Singapore Workshop

Dear friends,

Aneesh and I are delighted to hear that we will have the opportunity to meet with you again at the workshop in June this year. Please find below a short description of this year’s workshop and please start using this blog to ask us questions, send us requests, and to help us fine tune the menu for this year’s workshop.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Shubha and Aneesh

The four-day workshop held for two groups (children and adults) will focus on the main forms of Hindustani vocal music such as dhrupad, khayal, tarana, and thumri. The characteristics of each of these forms will be discussed and some examples will be taught to the groups. Aspects such as raag, taal and instrumentation will also be discussed with demonstrations of recorded and live samples. The participants will be expected to carry stationary to take notes at all times. The fifth day will feature a practical and theoretical presentation by the participants. Please note, that no audio or video recordings of the workshop will be allowed at any time.

Hi friends,

Kiran sent this picture of the group which I am sure all of you will like, and I think you might want copies too. Kiran has very kindly said she would send a high-res version of this picture to those of you who might want to print it.

Take a look.

Hi friends,

Please check these links, and if you want to, please subscribe to our mailing list as well.

http://www.underscorerecords.info/newsletter/2005/06/books/ 

http://www.underscorerecords.info/newsletter/2005/06/downloads/ 

 Have fun.

Hello friends,

We have sent back the text you emailed us for the presentation tomorrow at Anu Rajan’s email ID. We have made some corrections and changes so please go through them to see if you agree

Dear friends,

Many thanks for the lovely dinner you organized for us this evening. Aneesh and I have really enjoyed being with you for these 4 days and we hope you will stay in touch with us even after the presentation on the 18th is over. Please do continue to use the blog and let us start a discussion forum on it.

I would be very interested in looking at song texts in marriage or wedding songs and discussing the social context which is revealed or reflected in them. For example, one of the songs I learnt from my father’s family was:

Ambar bel Udaipur chhayi ji raaj, saat baras ki bhayi meri laado ji raaj

hans vaake Baba ne goad uthayi ji raaj, kaho meri laado tum kaiso var dhoondo ji raaj

अम्बर बेल उदयपुर छाई जी राज

सात बरस की भई मेरी लाडो जी राज

हँस वाके बाबा ने गोद उठाई जी राज

कहो मेरी लाडो तुम कैसो वर ढूँढो जी राज

This song text clearly points to the custom of child marriage, but it also indicates the elders in the family indulging the little 7 year old bride to be by asking her what kind of groom they should get for her.

I’m sure there must be many other interesting texts that you people know of. Let’s talk about them if possible, and if the subject is of interest to the group.

Happy blogging!

Here are some links to sites that you might like to visit. We found them extremely useful and informative.

www.beatofindia.com (for folk music)

www.parrikar.org (interesting information on Hindustani classical music)

http://courses.nus.edu.sg/course/ellpatke/Miscellany/music.htm (interesting archival music)

चैती (भोजपुरी)
कौन मास फुलेला गुलबवा हो रामा, के कौना रे मासे ।
बेला फूले चमेली फूले, अवरु फुलेला कचनरवा हो रामा ।
गेंदवा जे फूले रामा माघ रे फगुनवा, चैत मास फुलेला गुलबवा हो रामा ।
अमवा की डाली पे लागल मोजरिया, कुहू कुहू बोले कोयलिया हो रामा ।

Welcome to the Indian Music Discussion Forum. This space can be used by all participants of the workshop to post their questions and share their thoughts with the group.