Call of the valley is a symphony in Indian classical music. The genius of three brilliant artistes and a collaboration of their talents are behind this music that is exquisitely sweet and bewitchingly pleasing to the ear. It paints for us a tonal picture of gorgeous valleys, laden with tall green pine and chinar trees and sun-kissed, snow-clad peaks of the mighty Himalayas.

The three instruments that come together to present this euphonious drama are the santoor, the flute and the guitar.

The santoor is a folk instrument typical of the Kashmir valley and is extremely popular with the masses. It has over a hundred strings and is played with a pair of wooden tongs. The flute is a cylindrical piece made of bamboo with 7 holes arranged in a straight line and is considered to be the most ancient instrument of India.

The three instruments are used cleverly for describing vividly a story. THe guitar and the santoor also play distinct roles in the drama depicted in the music. There are two main characters - a handsome, sturdy, young lad and charming lass, a peerless beauty that blossoms only in the Kashmir valley - head over heels in love with each other. The guitar and the santoor play the roles of the hero and heroine, respectively.

The credit for conceiving the idea goes to Shiv Kumar Sharma. It was developed in the present elaborate musical form with the help and genius of Hariprasad Chaurasia and Brij Bhushan Kabra.

Shiv Kumar Sharma, the only artiste in India to wield the santoor with consummate artistry, comes from the Kashmir Valley. He was groomed by his father, Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma.