Hundred Strings of Santoor

Shivkumar Sharma released Hundred Strings of Santoor in 1986. The album features two extended santoor performances of Raga Mishra Khamaj, blending improvisation with traditional Hindustani structures.

Hundred Strings of Santoor is an Indian classical music album by santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma. The album was released on January 1, 1986. It features two extended instrumental compositions performed on the santoor, a traditional hammered dulcimer from the Kashmir region of India.

Shivkumar Sharma recorded the album under his own production. The primary format of the release is an audio recording, though specific label details are not available in the provided context. The album consists of two tracks, both titled Raga Mishra Khamaj, distinguished as Part 1 and Part 2. These tracks explore the Mishra Khamaj raga, a melodic framework in Hindustani classical music that blends elements of Khamaj with other ragas, allowing for improvisational creativity.

The first track, Raga Mishra Khamaj 1, establishes the raga’s core structure through alap, jor, and jhala sections, showcasing Sharma’s technical precision and emotive phrasing. The second track, Raga Mishra Khamaj 2, expands on the raga with rhythmic accompaniment, likely incorporating tabla or pakhawaj, though specific percussion details are not confirmed in the available context. The album reflects Sharma’s contributions to elevating the santoor as a solo concert instrument in Hindustani classical music.