Prayer in Passing

Prayer in Passing is a solo instrumental track by sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar. The composition appears on her 2011 studio album Traveller. The piece lasts 6 minutes and 21 seconds. Shankar performs the sitar throughout, accompanied by minimal percussion and drone elements. The track blends Hindustani classical raga structures with contemporary production techniques.

The album Traveller was released on October 17, 2011, under the Deutsche Grammophon label. It explores the shared roots of Indian classical music and Spanish flamenco. Prayer in Passing serves as the opening track, setting a meditative tone for the album. The composition does not follow a traditional raga format but incorporates improvisational elements characteristic of Shankar’s style.

Anoushka Shankar recorded Prayer in Passing in London and Madrid. The production team included Javier Limón as co-producer, who contributed to the album’s fusion of Indian and flamenco influences. The track features Tanmoy Bose on tabla and Kenji Ota on tanpura, providing rhythmic and drone support. The recording captures Shankar’s technical precision and emotive phrasing on the sitar.

No official single or music video was released for Prayer in Passing. The track received attention for its atmospheric quality and Shankar’s expressive performance. The album Traveller earned critical acclaim and was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best World Music Album category in 2013. Details about live performances of the piece remain unconfirmed.