I try to give to my music the spiritual quality, very deep in the soul, which does something even if you are not realizing it or analyzing it - that's the duty of the music.
Ravi ShankarRead
There are thousands of ragas, and they are all connected with different times of the day, like sunrise or night or sunset. It is all based on 72 of what we call 'mela' or scales. And we have principally nine moods, ranging from peacefulness to praying, or the feeling of emptiness you get by sitting by the ocean.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Music is deeply tied to the times of day and evokes various emotions and moods.
Ravi Shankar highlights the intricate relationship between music and time, emphasizing that different ragas resonate with specific moments of the day. He suggests that music is not just sound but an emotional experience that can convey a range of feelings, from peace to emptiness, much like the natural world around us.
Themes
MusicRagasEmotionsTimeMoodsScales
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture about the impact of music on emotions, this quote can illustrate the connection between music and time.
More from Ravi Shankar
All quotes →I will keep playing as long as my body lets me, and as long as I'm wanted by my listeners. Because music is the only thing that keeps me going.
Ravi ShankarRead
My secret ambition was always to provide music for animation films: something with an Indian theme, either a fairy tale or mythological tale or on the Krishna theme. I still have a very deep desire, but these sorts of chances don't always come.
Ravi ShankarRead
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