A pioneer of East-West fusion, L Shankar, who in the latest times mesmerised the audience with the Aditya Birla Masters of Music concert, takes The Pioneer had the enchanting experience of inventing his double violin and collaborating with the legendary Vikku Vinayakram and Zakir Hussain.
SHIKHA DUGGAL
The Aditya Birla Masters of Music, a unique concert, gathered together great music titans, one of which was L Shankar, whose works enveloped the listeners and combined the traditional beats of classical percussion with strings!
Shankar Lakshmi narayana, the violinist, vocalist, and composer, is widely considered a pioneer of East-West fusion, combining the rich traditions of classical music with Western genres such as jazz, rock, and electronic music. In an exclusive interview with us, the person credited with creating the stereophonic double violin states, “Necessity is the mother of inventions. When I was in London recording my debut, which Frank Zappa produced, I overdubbed violin, viola, cello, and bass. Because of my numerous musical interests, I used to have different violins for classical, Shakti, and other rock projects and collaborations. It was tough to transport so much equipment. I wanted to create a single instrument that could be played in all genres. Hence, I designed the LSD (L Shankar’s Double Violin). I worked on the prototype for two years to ensure the proper angle and distance between the two necks. The instrument has a full orchestral range and can mimic the sounds of flute, guitar, and synthesisers. I can play on one neck while the other produces sympathetic sounds. For decades, this instrument has proven to be exceptional. I currently have the fourth edition. People have attempted to reproduce it.”
The event provided a once-in-a-generation opportunity to commemorate this famous artist’s quartet! Furthermore, he adds, “You must keep an open mind. Growing up in a musical family, I’ve always felt at ease with diverse musical genres. I studied international music. Artists vary in their style and adaptability, making it enjoyable to collaborate with them. This leads to unrestricted creativity and enjoyment.”
An exuberant musician discusses the impact of music and the success of his album Pancha Nadai Pallavi, as well. “I collaborated extensively with artists Vikku Vinayakram Ji on ghatam and Zakir Hussain Ji on tabla. The Pancha Nadai Pallavi was a complicated work with a unique rhythmic cycle, Mahalakshmi tala (9 1/2 beats), named after the mother of the famous Mahaperiyava saint. We rehearsed the Pallavi extensively before recording.” Because, on a general note, he was keen to tell us, “Music is a common thread that connects all of us around the world. I participated in performances with the Prince’s Trust in London, UN Peace Day, Nelson Mandela’s charity shows, and numerous Amnesty International shows, where many musicians volunteered to promote peace. I learned a lot from these encounters.”
The L. Shankar on the double violin continues, “My family has a great musical legacy that spans generations. Our musical family includes Vikku Vinaykram Ji and ‘3G’ with Selvaganesh Ji and Swaminathan Selvaganesh from South India, as well as Ustad Fazal Qureshi from the renowned Ustad Alla Rakha’s family from the North. This elite group comes from a well-known family with a long history. So, the sky was the limit for these exceptional artists. We covered the difficult Ragam Tanam Pallavis and Shakti classics from the first three albums. We offered a large selection of songs to choose from.”
Finally, the Madras-born singer advises budding musicians to be completely passionate about what they do, committed, unconcerned about criticism, and concentrated. “It’s a long road, but if you enjoy it, it’s a pleasure because we are fortunate to do what we do. One must not accept no for an answer! If you serve Saraswati, she will look after you. If you serve the music, it will serve you forever. I am solely a music student and will remain so. Here are my feelings. I only compete with myself, not with others.”
You know what? His world music records with the band Shakti during the mid-70s became the ‘standard to assess the playing and composition ability of any world musician following in Shakti’s vast wake’. As a result, his enormous body of work covers a wide range of genres, including vocal and instrumental works! It was a joy to know Shankar, who was born in Madras as the sixth child in a musical family. Considered a child prodigy, he began vocal training with his father at the age of two. Within a year, he was able to hum complicated lines from traditional Indian music. Since, look at him now, when their house was attacked and burned down during the ethnic riots in 1958—Shankar and his two older brothers created the Violin Trio, which made history in the 20th century Carnatic music scene after fleeing Sri Lanka. That’s how it’s done!
