About A Sublime Trance (Santoor)
A Sublime Trance (Santoor) is a studio album by Indian classical musician Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Released on January 1, 1991, the album features Sharma on the santoor, a hammered dulcimer of Kashmiri origin. The recording captures a single raga performance divided into three tracks, showcasing the instrumental traditions of Hindustani classical music.
The album comprises three movements centered on Raag Kalavati. The first track presents an alaap followed by a composition in vilambit laya (slow tempo) set to Rupak Taal. The second track transitions into madhya laya (medium tempo) in Ek Taal and progresses to drut laya (fast tempo) in Teen Taal. The final track features a composition in Mishra Khamaj Thumri styled in the Dadra Taal rhythmic cycle, blending classical and semi-classical elements.
Sharma performs unaccompanied in the alaap section and collaborates with accompanying artists in the composed segments. The album format emphasizes the improvisational and structural depth of Raag Kalavati, adhering to the gayaki ang (vocal-style phrasing) characteristic of Sharma’s santoor technique. The label and production details remain undocumented in available sources.
The release exemplifies Sharma’s contributions to expanding the santoor repertoire within Hindustani classical music during the late 20th century. The album’s title reflects the meditative and transcendent qualities associated with the raga’s exploration. No commercial singles or alternate editions are recorded for this release.