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Music Extra: Our Love for Indian Classical Music

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Roopa Panesar Plays Sitar

05/01/2019 GMT

Our Love for Indian Classical Music

BBC World Service - Music Extra, Our Love for Indian Classical Music

Examining the growing popularity and influence of Indian classical music across the globe

Examining the growing popularity and influence of Indian classical music across the globe.

Indian classical music is an art form that’s been in the making for thousands of years and has exponentially grown in popularity, seeing a 70% increase in people taking exams in the UK alone.
 
First mentioned in its simplest form in the Hindu scriptures known as the vedas, some 3,500 years ago, we tell the story of how the music has educated and liberated people across the globe, and why it’s more popular now than ever before.
 
We explore its rich history as we visit the tomb of one of the forefathers of Indian classical music, Amir Khusrao. Plus, we take to the road to experience the sights and sounds of the live festivals, both in India and the UK.
 
We also uncover the music’s mystical powers at healing people when we travel to the Music Therapy Trust. In Switzerland, we meet with Ken Zuckerman, who set up a college with Ali Akbar Khan to teach people the music in Europe and America.
 
And we find out its musical influence across the modern world, headed up by today’s top Indian classical musicians; people like Anoushka Shankar, Roopa Panesar, Nitin Sawhney and Jayanthi Kumaresh. Including fascinating characters like Bernhard Schimpelsberger, the Austrian drummer who’s been headlining festivals with his unique take on Indian percussion.
 
Presented by Tulika Pandey.

(Photo: Roopa Panesar practises the sitar at home)

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