Raga CDs of the Months (01/08): JALTARANG – Waves of Sound

Raga CDs of the Months

JALTARANG – Waves of Sound

JalTarang is the name of an antique, Indian instrument. JALTARANG is Hindi and means “waves in the water” (literate forms: Jal Tarang, JalTarang, Jal tarang or Jal Yantra).

date of broadcasting on New Years Day: 1st January 2008 – 09:00 p.m. (METZ)
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The JalTarang had been developed from percussion instruments like Gongs and Gamelans, those played in Java, in Myanmar (earlier Burma) and on Bali. JalTarang dips for the first time in the Middle Ages (17th century) as a term in the Sangeet Parij(a)at, a scientific research work about Indian music written by Ahobal.

The JALTARANG is a percussion instrument, which belongs to the group of the “self sounder“, so called idiophones. The spectrum of this instrument type reaches from the muzzle drum, clip ring to the Chinese bell play.

The Indian JalTarang uses sound bowls for it’s periodic resonance. Depending upon the level of the instrumentalist an ensemble of 15 to maximum 22 bowls is used being made of China porcelain.

The sound is produced by slim sticks made of bamboo hitten on the bowl’s edge shifting the porcelain body in oscillations. Different sizes of bowls are used and filled with water for the accurate tuning of the single tones.

Milind Tulankar on the JalTarang | Dr. Ragnin Trivedi (JalTarang workshop)

Nowadays the JalTarang is played very rarely in India. It almost became extinct. Although it’s elegantly, easily sound is of large popularity amongst the audience. Outstanding Jaltarang players are Seethalakshmi, in India simply known as Seetha (Doraiswamy), Dr. Ragini Trivedi and the Indian maestro Milind Tulankar.

Raga CDs des Monats (01/08): JALTARANG – Wellen des Klangs

Raga CDs des Monats

JALTARANG – Wellen des Klangs

JalTarang ist der Name eines antiken, indischen Instruments (Schreibweisen: Jal Tarang, JalTarang, Jal-tarang o. Jal-Yantra). JALTARANG ist Hindi und heisst „Wellen im Wasser“.

Sendetermin am Neujahrstag 2008: 1. Januar – 21:00 Uhr (METZ)
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Das JalTarang hat sich aus den Schlaginstrumenten, den Gongs und Gamelans entwickelt, die in Java, in Myanmar, dem frueheren Burma und auf Bali gespielt wurden. Erstmalig taucht JalTarang als Begriff im Mittelalter (17. Jhdt.) auf, im Sangeet Parij(a)at (Anm.: Wissenschaftliche Abhandlung zur indischen Musik von Ahobal).

Mit dem JALTARANG handelt es sich um ein Perkussionsinstrument, das zu der Gruppe der „Selbstklinger“ gehoert, s.g. Idiophone. Das Spektrum dieses Instrumententypus reicht vom Schellenring, der Maultrommel bis zum Chinesischen Glockenspiel.

Das indische JalTarang verwendet fuer die Eigenresonanz Klangschalen. Je nach Spielniveau des Instrumentalisten kommt ein Ensemble von 15 bis 22 Schalen aus chinesischem Porzellan zum Einsatz.

Die Klangerzeugung erfolgt mittels schlanker Staebe aus Bambus durch Schlaege auf den Schalenrand, mit dem der Klangkoerper aus Porzellan in Schwingungen versetzen wird. Neben unterschiedlichen Groessen werden alle Schalen zur exakten Stimmung der Einzeltoene mit Wasser gefuellt.

Milind Tulankar auf dem JalTarang | Dr. Ragnin Trivedi (JalTarang Workshop)

Das JalTarang wird in Indien heutzutage sehr selten gespielt. Es ist nahezu ausgestorben, obgleich sich sein eleganter, leichter Klang beim Publikum grosser Beliebtheit erfreut. Herausragende Jaltarangspieler sind Seethalakshmi, in Indien einfach nur Seetha (Doraiswamy) genannt, Dr. Ragini Trivedi und der indische Maestro Milind Tulankar.

SAPTAK Annual Festival 2008

SAPTAK Annual Festival 2008…

Saptak began its journey in October 1980, when it was inaugrated by Pt. Ravi Shankar and Pt. Kishan Maharaj. It is a public charitable trust which runs the Saptak School of Music and organise musical events and other activities. Saptak’s mission is to preserve, develop and propagate Indian classical and traditional music.

Saptak organizes an annual festival of music inviting artists from all over India. This series of festivals was inaugurated by a performance by Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar in 1980. The festival starts on the 1st of January every year. Over the years its span has increased from three days to thirteen days and the participation of artists has increased from about 25 to more than 80 for each festival. All leading vocalists as well as instrumentalists have participated on this platform regularly. (List of the artists who have performed). Some of the innovative features of this festival have been instrument and dance ensembles, Tala Vadya Kacheri, Rajasthani and Punjabi folk music.

Saptak also tries to keep alive the fading traditions of vocal music like Thumri and Dhrupad, and instruments like Sarangi and Pakhawaj by inviting the older generation of artists specializing in these fields. The students of Saptak also perform in the presence of renowned musicians, musicologists and a large appreciative audience in this festival. This provides them inspiration and instills greater self-confidence.

The organization of this programme has certain unique features.

• There are no tickets.
• The programme is entirely supported by well-wishers and business houses.
• The sitting arrangement is Indian and democratic in its character.
• Students of Saptak, teachers, musicians, musicologists, connoisseurs and well wishers are extended a special invitation.
• The focus is on music alone and there are no ceremonies. Over the years a community has grown around this festival and the younger generation is being progressively drawn to it. Artists and connoisseurs from all over the country and many NRIs as well attend it regularly. A large following has developed and the audience has grown from about 300 to 3000.
• This festival has won acclaim as a landmark in cultural events not only in Ahmedabad but all over the country.

Forthcoming Events…

Saptak Annual Festival 2008′ (official website)
Date: From 1 January to 13th January 2008
Time: 8.30 pm sharp
Venue: Kashiram Bhavan, B/h. L.D. Engineering Hostel, Ahmedabad.