Pandit Shivkumar Sharma - Shivkumar Sharma recorded his

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Shivkumar Sharma recorded his first solo album in 1960.He composed the music of Shantaram's 'Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje'.

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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Shivkumar Sharma has collaborated with many musicians like Zakir Hussain and Hariprasad Chaurasiya. He also composed music for Hindi films like 'Darr', 'Silsila', 'Lamhe' etc. Some of his famous albums are 'Call of the Valley', 'Sampradaya', 'Elements: Water, Music of the Mountains', 'Megh Malhar' etc.

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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Shivkumar Sharma has truly been successful in giving the Santoor the position of a popular classical instrument. Shivkumar Sharma modified the folk instrument in order to make it more suitable for classical music. He increased its range to full three octaves and also created a technique for smoother gliding between music notes in order to imitate human voice quality.

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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Shivkumar Sharma learnt the tabla and also vocal singing before dedicating himself to learn the Santoor extensively. The Santoor was known as the Shata-Tantri Veena in earlier days.

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Shivkumar Sharma was born on 13th January, 1938 in Jammu. He was introduced to the Santoor by his father and teacher, Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma. He was renowned player of the instrument and also a vocalist. He was a disciple of Pandit Bade Ramdasji of Banaras.

Pic Courtesy : BCCL