Ancient Love

Ancient Love is an instrumental composition by sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar. The piece appears on her 2005 album Rise. Shankar performs the sitar throughout the track, accompanied by a supporting ensemble that includes percussion and strings. The composition adheres to the raga structure of Indian classical music, though the specific raga is not documented in available sources.

The track spans 11 minutes and 7 seconds. It follows the traditional alap, jor, and jhala progression, characteristic of Hindustani classical performances. Shankar introduces the melodic framework gradually, building tempo and complexity as the piece advances. The composition does not include vocal elements or lyrical content.

Rise was released under the Angel Records label. The album features a blend of Indian classical and contemporary influences, with Ancient Love representing the classical segment. The track does not list individual musicians for the supporting instruments in available liner notes.

The release date of Rise is September 27, 2005. The album received critical attention for its fusion of traditional and modern elements, though Ancient Love was noted primarily for its adherence to classical conventions. No official music video or single release accompanies the track.