Hariprasad Chaurasia Shikhar CD

The Sufi mystic Rumi is said to have played the flute to create ecstatic states, whirling to join heaven and earth in love. The Hindu god Krishna, both great god of the universe and shepherd boy attracted his followers through blissful melodies played on his bansuri (bamboo flute). Also known as 'venu', the Indian flute is depicted in the Buddhist art of more than 2,000 years ago, and is mentioned in the ancient Vedic texts. According to one Sanskrit verse the bansuri is the source of swarajnana - the knowledge of music.

For hundreds of years this simple bamboo instrument has been an important feature in Indian folk culture, but its introduction into Indian Classical Music was mostly due to the endeavours of Pannalal Ghosh as recent as the mid part of the twentieth century. He was responsible for adapting khayal, the North Indian vocal style, into flute playing as well as introducing technical amendments ...