Comments on: Ravi Shankar, RIP: A performance on the Dick Cavett Show, and a reporter's recollections of a visit with Raviji http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/ravi-shankar-rip-on-the-dick.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 14:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Woody Smith http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/ravi-shankar-rip-on-the-dick.html#comment-1605771 Woody Smith Thu, 13 Dec 2012 04:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199913#comment-1605771 I saw him once in the early 70s on Long Island. After his first number brought thunderous applause, he explained to us that in India people customarily clap DURING a piece as well, and the musicians find it very inspiring, so please don't wait until the end to participate.  So all during the next piece, whenever he played something that really made me gasp, I clapped and hooted and whistled.  The whole audience glared at me...but he and Allah Rakha were electrified by the feedback, and proceeded to outdo themselves. I mean, they FLEW. When that raga was over, he thanked me, "...the one who listens so well,"and people stopped glaring at me and started emulating me.  It ended up being one of the best musical experiences of a long lifetime.  At the end of the night, they did a bit that they often used to close concerts, where Allah Rakha would play a short but complex rhythmic riff, and then Ravi would instantly copy it on sitar.  But THAT night, whatever Allah Rakha played, Ravi played it BACKWARDS.  Perfectly.  Even Allah Rakha was visibly stunned...and inspired. I've thought of that night often--the two friends grinning like thieves at one another, spraying sweat, and trying their futile best to trip each other up. RIP, Pandit Shankar. I saw him once in the early 70s on Long Island. After his first number brought thunderous applause, he explained to us that in India people customarily clap DURING a piece as well, and the musicians find it very inspiring, so please don’t wait until the end to participate.  So all during the next piece, whenever he played something that really made me gasp, I clapped and hooted and whistled.  The whole audience glared at me…but he and Allah Rakha were electrified by the feedback, and proceeded to outdo themselves. I mean, they FLEW. When that raga was over, he thanked me, “…the one who listens so well,”and people stopped glaring at me and started emulating me.  It ended up being one of the best musical experiences of a long lifetime.  At the end of the night, they did a bit that they often used to close concerts, where Allah Rakha would play a short but complex rhythmic riff, and then Ravi would instantly copy it on sitar.  But THAT night, whatever Allah Rakha played, Ravi played it BACKWARDS.  Perfectly.  Even Allah Rakha was visibly stunned…and inspired. I’ve thought of that night often–the two friends grinning like thieves at one another, spraying sweat, and trying their futile best to trip each other up. RIP, Pandit Shankar.

]]> By: Brian Donohue http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/ravi-shankar-rip-on-the-dick.html#comment-1605357 Brian Donohue Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199913#comment-1605357 When I was a youngster I encountered the LP he made with Menuhin and wore it out. Stunning, moving, ineffable musicianship. I then saw him once, at Avery Fisher Hall back in the 80's; only concert I've ever gone to alone, because I didn't know anyone then who appreciated this kind of music. RS gave you more than an evening's entertainment; he opened a window to the Formless, to the source of all music, all art, all love. When I was a youngster I encountered the LP he made with Menuhin and wore it out. Stunning, moving, ineffable musicianship. I then saw him once, at Avery Fisher Hall back in the 80′s; only concert I’ve ever gone to alone, because I didn’t know anyone then who appreciated this kind of music. RS gave you more than an evening’s entertainment; he opened a window to the Formless, to the source of all music, all art, all love.

]]> By: Gourish Yaji http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/ravi-shankar-rip-on-the-dick.html#comment-1605242 Gourish Yaji Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199913#comment-1605242 Pandit Ravishankar was a truly global ambassador, a great human being. The donations to bangladesh at war times shows his human side. He had connected east to west, tradition to modernity in the world. I'm really thankful for all the videos of Pandit Ravishankar. May his soul rest in peace Pandit Ravishankar was a truly global ambassador, a great human being. The donations to bangladesh at war times shows his human side. He had connected east to west, tradition to modernity in the world. I’m really thankful for all the videos of Pandit Ravishankar. May his soul rest in peace

]]> By: Steve Ardire http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/ravi-shankar-rip-on-the-dick.html#comment-1605106 Steve Ardire Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199913#comment-1605106 Ravi Shankar at 1967 Monterey Pop festival was perhaps his best performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5sRbmJdsFI watch the entire 19:18 clip because its worth it ! Ravi Shankar at 1967 Monterey Pop festival was perhaps his best performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5sRbmJdsFI

watch the entire 19:18 clip because its worth it !

]]> By: Mighty Blowhole http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/ravi-shankar-rip-on-the-dick.html#comment-1605097 Mighty Blowhole Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199913#comment-1605097 And that's the late, great Alla Rakha (Zakir Hussain's father) on tabla... Great clip of the masters! And that’s the late, great Alla Rakha (Zakir Hussain’s father) on tabla… Great clip of the masters!

]]> By: BannedinDC http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/ravi-shankar-rip-on-the-dick.html#comment-1605048 BannedinDC Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199913#comment-1605048 Very.  It was interesting to see this video, because I have his daughter Anoushka's performance of that same song on steady youtube rotation.  Both are quite good, and it's interesting to see the influence from father to daughter:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CnhcGpmH9Y Very.  It was interesting to see this video, because I have his daughter Anoushka’s performance of that same song on steady youtube rotation.  Both are quite good, and it’s interesting to see the influence from father to daughter:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CnhcGpmH9Y

]]> By: Deepak Soni http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/ravi-shankar-rip-on-the-dick.html#comment-1605044 Deepak Soni Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199913#comment-1605044 Very nice performance Very nice performance

]]> By: Xeni Jardin http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/ravi-shankar-rip-on-the-dick.html#comment-1605043 Xeni Jardin Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199913#comment-1605043 Love you bro! Love you bro!

]]> By: djcarlito http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/ravi-shankar-rip-on-the-dick.html#comment-1605040 djcarlito Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199913#comment-1605040 how surreal and inspiring it must have been to visit him at his home..   glad you had the chance to sit and talk with him Xeni.. im sure it was a wonderful interview (i'd love to read it when you find it) and i'm sure he genuinely appreciated your sincerity, intelligence, and charm. how surreal and inspiring it must have been to visit him at his home..   glad you had the chance to sit and talk with him Xeni.. im sure it was a wonderful interview (i’d love to read it when you find it) and i’m sure he genuinely appreciated your sincerity, intelligence, and charm.

]]> By: franko http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/ravi-shankar-rip-on-the-dick.html#comment-1605036 franko Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199913#comment-1605036 he was a giant, and his shadow is long. i'm listening to indian sitar all day in tribute. he was a giant, and his shadow is long. i’m listening to indian sitar all day in tribute.

]]>