George Harrison, Ravi Shankar & Viji Shankar at Friar Park during rehearsals for Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival From India, 1974.
(Photograph by Clive Arrowsmith)
beatlesblogger.com
George Harrison Estate Launches New Record Label
by beatlesblogger
Posted on April 28, 2018
The estate of George Harrison has just announced a new record label which will be dedicated to re-issuing some of the Indian classical and World music that George so dearly loved.
The label, called HariSongs, is kicking off by making two titles available to stream or download: In Concert 1972, featuring virtuoso’s Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan recorded live at New York’s Philharmonic Hall; and Chants of India, another Ravi Shankar project dating back to 1997. So far there is no talk of any physical product being made available, but there is a brand-spanking and comprehensive new website to go along with the new label.
In Concert 1972 was originally released on the Beatles’ Apple Records label in 1973, and was mixed and edited by George Harrison (with Zakir Hussain and Phil McDonald).
Chants of India, produced by George Harrison, was originally released in 1997 on the Angel Records label (formerly a classical music division of EMI). It was recorded in Madras, India, and at Harrison’s Friar Park home at Henley-on-Thames in the UK.
Both titles are recently out-of-print, and have never before been available via streaming platforms. In Concert 1972 is also available in Hi-Res 96/24 and 192/24 formats.
You can read the full details of George’s dedication to and delight in Indian classical music, plus the new record label and releases in the press release issued by the George Harrison Estate here .
harisongs.com
NEWS
The George Harrison Estate announces new label, HariSongs
Home to George Harrison's archive of Indian Classical and World music and his collaborations with the finest exponents of Indian Classical music
First reissues available digitally April 27th, including via streaming outlets for the first time
London, April 27, 2018 – The George Harrison Estate is happy to announce their new label, HariSongs, created in partnership with Craft Recordings to release Harrison’s archive of Indian Classical and World music and his collaborations with the finest exponents of Indian Classical music.
To celebrate this body of music, HariSongs launches today with two reissues in honour of both Ravi Shankar’s birthday (b. 7th April, 1920) and Ali Akbar Khan’s birthday (b. 14th April, 1922) this month. These titles — both recently out-of-print, and never before available via streaming platforms — are the acclaimed Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan In Concert 1972 and the last collaboration by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, Chants of India. These digital-only reissues are now available for the first time via streaming outlets, as well as to download (In Concert is also on Hi-Res 96/24 and 192/24 formats).
About In Concert 1972
In Concert 1972 was originally released via Apple Records in 1973, with a statement that read: "Within the small community of Brilliantly Gifted Musicians there exists an even smaller world of Masters. Two of these masters recently joined together in concert ...". The album features two of Indian Classical music's greatest artists at the height of their powers, the sitar maestro Ravi Shankar and master of the sarod, Ali Akbar Khan. The album captures the live recordings from a performance which took place at New York City's Philharmonic Hall on October 8, 1972 and was mixed and edited by George Harrison (with Zakir Hussain and Phil McDonald). Featuring tabla accompaniment by the great Alla Rakha, this mesmerising concert comprises three ragas played in the jugalbandi style (or a duet played by two solo musicians) and became a poignant tribute to the guru of both soloists (and the father of Ali Akbar), the great Allauddin Khan, who had died but a month previously.
Critical praise for In Concert 1972
“This wonderful recording comes from a show at New York's Philharmonic Hall with a dream team: Ali Akbar Khan on sarod and Alla Rakha on tabla. One of the three pieces, 'Raga – Manj Khamaj,' totals almost an hour, enabling you to get much closer than on most Shankar albums of the period, to the natural extension and patient exploration of an Indian classical-music evening."
Rolling Stone
“This is the living, fire-breathing embodiment of one of the greatest partnerships ever forged in Hindustani (Northern Indian) classical music… Two musicians pouring their hearts out for their guru: that is the most succinct description of this sometimes smouldering, sometimes fiery, masterpiece.”
Gramophone Magazine
About Chants of India
Chants of India by Ravi Shankar and produced by George Harrison was originally released in 1997 on Angel Records. Recorded in both Madras, India, and Henley-on-Thames, UK, this collaboration was referred to by Shankar as “one of the most difficult challenges in my life, as a composer and arranger”, and draws upon the sacred Sanskrit texts of the Vedas, Upanishads and other scriptures. He added, “the repetitive use of mantras invoke a special power within oneself and I have tried to imbibe this age-old tradition in this recording... into which I have poured my heart and soul”.
Critical praise for Chants of India
“Perhaps the very best introduction to the enduring creative friendship between the Bengali classical master and the scruff from Liverpool's back streets”
Mojo
"'Chants of India' represents a creative milestone in the life of a veteran artist whose contributions to traditional Indian music cannot be overestimated."
Billboard
"Shankar took Hindu prayers, mantras and scriptural texts and framed them within larger musical settings, incorporating both Indian and European instruments along with voices. The results are transporting – and very beautiful."
NPR Music
DIGITAL TRACK LISTING:
In Concert 1972
Ravi Shankar (sitar) & Ali Akbar Khan (sarod) with Alla Rakha (tabla)
Ravi Shankar (sitar) & Ali Akbar Khan (sarod) with Alla Rakha (tabla)
- Raga Hem Bihag – 25:18
- Raga Manj Khamaj – 51:01
- Raga Sindhi Bhairavi – 26:18
Chants of India
All songs are traditional, arranged by Ravi Shankar, except where indicated.
All songs are traditional, arranged by Ravi Shankar, except where indicated.
- Vandanaa Trayee – 4:32
- Omkaaraaya Namaha – 1:53
- Vedic Chanting One – 3:12
- Asato Maa – 7:12
- Sahanaa Vavavtu – 4:26
- Poornamadah – 1:28
- Gaayatri – 3:26
- Mahaa Mrityunjaya – 4:43
- Veenaa-Murali – 3:36
- Geetaa – 2:13
- Managalam (original composition by Shankar, Dr Nandakumara) – 4:03
- Hari Om (original composition by Shankar) – 2:57
- Svara Mantra (original composition by Shankar) – 4:34
- Vedic Chanting Two – 2:13
- Prabhujee (original composition by Shankar) – 8:06
- Sarve Shaam – 5:09
Ravi Shankar teaching George Harrison the sitar, Srinagar, India, 1966.
(© Harrison Family)
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