About Instrumental Santoor
Instrumental Santoor is an Indian classical music album by santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma. The album was released on January 1, 1973. It features four instrumental tracks performed on the santoor, a traditional hammered dulcimer from the Kashmir region of India.
Shivkumar Sharma recorded the album as a solo artist. The primary format of the release is an LP record. The label for the album is not specified in available sources.
The tracklist includes Raga Gujri Todi - Alap Gat Vilambit - Taal Bhanumati, which presents a slow and meditative exploration of Raga Gujri Todi in vilambit (slow) tempo, accompanied by the Bhanumati taal. The second track, Raga Gujri - Alap Gat Drut Tritaal, shifts to a faster drut (fast) tempo in Tritaal, maintaining the same raga. The third composition, Mishra Kirwani - Taal Kaharwa, blends elements of Raga Kirwani with folk influences, set to the eight-beat Kaharwa taal. The final track, Dogri Folk Tune - Taal Deepchandi, adapts a traditional Dogri folk melody from the Jammu region, performed in the ten-beat Deepchandi taal.
The album showcases Sharma’s technical mastery and interpretive depth on the santoor. It highlights his ability to render both classical ragas and regional folk tunes with precision. The recordings emphasize the instrument’s melodic and rhythmic versatility within the Hindustani classical framework.