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Rag Desh (first performed in New York
Texture:
- Emphasis on melody and not chords, different texture in different sections
Harmony:
- No sense of key, other than drone, centered around open 5th chord
Instrumentation:
- Rag Desh by Anoushka Shankar: sitar, tabla
- Mhara Janam Maran by Chiranji Lal Tanwar: sarod, sarangi, pakhawaj, tabla, cymbals
- Rag Desh by Steve Gorn and Benjy Wertheimer: bansuri, esraj, shruti box, swarmandel, tabla
Rhythm:
- Rag Desh by Anoushka Shankar:t wo tals: Jhaptal (10 beat cycle) and Teental (16 beat cycle)
- Mhara Janam Maran by Chiranji Lal Tanwar: Keherwa tal (8 beat cycle)
- Rag Desh by Steve Gorn and Benjy Wertheimer: two tals: Rupak tal (7 beat cycle) and Ektal (12 beat cycle)
- First beat is called the Sam
Melody:
- Based on pattern of notes called a Rag (like a scale)
Form:
- Performances usually in 3-4 parts to allow development from slow to fast tempo. Continually getting more exciting
- Always improvised sections to contrast fixed composition element of the performance
- Structure can be identified by whether tabla is playing or if there is a sense of pulse
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