Artist
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
Pioneer of the Santoor
About This Artist
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma single-handedly transformed the santoor — a hundred-stringed hammered dulcimer native to the Sufiana Mausiqi tradition of Kashmir — into a respected instrument for Hindustani classical performance. The santoor's percussive, bell-like quality and lack of sustain posed enormous challenges for rendering the long, continuous phrases essential to classical music. Through decades of innovation, Sharma developed techniques to overcome these limitations, creating a shimmering, cascading sound that became his signature. Together with Hariprasad Chaurasia, he formed the legendary "Shiv-Hari" duo that composed iconic Bollywood scores. He received the Padma Vibhushan and is remembered as one of the most inventive musicians of his generation.
Notable Facts
- Single-handedly established the santoor as a Hindustani classical instrument
- Half of the "Shiv-Hari" duo that scored Silsila, Chandni, Lamhe, and Darr
- Developed innovative techniques to create sustained melodic phrases on a percussive instrument
- Received the Padma Vibhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
- His son Rahul Sharma continues the santoor tradition