Sitarist, composer, activist — Anoushka Shankar is many things, but stagnant is not one of them.
With an ever-growing list of award nominations, a British House of Commons Shield — of which she remains to be the first and youngest female recipient — and the title of first Indian musician to present at the Grammy Awards, Shankar’s feats never fail to amaze.
Shankar is no stranger to fame, having begun her training under the expert tutelage of her sitarist and composer father, Pandit Ravi Shankar, whose impact on 20th century music is undeniable.
She made her professional debut at the age of thirteen, and has never looked back. Eighteen-year-old Shankar’s first solo tour reached dizzying heights of success as she made her mark on the world of music through a unique exploration of rhythm, emotions and unusual instrumentation.
Her latest album, Chapter I: Forever, For Now, encapsulates her thoughts on the never ending chaos and violence in the world. It’s the first chapter in a trilogy of mini-albums, with each one delving deeper into the suspension of time, while focusing on the beauty of fleeting and seemingly irrelevant moments.
Last Saturday, Shankar performed pieces from this album and past works at the Chan Centre. Beginning the concert with “What Will We Remember?” — one of the four songs from her newest album — she immediately captivated the audience. The opening notes were slow, melodious and played solely on the sitar, showcasing Shankar’s mastery of the instrument.
Its haunting tone enveloped the room, exuding calmness and peace, but the spell broke with the sharp sound of the tabla, an Indian percussion instrument. The song symbolizes chaos on a global scale, with Shankar’s interpretation of the disruption of harmony.
After playing two songs from her second studio album Land of Gold, Shankar reverted to Ch I: Forever, For Now, as her band accompanied her in playing “Daydreaming” and “Sleeping Flowers (Awaken Every Spring).”
Percussion, clarinet and double bass meshed with Shankar’s sitar, creating two highly distinctive, yet congruent lullabies. There was a sense of urgency in the beats, even as the pace of the sitar slowed, resulting in an unsettling but tranquil feeling.
With the audience wholly enraptured, Shankar returned to the stage for an encore. She performed the last song on her album, “Stolen Moments,” and encouraged the audience to grasp onto every moment in time.
The last notes of her sitar reverberated through the night as she concluded her final piece with a flourish. Chapter I: Forever, For Now captures the essence of finding oneself amidst chaos and noise, urging listeners to slow down and savour life.