Harihar Rao
Encyclopedia
Harihar Rao is a sitar
player who worked in the ethnomusicology
department at UCLA. In 1967, Rao published the book Introduction to Sitar, which sold more than 500 copies in its first two weeks of publication. In 1969 the book was in its fourth printing.
Rao was a great influence on jazz trumpeter Don Ellis
, and the two played together in the Hindustani Jazz Sextet in the mid-1960s. In 1965 Rao and Ellis co-wrote An Introduction to Indian Music for the Jazz Musician, which was printed by Jazz Magazine.
In 1973, Rao and Ravi Shankar
co-founded the Music Circle, an organization dedicated to promoting Indian classical music
. Rao's older brother was the musician and educator Taranath Rao
.
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
player who worked in the ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
department at UCLA. In 1967, Rao published the book Introduction to Sitar, which sold more than 500 copies in its first two weeks of publication. In 1969 the book was in its fourth printing.
Rao was a great influence on jazz trumpeter Don Ellis
Don Ellis
Don Ellis was an American jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer and bandleader. He is best known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of unusual time signatures...
, and the two played together in the Hindustani Jazz Sextet in the mid-1960s. In 1965 Rao and Ellis co-wrote An Introduction to Indian Music for the Jazz Musician, which was printed by Jazz Magazine.
In 1973, Rao and Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar , often referred to by the title Pandit, is an Indian musician and composer who plays the plucked string instrument sitar. He has been described as the best known contemporary Indian musician by Hans Neuhoff in Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.Shankar was born in Varanasi and spent...
co-founded the Music Circle, an organization dedicated to promoting Indian classical music
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
. Rao's older brother was the musician and educator Taranath Rao
Taranath Rao
Pandit Taranath Ram Rao Hattiangadi was a performer and teacher of Indian classical percussion, known for his knowledge of rare talas and old compositions. He represented the Farukhabad, Delhi, and Ajrada gharanas of tabla, and the Nana Panse tradition of pakhavaj...
.