Rahul Sharma (musician)
Encyclopedia
Rahul Sharma is an Indian classical musician of Hindustani classical music
. He plays santoor
and is also a vocalist.
player Shivkumar Sharma
and Manorama, from a family steeped in the tradition of Kashmir
. His grandfather, Uma Dutt Sharma, was a master of the santoor. The harsh tone of the instrument made it fall out of line with folk music
as well as classical music
, but Uma Dutt Sharma persisted.
He studied in Mithibai College
, Mumbai.
at an early age. Learning the santoor at age 13, he wasn't completely sure of pursuing music until he turned 17. After studying economics at Mumbai's Mithibai College, Rahul Sharma began performing with his father. He started accompanying him in concerts in 1996, at the age of 24.
The mountainous region of Kashmir was where Rahul's musical lineage evolved and in September 2000, Real World Records
released Music Of The Himalayas, a live performance in Turin featuring Sharma, percussionist Pandit Bhawani Shankar, and tabla
player Ustad Shafat Ahmed Khan. Rahul has performed in North America and throughout Europe, and at various folk and world music festivals, including WOMAD.
He quickly became a sought after concert artist, and has released several CDs, some solo and some with his father. He has collaborated with international musicians like pianist Richard Clayderman
and keyboardist
Kersi Lord. The Confluence (2002) has mostly Indian titles, six of which were composed by Rahul Sharma himself.
He provided the music for the Hindi feature film Mujhse Dosti Karoge, for which he received the award in the 'Best Debut-Music Director' category at the 2002 Zee Bollywood Music Awards.
His last album Time Traveler [sic] which has been described as New-Age was released on March 10, 2006.
He collaborates with Ustad Zakir Hussain
, Pt Bhavani Shankar Kathak, Shafat Ahmed Khan tabla
.
In cooperation with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings will release three volumes of its initially seven volumes’ Central Asian Music series on March 30, 2010. Vol.9: In the Footsteps of Babur: Musical Encounters from the Lands of the Mughals explores the common ground of musical styles, sensibilities, and instruments from Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Northern India. Six brilliant instrumentalists, amongst whom Rahul Sharma and Homayun Sakhi, the leading Afghan rubâb player, illuminate the musical legacy of the Mughal Empire
, founded five centuries ago by Emperor Babur.
rainchanted
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...
. He plays santoor
Santoor
The santoor is an ancient stringed musical instrument, native to Kashmir and Iran. It is a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer often made of walnut, with seventy two strings. The special-shaped mallets are lightweight and are held between the index and middle fingers...
and is also a vocalist.
Early life
Rahul Sharma was born in Mumbai to the santoorSantoor
The santoor is an ancient stringed musical instrument, native to Kashmir and Iran. It is a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer often made of walnut, with seventy two strings. The special-shaped mallets are lightweight and are held between the index and middle fingers...
player Shivkumar Sharma
Shivkumar Sharma
Shivkumar Sharma is an Indian santoor player. The santoor is a folk instrument from Kashmir and Jammu. Sharma is often referred to by the title Pandit.-Early life:...
and Manorama, from a family steeped in the tradition of Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
. His grandfather, Uma Dutt Sharma, was a master of the santoor. The harsh tone of the instrument made it fall out of line with folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
as well as classical music
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
, but Uma Dutt Sharma persisted.
He studied in Mithibai College
Mithibai College
Mithibai College of Arts, Chauhan Institute of Science & Amruthben Jivanlal College of Commerce and Economics also knowns as Mithibai College is a prestigious and popular college in Vile Parle, Mumbai, India. Mithibai College is affiliated with the University of Mumbai...
, Mumbai.
Career
Shivkumar Sharma, his father, mastered the instrument by experimenting with various striking positions and tones. As Shivkumar's status rose in the musical circles of Kashmir, word of his performances grew over borders and continents. Rahul Sharma continued the tradition of the instrument. He was always in love with music, singing and playing the harmoniumHarmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
at an early age. Learning the santoor at age 13, he wasn't completely sure of pursuing music until he turned 17. After studying economics at Mumbai's Mithibai College, Rahul Sharma began performing with his father. He started accompanying him in concerts in 1996, at the age of 24.
The mountainous region of Kashmir was where Rahul's musical lineage evolved and in September 2000, Real World Records
Real World Records
Real World Records is a record label started in 1989 by Peter Gabriel to record and produce world music.-Overview:The label grew up alongside the success of the WOMAD festivals and Peter Gabriel's exploration of music from other cultures, and helped push world music into the general public's...
released Music Of The Himalayas, a live performance in Turin featuring Sharma, percussionist Pandit Bhawani Shankar, and tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
player Ustad Shafat Ahmed Khan. Rahul has performed in North America and throughout Europe, and at various folk and world music festivals, including WOMAD.
He quickly became a sought after concert artist, and has released several CDs, some solo and some with his father. He has collaborated with international musicians like pianist Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman is a French pianist who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint, instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of most popular works of...
and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Kersi Lord. The Confluence (2002) has mostly Indian titles, six of which were composed by Rahul Sharma himself.
He provided the music for the Hindi feature film Mujhse Dosti Karoge, for which he received the award in the 'Best Debut-Music Director' category at the 2002 Zee Bollywood Music Awards.
His last album Time Traveler [sic] which has been described as New-Age was released on March 10, 2006.
He collaborates with Ustad Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain (musician)
Zakir Hussain , , is an Indian tabla player, musical producer, film actor and composer.-Early life:Hussain was born in Mumbai, India to the legendary tabla player Alla Rakha. He attended St...
, Pt Bhavani Shankar Kathak, Shafat Ahmed Khan tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
.
In cooperation with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings will release three volumes of its initially seven volumes’ Central Asian Music series on March 30, 2010. Vol.9: In the Footsteps of Babur: Musical Encounters from the Lands of the Mughals explores the common ground of musical styles, sensibilities, and instruments from Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Northern India. Six brilliant instrumentalists, amongst whom Rahul Sharma and Homayun Sakhi, the leading Afghan rubâb player, illuminate the musical legacy of the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
, founded five centuries ago by Emperor Babur.
Albums
- Namaste India - Rahul Sharma & Kenny GKenny GKenneth Bruce Gorelick , better known by his stage name Kenny G, is an American, adult contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonist. His fourth album, Duotones, brought him breakthrough success in 1986...
(2011)
rainchanted
- Zen
- Samandar (2007)
- Ladakh
- H2O
- Interface
- Time Traveller
- Fusion
- Maya the Illusion
- White
- Parimahal
- Kashmir
- Jannat
- Mountain Trail
- Laddhakh - In Search of Buddha
- Music of Himalayas
- Antariksh
- The confluence (with Richard Clayderman / 2003)
- Confluence II (with Richard Clayderman / 2008)
- A meeting by the Nile (Confluence III with Georges KazazianGeorges KazazianGeorges Kazazian is a composer and oud player. He has published a dozen albums to date. He was born in Cairo and has mostly worked there. The musicians he works with are usually Egyptian also...
/ 2009) - Music of Central Asia: Vol. 9: In the Footsteps of Babur: Musical Encounters from the Lands of the Mughals