Lakshmi Shankar
Encyclopedia
Lakshmi Shankar is a Hindustani classical
vocalist of the Patiala Gharana
. She is known for her performances of khyal
, thumri
, and bhajans.
Born in 1926, Lakshmi started her career in dancing. In 1939, when Uday Shankar
brought his dance troupe to Madras, (recently renamed Chennai
), she joined the Almora Centre to learn Uday Shankar’s dance style based on the Indian classics, and became a part of his troupe. She later married Uday Shankar's brother, Rajendra (with nickname Raju).
During a period of illness, Lakshmi had to give up dancing, and already having had a background of Carnatic music
, she undertook learning Hindustani classical music
for many years under Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan. Later, she also trained with Ravi Shankar
, the sitar
maestro.
Shankar toured America with Ravi Shankar and George Harrison
in 1974. After Ravi Shankar's heart attack she conducted his touring band.
Lakshmi has shown her versatility and adaptability by composing music for Bharatanatyam
for the leading dance company Shakti School of Bharatanatyam located in Los Angeles
.
Compact Discs
Cassettes
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
vocalist of the Patiala Gharana
Patiala Gharana
The Patiala gharana is one of the most prominent gharanas of vocal Hindustani classical music. It was initially sponsored by the Maharaja of Patiala, Punjab, which was famous for ghazal, thumri, and khyal.-History:...
. She is known for her performances of khyal
Khyal
Khyal is the modern genre of classical singing in North India. Its name comes from an Arabic word meaning "imagination". It is thought to have developed out of the qawwali singing style. It appeared more recently than dhrupad, is a more free and flexible form, and it provides greater scope for...
, thumri
Thumri
Thumri is a common genre of semi-classical Indian music.The text is romantic or devotional in nature, and usually revolves around a girl's love for Krishna. The lyrics are usually in Uttar Pradesh dialects of Hindi called Poorbi and Brij Bhasha...
, and bhajans.
Born in 1926, Lakshmi started her career in dancing. In 1939, when Uday Shankar
Uday Shankar
Uday Shankar , the pioneer of modern dance in India, and a world renowned Indian dancer and choreographer, was most known for adapting Western theatrical techniques to traditional Indian classical dance, imbued with elements of Indian classical, folk, and tribal dance, thus laying the roots of...
brought his dance troupe to Madras, (recently renamed Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
), she joined the Almora Centre to learn Uday Shankar’s dance style based on the Indian classics, and became a part of his troupe. She later married Uday Shankar's brother, Rajendra (with nickname Raju).
During a period of illness, Lakshmi had to give up dancing, and already having had a background of Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
, she undertook learning Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
for many years under Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan. Later, she also trained with Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar , often referred to by the title Pandit, is an Indian musician and composer who plays the plucked string instrument sitar. He has been described as the best known contemporary Indian musician by Hans Neuhoff in Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.Shankar was born in Varanasi and spent...
, the sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
maestro.
Shankar toured America with Ravi Shankar and George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
in 1974. After Ravi Shankar's heart attack she conducted his touring band.
Lakshmi has shown her versatility and adaptability by composing music for Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam
Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam, is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music...
for the leading dance company Shakti School of Bharatanatyam located in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Discography
LP Records- The Voice of Lakshmi Shankar - World Pacific, USA
- Les Heures et les Saisons - Ocora 558615/16, France
Compact Discs
- Les Heures et les Saisons - Ocora, France
- Songs of Devotion - Auvidis (Ethnic), France
- Live Concert from Los Angeles - Ravi Shankar Music Circle, USA
- Live in London - Navras, UK (Cat No NRCD0006)
- Bhakti Ras - Navras, UK (Cat No NRCD0056)
- Shringar: Thumris - Music Today, India
- Ecstasy - Audiorec (Cat No 1052-2)
- Divine Love - Navras UK (Cat No NRCD3515)
- A life of dedication - Navras UK (Cat No NRCD0202)
- Dancing in the Light - World Village (Cat No 468049)
Cassettes
- Live in London - Navras, UK
- Bhakti Ras - Navras, UK
- Songs of the Seasons - Music Today, India
- Shringar: Thumris - Music Today, India
- Thumris - HMV - India
- Lakshmi Shankar Vocal with Zakir Hussain and L. Subramaniam - HMV, India