Spirit of Kashmir

Spirit of Kashmir is a solo instrumental recording by Indian santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma. The track appears on the album Kashmir: The Valley of Saints, released in 1991. The composition showcases the santoor, a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer central to Indian classical music, with Sharma performing in the Hindustani tradition.

Shivkumar Sharma composed and arranged the piece, which runs for 7 minutes and 41 seconds. The performance emphasizes the santoor’s resonant, cascading tones, characteristic of Sharma’s style. The track employs raga-based improvisation, adhering to the conventions of Hindustani classical music while evoking the cultural and spiritual essence of Kashmir.

The album Kashmir: The Valley of Saints was produced under the Real World Records label, founded by musician Peter Gabriel. The release features collaborations with other artists, though Spirit of Kashmir remains a solo performance. The recording captures Sharma’s technical precision and emotive phrasing, typical of his contributions to Indian classical and fusion music.

No specific raga is documented for this track in available sources. The piece does not include vocal accompaniment or additional instrumentation. The release year and label information are confirmed, but further details about the recording session or specific musical structure remain undocumented.