Who is a renowned Santoor player from India, often credited with popularizing the instrument worldwide?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Answer: Shivkumar Sharma.
Explanation:
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (1938–2022) was a world-renowned Indian Santoor player. He is primarily credited with elevating the 'Santoor' a folk instrument of Jammu and Kashmir to the stage of Indian classical music and securing it international recognition. He introduced significant modifications to the structure and playing technique of the Santoor to adapt it to the nuances of Indian ragas (melodic modes). He was honored with the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001. In collaboration with the renowned flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia, he also composed music for several films (such as Silsila and Chandni) under the duo name 'Shiv-Hari'.
Additional Points:
Bhajan Sopori: He was also a great Santoor player, often referred to as the 'Saint of the Santoor'. He belonged to the Sufiana Gharana.
Zakir Hussain: He is one of India's most celebrated Tabla players and the son of Ustad Alla Rakha.
Hariprasad Chaurasia: He is a world-renowned flautist.
Santoor: This is essentially a string instrument featuring 100 strings; it was historically also known as the 'Shat-tantri Veena'.
Potential Exam Questions and Answers:
Question: Which two musicians comprised the duo 'Shiv-Hari'?
Answer: Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Santoor) and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (Flute).
Question: From which region does the Santoor originally hail as a folk instrument?
Answer: Kashmir.