Secret Chief
Vetted Member
Any recommendations for a newbie? I'm thinking ragas? I'm averse to vocals, instrumental only please!
(not the Shankars...others!)
(not the Shankars...others!)
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Indian Classical Music
- Thread starter Secret Chief
- Start date
It's been quite a while since I focused on this music but I find the list on this web page to be a good one 100 Greatest Indian Classical Musicians
When I listened to a lot, I really liked Ravi Shankar's performances.
When I listened to a lot, I really liked Ravi Shankar's performances.
You have favorite instruments? Veena? Flute, woodwinds, drums?
Secret Chief
Vetted Member
Ok, I'm coming from a place of complete ignorance here...
I recall having an album (no idea what happened to it) of accompanied sarangi. I love the sound of that instrument. I don't really know many particular instruments so I'm really open to anything. Just not singing! (This is a common aversion of mine!)
But the main attraction for me (currently at least) I think, is the long improvisional nature of (some?) Indian music.
I play the bansuri, and I've been practicing raag Saraswati along with this video. I'm getting good enough to play along with this, practicing all the meends and gamaks which makes it classical music style. It's a beautiful raga.
Also, anything by Hariprasad Chaurasia is perfection. He is the master of the bansuri. Such as Raag Jog. Another I practice with:
Indian Classical music is improvisational around certain rules. There is an ascending and descending scale you have to follow, along with key phrases that you improvise around. For it to be a particular raga, those have to be there. But you can improvise anywhere around those.
It has helped my skill as a musician with all the other instruments I play, such as piano and keyboards, guitar as well, learning to play the bansuri, specifically the Northern Indian bamboo flute. It's a great instrument that's easy to take with you, such as to a lake or sitting in a park. Very meditative. Quite divine.
ManSinha
Well-Known Member
DISCLAIMER: WARNING: RELIGIOUS CONTENT - view at your own risk - no intention to convert / convince anyone - not saying this is the only truth or way
The fun starts at about 2.45 into the video - before that is a preamble - the entire SGGS is composed in ragas BTW - jump to 8:06 and 10:16 for a brief spells of (IMO) superb synchronization
The instruments are old - called "harmonium" and "tabla" (drums)
If anyone cares and wants the meaning behind what he is saying
Here it is
I personally enjoy stuff like this - this is just the tip of the iceberg
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Why not just google sarangi instrumentals? Personally, I like nadaswaram, the South Indian temple woodwind. Re strings, I like veena. Flutes, I'm not sure.
Secret Chief
Vetted Member
Random thought...harmonium....love this song...gives me the chills...
Back on topic....
Secret Chief
Vetted Member
I want to broaden my experience with recommended stuff.
It's information overload then. A billion people and a ton play. They have concerts with 100 + players of a single instrument. Here's aveena though.
Here's a world record ...
And here's the list of Indian instruments. Enjoy your exploration.
List of Indian musical instruments - Wikipedia
And here's the list of Indian instruments. Enjoy your exploration.
List of Indian musical instruments - Wikipedia
Secret Chief
Vetted Member
I did note that very list earlier. I know it's a big map, I'm just interested in having some interesting locations indicated.
There’s a YouTube video of a 100 sitar orchestra, playing in perfect unison. Mesmerizing. If anything can calm me down, it’s sitar music.
lol ... I actually don't mind sitar, but I've had a bias against the poor thing ever since Rolling Stone magazine awarded George Harrison for 'best alternative instrument' playing, in about 1972. I knew there were 1000 better players, and American or British ethnocentricity was incredibly biased. Back then I did go to a Ravi Shankar concert. Guy had a good PR rep, for the west, I'll say that much.
Edited ... just because the instrument got popularised in the west doesn't mean that much. Lots of other Indian instruments are beautiful I spent an hour oe so today just picking an instrument from the list,and googling '_________ solo" Some really interesting stuff. I suggest you try it, if you get bored, that is.
Not everything ever makes it to the west.
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EsonauticSage
Between extremes
Ustad Bismillah Khan
Pandit Nikhil Banerjee
Ramnad Krishnam
Ustad Rashid Khan
They're some of my favorites of the top of my head, at some points I've gone weeks with listening to a single album of those people.
The Shankars are great, even though you said not them, the album "Chants of India" had a massive impact on me, in particular the chant "Prabhujee", so divine!
Indian Classical is a big thing for me, though my listening habits are both diverse and avantgarde, so I don't always spend as much time with it as I would like. One of the best genres of music IMHO. So soulful.
Secret Chief
Vetted Member
Thanks!
(I only said the Shankars because I already knew of them, not because I didn't like the music).
