Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya

Sharda Sahai was born in Benares in 1935, a direct descendent of Pandit Ram Sahai, the founder of the Benares style ("gharana") of tabla playing. With the inherent gift in his blood of the finest traits of the Benares baj, he began at an early age to learn tabla from his father, the late Pandit Bhagvati Sahai.

The Spirit of Benares
by Pandit Sharda Sahai

Sharda Sahai's performance explores the technical and expressive possibilities of the tabla to its fullest. The performances in Tintal and Rupak tal fallow the most common solo performance sequence said to have been laid down by Pt. Ram Sahai. The final item is in drut (fast) Ektal.

This recording features ramesh Mishra on sarangi

Recorded by Mike Blaty, Mixed and Edited by Ray Dillard and Bob Becker

RealAudio sample of Ektal solo

This recording was made possible by the generosity of Tim Richards and Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya