Shivkumar Sharma
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (born 13 January 1938) is an Indian music composer and santoor player from Jammu.[2][3][4] The santoor is originally a folk instrument, but became an instrument for Indian classical through his internationally recognized playing style.[1][5]
| Pandit Shivkumar Sharma | |
|---|---|
|  Pandit Shivkumar Sharma after performance and Talk in First Santoor Samaroh (Santoor Concert) at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal July 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 13 January 1938[1] Jammu, British India (now Jammu and Kashmir, India) | 
| Origin | Jammu, India | 
| Genres | Hindustani classical music | 
| Occupation(s) | Music composer , Musician | 
| Instruments | santoor, tabla | 
| Years active | 1955–present | 
| Associated acts | Rahul Sharma (son) Hariprasad Chaurasia | 
| Website | santoor | 
Early life
    
Shivkumar Sharma was born in Jammu to the singer[6][7] Uma Dutt Sharma,[8] and his mother tongue is Dogri. His father started teaching him vocals and tabla, when he was just five.[7] Shivkumar started learning santoor at the age of thirteen[7][1] and gave his first public performance in Mumbai in 1955.
Personal life
    
Sharma married Manorama[8][9] and has two sons.[7] His son Rahul, who started learning at the age of 13, is also a santoor player,[10][11] and they have performed together since 1996.[12][13] In a 1999 interview, Shivkumar stated that he chose Rahul as his shishya, because he thought he had the "gift of God".[7]
Career
    

Shivkumar Sharma is credited with making the santoor a popular classical instrument.[5][14] He composed the background music for one of the scenes in Shantaram's film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje[15] in 1956. He recorded his first solo album in 1960.[1]
In 1967, he teamed up with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra to produce a concept album, Call of the Valley (1967), which turned out to be one of Indian classical music's greatest hits.[1][14] Further, he composed music for many Hindi films in collaboration with Hariprasad Chaurasia,[16] starting with Silsila[15] in 1980. They came to be known as the Shiv-Hari music duo.[15] Some of the movies they composed music for were musical hits, such as Faasle (1985), Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991), and Darr (1993).
Discography
    
    Albums
    
| Year | Title | Notes | 
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Santoor & Guitar, with Brij Bhushan Kabra | |
| 1967 | Shivkumar Sharma - (re-released 2005 as "First LP Record of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma" | |
| 1967 | Call of the Valley, with Brij Bhushan Kabra and Hariprasad Chaurasia | |
| 1982 | When Time Stood Still!, with Zakir Hussain (Live in Bombay) | |
| 1987 | Rag Madhuvanti & Rag Misra Tilang, with Zakir Hussain | |
| 1988 | Hypnotic Santoor | |
| 1991 | Maestro's Choice, Series One | |
| A Sublime Trance | ||
| The Glory of Strings | ||
| Raga Purya Kalyan, with Zakir Hussain | ||
| 1993 | Rag Rageshri, with Zakir Hussain | |
| Raga Bhopali vol I | ||
| Raga Kedari vol II | ||
| Varshā – A Homage to the Rain Gods | ||
| 1994 | Sound Scapes, Music of the Mountains | |
| Hundred Strings of Santoor | ||
| The Pioneer of Santoor | ||
| Raag Bilaskhani Todi | ||
| A Morning Raga Gurjari Todi | ||
| Feelings | ||
| 1996 | The Valley Recalls - In Search of Peace, Love & Harmony, with Hariprasad Chaurasia | |
| The Valley Recalls - Raga Bhoopali, with Hariprasad Chaurasia | ||
| Yugal Bandi, with Hariprasad Chaurasia | ||
| 1999 | Maestro's Choice, Series Two | |
| Sampradaya | ||
| Rasdhara, with Hariprasad Chaurasia | ||
| 2001 | Saturday Night in Bombay – Remember Shakti (Universal Records), with John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain and many others musicians. Composed Shringar | |
| 2002 | Ananda Bliss, with Zakir Hussain | |
| The Flow of Time, with Zakir Hussain | ||
| Sangeet Sartaj | ||
| 2003 | Vibrant Music for Reiki | |
| 2004 | Sympatico (Charukeshi – Santoor) | |
| 2004 | The Inner Path (Kirvani – Santoor | |
| 2007 | Essential Evening Chants, with Hariprasad Chaurasia | 
Contributing artist
    
| Year | Title | Network | 
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Rough Guide to the Music of India and Pakistan | World Music Network | 
Awards
    

Shivkumar Sharma is the recipient of national and international awards, including an honorary citizenship of the city of Baltimore, USA, in 1985,[17] the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986,[18] the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001.[19]
- Platinum Disc for Call of the Valley
- Platinum Disc for music of film Silsila
- Gold Disc for music of film Faasle
- Platinum Disc for music of film Chandni
- Pandit Chatur Lal Excellence Award - 2015
References
    
- "A dream fulfilled". Indian Express. 30 April 2000. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- "Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma in conversation on Antardhwani, the film based on his life". Indian Express. 18 September 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Santoor strains music to ears of unborn too". Indian Express. 10 November 2005. Archived from the original on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Santoor magic". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 27 February 2005. Archived from the original on 5 March 2005.
- "Santoor comes of age, courtesy Pandit Shivkumar Sharma". Indian Express. 8 January 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- Gilbert, Andrew (16 November 2007). "Masters of the East come West". Boston Globe. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Music is an expression of human emotions". rediff.com. 20 August 1999. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Note by note". The Times of India. 13 October 2002. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Sultan of strings: Shivakumar Sharma". DNA. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Virasaat". rediff.com. 18 March 1998. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- Dastur, Nicole (3 July 2006). "What's Rahul Sharma's Dalai Lama connection?". Times of India. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Santoor notes that bind: father- son 'Jugalbandi'". livemint.com. 1 July 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Inner Melodies". Indian Express. 29 July 2008. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- Lavezzoli, Peter (2006). The Dawn of Indian Music in the West. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 32. ISBN 0-8264-1815-5.
- "Enchantment from Eden valley". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 6 April 2000. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
- "I just pick up the flute and feel the urge to play". Financial Express. 19 February 2000. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
- "Profile". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- "Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards – Hindustani Music – Instrumental". Sangeet Natak Akademi. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
- "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India). Retrieved 13 May 2009.


