Out of Stillness

Album review

With Gopal Shankar Misra's passing in 1999 at the early age of 42, the world lost one of its vina masters. Misra, a native of Benares in North India, played the vichitra vina, a stringed instrument that is said to predate the sitar. The instrument has four main strings, five secondary strings, and 13 sympathetic strings stretched over a fretless horizontal arm. Carved peacock heads adorn the ends, and two ornately inlaid gourd resonators amplify the sound. This recording was made shortly before Misra's death, and it beautifully presents his subtle, pensive style. He plays the lengthy, classical "Raga Darbari Kanhra" followed up by the lighter, less formal "Raga Mishra Pilu." The first is a midnight raga in four sections, the second a celebratory piece. In both selections, Misra shows himself to be a musician who is less concerned with flash than with uncovering the nuances hidden in the ragas. His playing is restrained and meditative, with thoughtful pauses and gently insistent repetitions. It is a style of quiet intensity and musical intelligence. Ramkumar Mishra's tabla accompaniment complements Misra's playing in its depth and pliability. It's regrettable that this one release is all that is left of Misra's musical legacy. He was an artist of great talent and promise.
© Peggy Latkovich /TiVo