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| BANSURI
The Bamboo Flute of India
G.S. Sachdev, Solo Bamboo Flute
Gay Kagy, Tanpura,
Elb Souders, Swar-Peti
TRACKS
1. COSMOS (4:36) - Raga Bhoop, Bass flute, alap movement
2. CREATION (15:54) - Raga Bhoop, Flute, alap, jor and jahaia
3. JOY ( 2:19) - Raga Des, Bass Fl |
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| BANSURI
The Bamboo Flute of India
G.S. Sachdev, Solo Bamboo Flute
Gay Kagy, Tanpura,
Elb Souders, Swar-Peti
TRACKS
1. COSMOS (4:36) - Raga Bhoop, Bass flute, alap movement
2. CREATION (15:54) - Raga Bhoop, Flute, alap, jor and jahaia
3. JOY ( 2:19) - Raga Des, Bass Flute, alap
4. ROMANTIC DIALOGUE (3:12) - Raga Kalavati, Bass Flute, alap
5. HEARTFUL- 10:53 - Raga Kalavati, Flute, alap and jor
6. CELEBRATION OF SPRING (9:02) –Raga Hindol, Flute, alap, jo and Jhala
For 30 years G.S. Sachdev has performed on the Bansuri, the hollow bamboo flute of India. Known to date back over 2000 years, the flute and the music are handed down from master to student, generation to generation. Sachdev is recognized worldwide as a master flutist, one of the premier performers on this difficult instrument.
Improvisation plays an essential part, as there is no tradition of written notation. Ragas are the melodic form that is the basis of Indian classical music. They are taught through listening and the rules for their performance are committed to memory. The musician improvises as much as 95% of the music played. This creative spontaneity imparts tremendous vitality to the music. The very nature of the music, and the improvisation that is so much a part of it, demands attentive listening to each single note, to be in the present moment, letting go of one note to hear the next. But every note and embellishment is always within the established framework of the raga. It takes many years of training, practice, and experience to achieve the total feeling of freedom of improvisation while staying within the raga’s structure.
A LAP is the first movement of the raga. It is a slow, serene, invocation in an expressive and meditative style.
JOR follows, in which a rhythmic pulse begins and the different combination of notes and their many variations are explored in varying tempos.
JHALA is the final movement. A rhythmic excitement is produced on the flute with single and double tonguing. The music reaches its climax. It is done.
INSTRUMENTS
BANSURI
(bans = bamboo, swar = musical note) is a flute made of bamboo with open finger holes. There are no keys to produce sharps and flats, but all the half and quarter tones are produced by carefully opening a small portion of the hold with the finger. G.S. Sachdev uses two flutes, both in the key of F; one with a three-octave range and seven finger holes and another, deeper pitched, 98-centimeter long, bass flute with four finger holes, which serves the purpose of extending the lower registers.
DRONES
In the background are heard the ever-present tapura and swarpeti. These drones create atmosphere. The tanpura is a fretless, long-necked gourd. The swar-peti is a small box with brass reeds and bellows.
QUOTES
“We are fortunate to have such a fine musician such as G.S. Sachdev in our presence.”
GEORGE HARRISON
“Sachdev’s playing is the most sensitive I have ever heard. The metal flute is just not capable of the subtleties and nuances produced by the bamboo flute. This is truly transcendental music.”
PAUL HORN
I admire his ability to touch the spirit of the raga he performs and also to move the listeners emotionally with his pure and classical approach.”
RAVI SHANKAR
“…Haunting performance…the sound of his flute rings with an indescribable purity.”
NEW YORK TIMES
Sound Engineering: Joe Hoffman Studios
Photography: Ben Benet
Recorded at 30 ips and digitally remastered on Sony 1630
Cover: Hora Design, NYC |
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