#4432, The Indian Influence
Hear several works that reflect the influence of Indian ragas in western music, like Brooklyn Raga Massive’s “In D,” percussionist Rajna Swaminathan’s group RAJAS, and jazzy-sounding raga by Boston’s Natraj.
From New York Collective Brooklyn Raga Massive, who have recorded a version of minimalist founder Terry Riley’s landmark work “In C,” hear their tribute work called, “In D,” which is the key that the sitar plays in. “In D” is based on the concepts of musical packets that can be played in any order and moved around at will, and this recording happens to feature Terry Riley’s son, Gyan Riley on guitar as well as Andy Statman on mandolin. Also, hear bluesy North African music and hypnotic polyrhythms fused with Indian music, in a performance by Brooklyn Raga Massive and Adam Rudolph’s Go: Organic Orchestra from the 2019 Ragas Live Festival.
Then, listen to music by mridangam player, composer, and vocalist Rajna Swaminathan. (The mridangam is a barrel-shaped drum from the South Indian tradition.) In a jazzy take on Carnatic music called "Offering," Swaminathan leads the ensemble Rajas – New York based improvisers including guitarist Miles Okazaki, Anjna Swaminathan (violin), María Grand (tenor saxophone), and Amir ElSaffar (trumpet.) Plus, hear electronic art song by Son Lux, a trio of Ryan Lott, Rafiq Bhatia, and Ian Chang, and three additional percussionists – featuring Swaminathan. And more.
Program #4432, The Indian Influence (First Aired 11/20/2020)
ARTIST: Brooklyn Raga Massve
WORK: Terry Riley: In C [1:00]
RECORDING: In C
SOURCE/INFO: bkragamassive.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Brooklyn Raga Massive
WORK: In D: Bageshri [14:23]
RECORDING: In D
SOURCE: brooklynragamassive.org
INFO: bkragamassive.bandcamp.com | Due out Nov. 21, 2020
ARTIST: Adam Rudolph's Go: Organic Orcheatra & Brooklyn Raga Massive
WORK: Twilight Lake [9:31]
RECORDING: Ragas Festival Live, 2019
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: goorganicorchestra.bandcamp.com | brooklynragamassive.org
ARTIST: Rajna Swaminathan & RAJAS
WORK: Offering [6:43]
RECORDING: Of Agency And Abstraction
SOURCE: Biophilia Records
INFO: rajnaswaminathan.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Son Lux
WORK: Last Light [5:20]
RECORDING: Tomorrows I
SOURCE: City Slang
INFO: sonlux.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Natraj
WORK: Raga Bihag, Part 1 [5:57]
RECORDING: Deccan Dance
SOURCE: Galloping Goat GGCD-3424
INFO: Try Amazon.com or auction sites
ARTIST: Natraj
WORK: Raga Bihag, Part 2 [6:07]
RECORDING: Deccan Dance
SOURCE: Galloping Goat GGCD-3424
INFO: Try Amazon.com or auction sites
