A Master Musician Has Departed

June 20, 2009 8:10 AM

Ustad Ali Akbar Khanpassed into his next incarnation on June 18. He was unquestionably the greatest sarod player in the world. A sample of his artistry is on display here and here..
posted by rdone (27 comments total)

He was a great, great artist, and fortunately, his life (unlike far too many musicians) was long.

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posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:16 AM on June 20 [1 favorite]

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posted by zennoshinjou at 8:18 AM on June 20

Some of my most treasured albums in my vinyl collection are some old Ali Akbar Khan recordings. A monumental musician.

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posted by Go Banana at 8:20 AM on June 20

I saw him once, a brilliant musician.

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posted by doctor_negative at 8:28 AM on June 20

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posted by fingers_of_fire at 8:34 AM on June 20

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posted by Restless Day at 8:43 AM on June 20

Damn.

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posted by Saxon Kane at 8:44 AM on June 20

Beautiful music the man made. I read that his father lived to be 110 and played 200 instruments. Ali Akbar Khan played a lot of instruments, and a lot of styles, as well.

Not sure about the reincarnation part, though...I believe he was a Muslim. (And even so, its believers say reincarnation does not happen instantaneously.)

Hate to nitpick a post about a genius' death! Sorry.

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posted by kozad at 8:49 AM on June 20

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posted by Joe Beese at 8:58 AM on June 20

       .        .             .      .
D N r - - - r N D - N r - - S -
x2
     .                                            .                  .
- - S - N - D - m - G - r - G m D N r - - - - - - - S - - - - -
x2

Some Marwa from memory...um, unintentionally fitting.

Sending my guru, Aashish, my condolences.
posted by Monstrous Moonshine at 9:41 AM on June 20

I met him once, and carried his sarod from the limo to the concert ... because he had to carry two bottles of Jack Daniels. So much for pietistic nonsense.

An amazing artist.

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posted by fourcheesemac at 10:23 AM on June 20 [1 favorite]

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posted by Think [Instrumental] at 10:32 AM on June 20

Just, uh, capitalize those two m's for the aug 4th. TIVRA MADHYAM, not shuddha madhyam.
posted by Monstrous Moonshine at 11:05 AM on June 20

A huge loss, for Indian music and bay area music as well. Does anyone know what will become of his music school up in Mari, I assume it will continue under different leadership? Hoping it stays open, we've recently just lost tabla education at the SF-local Sangati Center.
posted by StrangerInAStrainedLand at 11:33 AM on June 20

Oh drat and double drat kozad: it was nicer than saying that the Ustad kicked the bucket. Or that he took his toomba to the tomb.

A 1968 duo sarod concert by Ali Akbar and his son Ashish in Symphony Hall, Boston, remains in my memory as the most transcendent musical exoerience of my life: I got high on the music alone.
posted by rdone at 11:41 AM on June 20

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posted by lalochezia at 11:53 AM on June 20

Every time I eat at my favorite Indian restaurant I hear music like this and tell myself that I need to start investigating it. I love the sounds, and it seems like perfect music for light reading, or for the office. Can anyone recommend some CDs from this or similar artists?
posted by Crotalus at 12:08 PM on June 20

☪
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:19 PM on June 20

Crotalus, if you want to ease into the genre, a very approachable start can be made with this CD.
posted by spasm at 2:14 PM on June 20

you cannot possibly go wrong with Hariprasad Chaurasia, either (flute)
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:26 PM on June 20

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posted by klausness at 3:31 PM on June 20

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posted by el_lupino at 4:35 PM on June 20

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posted by umbú at 6:01 PM on June 20

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posted by mike3k at 7:54 PM on June 20

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posted by lupus_yonderboy at 7:37 AM on June 21

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...sigh ... the World just got a little smaller.
posted by aldus_manutius at 9:46 AM on June 21

thank you rdone - i'd never heard of him before your post.
his music will live on in one more person's life : )
posted by fay at 2:13 PM on June 22 [1 favorite]