Khayal translates from old Persian as ‘imagination’. A khayal concert is about finding freedom through the voice, showcasing dramatic, elastic improvisations that push at the outer edges of what you previously thought was possible. North India’s classical singers have an unparallelled command of high-register acrobatics, with an approach influenced by Vedic temple chanting, Islamic devotionalContinue reading “What is Khayal vocal music? What happens at a Khayal concert?”
Author Archives: ragatip
Profile: Dr. Kadri Gopalnath, ‘benevolent ruler’ of the Carnatic saxophone
Dr. Kadri Gopalnath, the pioneer of Carnatic classical saxophone, sadly passed away in October 2019. He had first found his curious calling at the age of eight, becoming enraptured by the sax after hearing one at his local temple in Mysore. The temple’s band were personally sponsored by none other than the region’s Maharaja, himselfContinue reading “Profile: Dr. Kadri Gopalnath, ‘benevolent ruler’ of the Carnatic saxophone”
Rabindrasangeet: the songs of Tagore, a broad-minded Bengali icon
“Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for she was born in another time” Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) The songs of Bengali icon Rabindranath Tagore are collectively known as Rabindrasangeet. Western writers, ever-prone to compress Indian phenomena into their own pre-shaped boxes, often describe Tagore as the ‘Indian Shakespeare’ – although the Bard’s interests wereContinue reading “Rabindrasangeet: the songs of Tagore, a broad-minded Bengali icon”
Profile: Pandit Kishan Maharaj, Benares tabla powerhouse
Pandit Kishan Maharaj (1923-2008), a fearsomely gifted tabla master, left a firm stamp on the world of 20th-century Indian percussion. Born in Benares, he grew to embody the best elements of the holy city’s famous gharana, blending powerful rhythmic explorations with a sensitive command of the tabla’s melodic, vocalistic capabilities. Born into a long line of musicians,Continue reading “Profile: Pandit Kishan Maharaj, Benares tabla powerhouse”
Improvising away from discrimination: How jazz was thriving in 1920s India
The so-called ‘Indo-jazz’ scene goes back a long way. Star improvisers of the East and West have always taken a fascination in each other’s music, and many of the genre’s established masterpieces, such as Shakti’s Natural Elements and John Coltrane’s Impressions, came to fruition half a century ago. However, few seem to realise that unique strains of jazzContinue reading “Improvising away from discrimination: How jazz was thriving in 1920s India”
What should I expect from going to a Dhrupad concert?
It would be easy to say that Dhrupad is not made for the impatient. But I think the reverse can often be true – I’ve seen the music’s slow, meditative power exert particular influence on minds that may naturally tend to be in a hurry. Perhaps it’s no surprise that the ancient tradition has enjoyedContinue reading “What should I expect from going to a Dhrupad concert?”
The Sarangi: North India’s hundred-coloured strings
The smooth scratch of the sarangi, unique in its rich resonance, is among Indian classical’s most melodious sounds. Even the word ‘sarangi‘ has a syllabic roll to it – the term translates as ‘hundred-coloured instrument’, reflecting its vast emotional range. Carved from a hardwood block, it has three vibration chambers, each of which symbolises aContinue reading “The Sarangi: North India’s hundred-coloured strings”
The santoor: North India’s magical, many-stringed box
Don’t worry if you’re a relative newcomer to Indian classical music – in historic terms, the santoor is a newcomer too. It was adapted from Sufi folk instruments in the 1950s by Pandit Uma Dutt Sharma, who used his expertise in tabla and vocal music to create a fresh musical pathway for his son ShivkumarContinue reading “The santoor: North India’s magical, many-stringed box”
How does the sitar work? What happens at a sitar concert?
The sitar’s many-stringed sparkle is world-famous. Most of the earth’s population have heard its sound at some point, long used to conjure an instant ‘essence of India’ for films, adverts, restaurants, and so forth. But on closer listen, the music is far more mysterious, full of overlapping drones and sweeping bends. The instrument’s mechanics areContinue reading “How does the sitar work? What happens at a sitar concert?”
The sarod: divine cousin of the banjo
If there’s something almost-familiar about the sound of a sarod, the answer may lie halfway across the world. Though it is unclear whether the large Indian lute actually shares a direct ancestor with the American banjo, the textures of the two instruments definitely have a lot of other odd similarities. Both have taut metal stringsContinue reading “The sarod: divine cousin of the banjo”