SOUNDS OF SARANGI
Bathurst welcomes Sangeet Mishra, one India’s foremost practitioners of Sarangi (a mesmerising bowed folk instrument) for a night of Hindustani classical music accompanied by Rob Shannon on Tabla.
$35 BRAGS members, $40 non-members, bookings essential.
Sarangi
The word sarangi translates to ‘one hundred colours’, said to reflect its expressive versatility. The sarangi is carved from a single block of cedar wood. Its three resonating chambers are named after parts of the body.
Hindustani Classical Music
Hindustani classical music is native to northern India. It is a broad genre that spans both music and spirituality. Learners of Hindustani Classical Music devote their lives to the process and to the teachings of the gurus.
Raag ( Melody ) Sarangi
The notion of a Raag is at the foundation of Indian Classical Music. Simply put, a Raag uniquely defines a set of musical notes and there allows arrangements to form a melody to evoke a certain mood. In Sanskrit, a Raag means “something that colours your mind.” As well as being fixed to a specific time of day or night, some Raags are seasonal; they enhance the listener’s mood through association with a particular season, such as spring or monsoon.
Taal ( Rhythm ) Tabla
In Indian classical music rhythm is encapsulated in the concept of taal (spelt and pronounced tala in English) which means ‘clap.’ Loosely speaking, one may define it as ‘rhythm’, but the idea is more complex than this, and operates with time being divided cyclically, rather than linear. Each cycle is in turn sub-divided into segments of varying measurement. There a many different cycles, the most common of which is Tin Taal or 16 beats.
