Newsletter March 2010

1. New CDs & DVD from Navras
- New in our Assortment -

• CD Amelia Cuni (Dhrupad-Vocal): Ocean of Colours - Homage to Pandit Bidur Mallik This Dhrupad recital pays homage to Bidur Mallik, prominent exponent of the Darbhanga gharana who passed away in 2002. Italian born, Amelia Cuni has devoted her life to Dhrupad singing and studied with Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar, Bidur Mallik and Dilip Chandra Vedi. Today she is an acclaimed international performer of traditional Dhrupad as well as of contemporary music. With her crystal clear voice she presents outstanding bandishes in Raga Deshi (Alap and Chautal), Raga Hindol (Alap and Dhamar) and Raga Shankara (Sultal). Amelia is accompanied on Pakhawaj by Manik Munde.
  NRCD 0220, 15.- Euros

• CD Satish Vyas (Santoor): Cutting Edge Santoor virtuoso Satish Vyas has already recorded quite a few album for Navras. "Cutting Edge" presents a new approach in form and content. Apart from the traditional Ragas Nat Bhairav and Jhinjhoti, Satish Vyas has recorded his own creations Raga Salang and Raga Kaushik Ranjani for the first time. Satish Vyas has chosen a compact form of only 15 to 20 minutes for each Raga, instead of the usual 60 to 70 minutes elaboration. This shorter form had been common practice during the LP era of the 1970s and 1980s. It avoids tedious repetitions and allows a more varied album. Tabla accompaniment is played by Mukandraj Deo.
  NRCD 0242, 15.- Euros

• CD Rahat Fateh Ali Khan & Group (Qawwali-Vocal): Remembering Nusrat - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Memorial Concert Live-recording of parts of a concert in honour of legendary Qawwali singer late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in Oktober 2007 at the Royal Festival Hall, London. It presents Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's nephew Rahat Fateh Ali Khan with his traditional Qawwali-Ensemble. They perform Man Kunto Maula, Allah Hu, Lagan Laagi Tum Se, Tumhein Dillagi Bhool Jaani Padegi, Sanson Ki Mala, Ni Main Jana Jogi De Naal.
  NRCD 5511, 15.- Euros

• DVD L. Subramaniam (Violin) & London Symphony Orchestra: Global Symphony Numerous Indian musicians have played in fusion- and crossover-projects, but apart from Ravi Shankar hardly anybody has worked as profoundly and as persistently in the field as South Indian star violinist L. Subramaniam. He has complemented his Indian musical upbringing with an M.A. in Western Music from California Institute of Arts and has composed for and performed with major Western orchestras again and again. This DVD is the live-recording of a concert at Barbican Centre, London, in September 2006. Special guest is singer Kavita Krishnamurti, in addition to members of the London Symphony Orchestra and, of course, L. Subramaniam and his son Ambi. Apart from the film song (track 2) all compositions are by L. Subramaniam. 1. Kriti in Raga Mohanam and Adi Taal: L. Subramaniam and Ambi Subramaniam (Violin), K. Sekar (Thavil) and Sukhwinder Singh Namdhari (Tabla)
  2. Invocation Om Namah Shivaya from the movie "Bhairavi" (1996): Kavita Krishnamurti (Vocal) and Indian ensemble
  3. Global Symphony: Kavita Krishnamurti, Indian ensemble and London Symphony Orchestra under L. Subramaniam
  4. Spring Rhapsody: London Symphony Orchestra under L. Subramaniam
  5. Nada Priya: L. Subramaniam and Ambi Subramaniam (Violin), London Symphony Orchestra under Mark Lockett
  NRDVD 015, 107 Min., 29.- Euros
  
  
  

2. New Skins for String Instruments
- New in our Assortment -

The body of the Indian string instruments Sarod, Sarangi, Esraj and Dilruba and of the die afghanische Afghan rabab is covered with goat skin instead of a wooden soundboard. The tightly stretched skin wears in course of time and looses elasticity. This affects the sound quality. Moreover the bridge sinks deeper into the body, which can make the instrument unplayable in the worst case. Therefore the skin should be replaced from time to time. However, fitting a new skin is a difficult job, which needs special tools and a lot of experience.

India Instruments is now offering the re-heading of all string instruments. Being a sarod-player, our manager Norbert Klippstein is himself concerned with the issue and has aquired the necessary skills. Now he personally fits new skins on all string instruments upon request. The cost is 70 Euro for the work plus 29 Euro for the new skin (plus shipping).

3. New Skins for String Instruments
- New in our Assortment -

Renowned musicologist and flutist Ludwig Pesch is offering a new online course titled "The Music of South India" from April onwards. Participants do not only receive teaching material online, but also a copy of Ludwig Pesch's standard work "The Oxford Illustrated Companion to South Indian Music", which has seen it's 2nd edition in 2009 and is highly praised by music critics in India. Registration and introduction will take place from last week of March through first week of April.

Further info available at www.carnaticstudent.org

4. Ravi Shankar on TV
- Scene Info -

The Legendary sitar maestro Ravi Shankar will turn 90 on April 7th. French-German TV station Arte takes the opportunity to broadcast two documentaries on Ravi Shankar:

March 29th, 10:30 pm: Ravi Shankar - L'extraordinaire lecon (52 minutes, directed by Frederic Le Clair) During his stay in Paris in September 2008, Ravi Shankar said that it might be his last visit to Europe. The documentary accompanies him in Paris as well as in the Ravi-Shankar-Centre in New-Delhi, where he regularly works with some students and his daughter Anoushka. (Repetition on April 2nd, 5:00 am)

April 4th, 7:05 am: Une Masterclass de Ravi Shankar (52 minutes, directed by Frederic Le Clair) For what could be his last concert in Europe in September 2008 in Paris, Ravi Shankar chose the special format of a music lesson. He introduced the audience to the spiritual power of Indian music, its rhythms and to the instruments on stage. Then he conducted a masterclass with Anoushka Shankar (sitar), Tanmoy Bose (tabla), Ravichandra Kulur (bamboo flute), Sanjeev Shankar (shehnai) and Sanjay Sharma (kanjira).

Further info at www.arte.tv/fr (French) or www.arte.tv/de (German).