Nine Decades, Vol. 1: 1967-1968

Sitar player Ravi Shankar was such a prolific and widely beloved musician, and recorded in such a wide variety of musical styles, that it can seem impossible for the newcomer to know where to begin. I would suggest beginning at the beginning: this is the first volume in a series of recordings that trace Shankar’s long career decade by decade. Its program centers on Raga Gangeshwari, which Shankar elaborates over the course of a 48-minute-long performance recorded on a handheld microphone during a concert on the banks of the Ganges in 1968. The sound quality isn’t ideal, but the music itself is exquisite and provides a unique window on the mind of a musician who is just setting out to change the world.