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The cello’s unique capabilities for Hindustani raga have been amply proven via the ingenious efforts of Saskia Rao-De Haas
–Raga instruments (full list)–
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—Saskia Rao De Haas (Bihag)—
“With Indian raga I became completely different, as if I was a child again. In Indian music, there is very, very fine intonation, and lots of emphasis on the way you move from note to note. The notes have an exact point, but the real art utilises every nuance of pitch in between them…The handling of the bow is very different as well, with less tension on the bow hair. You could say it is a little like in Baroque music, where the expressive intensity and the shaping of long notes happens mostly in the middle or at the end of the note. The difficulties you encounter in mastering Indian music are different than in Western classical music: aural memory needs to be trained extensively, and lessons are all about imitating the teacher. By ‘doing’ the teacher’s improvisation, one gradually learns to do one’s own improvisation – there are so many things that cannot be written down. We got very far away from written music in my training, communicating about music through feeling instead…” (Saskia Rao-De Haas)
—More Info—
- Notable performers: Jake Charkey (?-), Saskia Rao-De Haas (1971-), Nancy Lesh Kulkarni (c.1960-)
- Sa pitch: Saskia Rao-De Haas usually roots at D for her khayal/sitar-infused style, whereas Nancy Lesh goes down to C/C# for her Dhrupad explorations – and modern explorer Jake Charkey sets up at C# [see my Survey of Sa Tunings for more].
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• Hindustani Instruments: Anandi | Bansuri | Bass-Veena | Bazantar | Bulbul Tarang | Cello | Chaturangi | Dilruba | Electric Guitar | Esraj | Fretless Guitar | Harmonium | Jal Tarang | Jori | Mandolin | Mohan Veena | Nal Tarang | Pakhawaj | Piano | Rabab | Rudra Veena | Sagar Veena | Santoor | Sarangi | Sarod | Saxophone | Shehnai | Sitar | Surbahar | Sursagar | Sursingar | Swarmandal | Tabla | Tabla Tarang | Tanpura | Tar Shehnai | Taus | Vichtra Veena | Violin
–Survey of Sa tunings–
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—Hindustani Raga Index—
An open-ended project seeking to bring North Indian raga closer to all who approach with open ears. Combines direct input from dozens of leading Hindustani artists with in-depth insights from music history, global theory, performance practice, cognitive science, and much more besides!
–Megalist (365+ ragas)–
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George Howlett is a London-based musician, writer, and teacher (guitars, sitar, tabla, & santoor). Above all I seek to enthuse fellow sonic searchers, interconnecting fresh vibrations with the voices, cultures, and passions behind them. See Homepage for more, and hit me up for Lessons!
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