MPGK wrote:3dot... wrote:rikhyray wrote:
that is where I come from, performing Indian classical music was my first profession
!!!!RESPECT!!!!
Yea, respect! :)
I'm happy to learn anything about other musical cultures and at the same time all this pseudo-"ethno"-"world music"-stuff gives me the dry heaves, which makes learning hard sometimes - 'cause when I ask around "hey, anybody know anything about Indian music" or something there's always the people shouting "My house tracks with Sitar, let me show you them!". And they're usually the loudest. :|
Will be my pleasure to answer any questions, as good as I can. I studied north Indian music, so called Hindustani-Sarod (fretless lute kind of instrument) for 12-15 years , 8- 12 hours daily practice,and classes with various masters but my final and "official" Guru was Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Later followed with solo performer career. After some years started what we call "fusion" (mix of Indian and Western music)and since I worked with South Indians (aka Carnatic) musicians , moved to Madras and while there studied South Indian percussion and composition. It was more to understand the language of my fellow artists, just to learn one of those systems is lifetime job. I am Hindustani musician with some knowledge of Carnatic only.
Another thing is essential difference in intonation (mainly using it in embelishments) and once absorbed it is impossible to change. Trained Hindustani musician will never play really Carnatic way and vice versa.
The intonation and ear training are the very essence and base. We spend enormous amount of time learning it.I was already performing and had some credits when I was accepted by my Guru and felt frustrated and humilated when I had to play only scales up and down at 40 or less to max 60 BPM over 8 hours daily for a week. Later understood how great Guru blessing that was.
So indeed the microtonics, intonation are the "secret", how the musical intensity is applied but nothing to do with some fake scientific speculations , "Cosmic sounds", "Earth tones" etc,etc.
How could it be translated to electronic instruments? Since it is all about "hearing" and in the mind- hands only follow artists intention, just tuning is only part, because it is (at least in Indian music) intonation applied in musical time. The practice is to coordinate the musical intention of the mind with your motoric skill and creation of emotional reponse of the listener ( not that different from what BB King would do). Good control over pitch band is far more important then only some kind of alternative tuning
P.S. indeed most of that "world" music/fx /sounds are irritating. Like the bloody Fugees, should have paid someone to tune the Sitar but result is million records sold few few stupid notes half of them out of tune.
