Musicians In Search Of A Song

[Tejwant Singh]

The Dewarists S01E09 - 'Sacred Science' - YouTube


Disclaimer. Dewars India has funded this interesting series about musical collaboration, fusion and new music forms. Their project is not unlike sponsorship by Coke Studio which produces experimental performances of traditional Indian and Sufi music. Although Dewars India may be trying to stamp a socially engaged image through this series, and their label is prominent, this thread is not an endorsement of Dewars. It is an opportunity to learn about traditional, classical and contemporary music and the artists that are seeking new ways to preserve old traditions.

 

[spnadmin]

If you like Carnatic music, listen to this one. You can "Skip" directly to a completely different way of doing it -- yet the keys and the measures are all preserved -- and the joy is too!

A note: When the music of northern India came increasingly under the influence of Persian musical ideals, the music of the south evolved in a different direction. Carnatic music reflects centuries of the assimilation of religious songs with folk tunes performed in raag, yes. However in the Carnatic tradition improvisation on the part of vocalist and musicians is not only permitted but is expected. A performer is judged by the extent to which personal, even extreme, creativity is expressed within the strict mathematics of the raag. Real fans of Carnatic music will be seen in the audience keeping count with their fingers, and. with faces wreathed in marvel as a singer or violinist takes a bachan into new terrirtory. Hence ........ Duur Kinara is a great example of the form moving yet forward again.

The Dewarists S01E07 - 'Duur Kinara' - YouTube

 

[Tejwant Singh]

Here is the fusion between Rabbi Shergill and the famous singer from Assam called Papon. The fusion of The East and The West of the country. It is important to check the whole videos as the two above to see how the seeds of ideas in music are sown, germinate and the sweet fruit they bring us to cherish.

Come to think of it, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the best fusion of the ideas put into music.

The Dewarists S01E06 - 'Khule Da Rabb' - YouTube

 

[spnadmin]

It was hard to get the name of the Assamese singer. But I think this is it. He sings under two names: Angaraag Mahanta and Papon = Angaraag Mahanta Papon

Angarag Mahanta (papon) feat Karsh Kale , Midival Punditz .....Naina Laagey - YouTube

Here he is singing in the Bihu folk tradition as Angaraag - maybe Rock/Bihu fusion?

BEST BIHU OF ANGARAAG MAHANTA_ SONOK SONOK KORI - YouTube

If I did not get it right, let me know.

Life story is interesting:

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/02/13/papon-assam-idINDEE81C0EA20120213

 

[spnadmin]

Carl Barat - Papon - Karsh Khale kick-start another kind of fusion

The Dewarists S02E10 - 'The Minstrel's Tale' - YouTube

 

[spnadmin]

Regrets for deleting the video just posted. Alanis Morrisette's delivery is quite good and reminds me a little of Natalie Merchant, of 10,000 Maniacs, performing "Thank You." The Sikh gentleman in the video is uploaded.