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The Divine Wheel - Kala Ramnath & Rupak Kulkarni . |
Kala Ramnath - Violin
Rupak Kulkarni - Bansuri
Vijay Ghate - Tabla
Tracks
Raag Jog
1 Alap 6.17
2 Vilambit Gat in Ektaal 23.02
3 Gat in Drut Ektaal 11.00
Raag Des
4 Gat in Addha Teentaal 9.41
5 Gat in Drut Teentaal 5.44
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This recording provides a welcome addition to the series of innovative duet recordings and collaborative projects produced by Sense World Music, this time bringing together two of North India's most highly regarded musicians.
The remarkable violin skills of Kala Ramnath have become the envy of international violinists. Her performances have charmed audiences worldwide and consequently served to boost the status of violin to new levels in Indian music. Up until recent times, the violin was more commonly a feature of South Indian (Carnatic) Music recitals, and then used mostly as an accompaniment instrument. Through Kala's endeavours, solo violin has now become a welcome feature of major North Indian music festivals, including Saptak, where she has become a firm favourite. Over the span of her relatively short career, Kala has successfully developed a distinctive playing style which embraces the essence of the gayaki (vocal) experience, capturing all the depth and emotion of the human voice.
Kala Ramnath is the fourth generation violinist hailing from an illustrious family of musicians stretching back over seven generations. Her family boasts some of India's finest musicians including her aunt Dr. N. Rajam, from whom she took formative training, and Prof T.N. Krishnan, a violin maestro who has enjoyed a prolific musical career spanning over sixty years.
Kala began her musical journey in 1969 at the age of just two. Her grandfather A. Narayana Iyer first recognised her talents, and took the step of introducing her to both Hindustani and Carnatic music. Attracted by the ornate and romantic Hindustani khayal vocal form, Kala chose North Indian music, a style of playing which gives the soloist wider improvisatory scope to elaborate on the raag. Kala's music has in recent years matured and been refined under the guidance of one of India's musical legends, vocalist Pandit Jasraj, who saw in her the potential to create a unique playing style inspired by the Mewati vocal gharana.
Rupak Kulkarni is a hugely gifted and versatile musician. Though his background is steeped in classical music he has been able to skilfully translate his skills with ease into Indian film music and several successful collaborative projects. His flute playing can be heard in several hit movies including Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam.
His playing style is a well balanced blend of both the Gayaki (vocal style) and Tatkari (the stringed instrument style). Rupak's first musical instincts were nurtured by his late father Pt. Malhar Kulkarni. Later, he enjoyed a long and exhaustive apprenticeship with flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia to become an outstanding exponent of the 'Maihar Gharana' style of playing. Rupak has also played his part in some exciting collaborative projects working with the likes of Trilok Gurtu, Taufiq Qureshi and
master Djembe drummer Adama Drame (West Africa).
The Bansuri is hollowed out of bamboo, with six finger holes and a blowing hole. According to Indian folk lore, it was an insect which pierced a hole in the bamboo to hide from a storm, and as the wind roared, the hole echoed with an enchanting tone. The word bansuri originates in the Sanskrit word 'bans', meaning bamboo, and 'swar', meaning musical note. The flute, sometimes known as benu, plays a significant role in Indian folk culture. Lord Krishna is said to have exuded charm and attracted females (gopis) through the divine playing of his flute, to such an extent that even the married cowgirls found his beauty irresistible! Krishna's devotees have named the flute 'Krishna ki Patrani' (Krishna's Queen).
Vijay Ghate is considered to be one of the most outstanding tabla players in North Indian music. He has trained with Pandit Suresh Talwalkar, an icon amongst tabla players of India, and one the most progressive and profound thinkers on tabla playing. Vijay has been performing since the age of sixteen and has toured worldwide with many of India's prominent musicians. As an accompanist he is a favourite with the likes of Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shivkumar Sharma, Kala Ramnath and Shahid Parvez. He is equally comfortable as a soloist as well as an accompanist to instrumentalists, vocalists and Kathak dancers, having a huge stock of repertoire, and a capacity to improvise freely and spontaneously.
This live recording was made on 2nd January 2006 at Saptak, India's largest and most prestigious music festival held annually in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The rendition of Raag Jog begins with a customary Alap, the gradual unfolding and initial development of the raag played freely without restriction of tempo. Here, the musicians improvise around key melodic phrases which serve to establish the character of the raag. The first composition is set to a slow tempo rhythmic cycle of twelve beats. Vilambit Ektaal, a favourite rhythm with vocalists, gives an opportunity for both artists to demonstrate lyrical qualities in their repertoire. Raag Jog is concluded with a lively, up beat composition set to fast ektaal.
Des (or Desh) is a raga equally at home in light music forms such as thumri, ghazal, geet as well as classical music. Kala and Rupak play two contrasting pieces in Des. The first, a soulful, lilting melody played to a swinging sixteen beat addha teentaal rhythm; and lastly a dynamic, syncopated composition which brings out some dazzling technical virtuosity in both players.
Notes: © John Ball
John Ball is a practicing musician and musicologist based at the University of Sheffield, UK
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