, but, in the fact of this sublime dedication of a great musician to an instrument which is no longer archaic because of the matchless way in which he has made it speak."
The son of a dilruba player, Pandit Nathuji Biawat, who established a distinctive fingering technique, Narayan represents the fifth generation of musicians in his family. Fascinated by a miniature sarangi that he found while searching for a toy in his bedroom at the age of five, he began formal lessons two years later. His teachers included Ustad Mehboob Khan, Pandit Udayall, Pandit Madhav Prasad, and Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan. By the age of 14, he was proficient enough on the instrument to be hired as a staff musician for All-India Radio in Lahore (now Pakistan). He moved to All-India Radio in Delhi following partition.
Although he built his early reputation as an accompanist for vocalists, Narayan was frustrated by the supporting role. In the early '50s, he began performing as a soloist with his brother, Pandit Chatur Lal, on tabla. In the nearly half century since, his playing has continued to evolve as modifications in the structure of his sarangi and bow have enabled him to thoroughly explore the instrument.
Narayan has received numerous awards, including the Padmashree and the Sangeet Natak Academy awards. Manchester University Press published his book on Indian classical music. Narayan's musical legacy has been passed on to his daughter, Aruna Narayan Kalle, a well-known sarangi player in her own right.
© Craig Harris /TiVo
Similar artists
-
Saaz Sarangi, Vol. 1
Sabri Khan, Ram Narayan, Sultan Khan
World - Released by Living Media India Ltd. on Nov. 22, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rag Lalit
Classical - Released by Nimbus Records on Jan. 1, 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
North India: The Art of the Sarangi
World - Released by Ocora Radio-France on Jun. 21, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Rag Shankara & Rag Mala in Jogia
World - Released by Nimbus Records on Jan. 1, 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ram Narayan Sarangi, Raag Maru Bihag, Chandrakauns, Mishra Pilu
World - Released by Pandit Ram Narayan Foundation on Sep. 9, 2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rag Bhupal Tori & Rag Patdip
World - Released by Nimbus Records on Jan. 1, 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Saaz Sarangi, Vol. 2
Sabri Khan, Ram Narayan, Sultan Khan
World - Released by Living Media India Ltd. on Nov. 22, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Ram Narayan - Sarangi
World - Released by Pandit Ram Narayan Foundation on Jul. 28, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sublime Devotion
World - Released by Pandit Ram Narayan Foundation on Jul. 23, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sonorous Strings of Sarangi
Humour/Spoken Word - Released by Echo Recording Co. Pvt. Ltd. on Mar. 5, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Masters of Raga: Ram Narayan
Indian Music - Released by wergo on Aug. 30, 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ugramm (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Ravi Basrur, Sai Sarvesh, Ram Narayan
World - Released by D Beats on Feb. 21, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pandit Ram Narayan - Marwa & Jogiya Raagmala
World - Released by Pandit Ram Narayan Foundation on Jun. 30, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sarangi
World - Released by Pandit Ram Narayan Foundation on Jul. 23, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Loki (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by Jhankar Music on Mar. 2, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tanu Nenu Mohammad Rai (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
World - Released by Madhura Audio on Dec. 14, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chellatada Hudugaru (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
A.T. Raveesh, Ram Narayan, G Venu
World - Released by Mars Films - Jhankar Music on Dec. 20, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maiya Ka Jogi
World - Released by Saraswati Productions on May 1, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sad Sarangi Music
Folk - Released by Rave Music on Apr. 30, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo