Bullock Performance Institute: Arjun Verma and Nitin Matta

Among the classical music traditions of the world, North Indian classical music is one of the heavyweights. Its highly sophisticated and detailed structure dates back several millennia, yet within its modern practice, it allows generous freedom for improvisation as well.

One of this tradition’s most legendary musicians was sarode player Ali Akbar Khan, who was one of the main ambassadors of this music to the western world in the 20^th century, along with his contemporary, sitar player Ravi Shankar, who was also trained by Ali Akbar Khan’s father. When Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan first began touring the West in the 1950’s, North Indian Classical Music was little known outside of India. By the time these two musical emissaries finished their illustrious careers, North Indian Classical was firmly established on the worldwide stage as one of the great musical traditions of the world, and it had indelibly affected countless listeners and musicians throughout the world—influencing the likes of The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, The Byrds, Truth Hurts, M.I.A, John Coltrane, Norah Jones, John Mclaughlin, and many, many others.