Indian Classical Music And Sikh Kirtan
by Gobind Singh Mansukhani (M.A., LL.B, Ph.D.) © 1982
THE ORCHESTRA
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by Gobind Singh Mansukhani (M.A., LL.B, Ph.D.) © 1982
THE ORCHESTRA
Indian Classical Music And Sikh Kirtan by Gobind Singh Mansukhani (M.A., LL.B, Ph.D.) © 1982 THE ORCHESTRA |
| THE ORCHESTRA Recent orchestration of Indian music called the National Orchestra by the All-India Radio (Akashvani) has brought a new dimension to classical music. The orchestral composition of T.K. Jayarama Iyer and Ravi Shankar have received acclaim both from Indian and foreign audiences. Even though both Indian and western instruments are used, the orchestral compositions retain their Indian character. Similar orchestration is used to provide background music to film songs. Danielou is not in favour of the Indian orchestra (vad vrinda) because he fears that this will lead to “instrumental hybridisation and the abandon of improvisation”[4]. He also sees danger in changed structure of traditional musical instruments on the plea of modernisation, because it will affect the expressive potentialities of indigenous instruments. Another difficulty is the individualistic and melodic nature of Indian music. However it is a bold experiment and is regarded by some as a “permanent contribution to modern Indian music”[5]. It is too early to pronounce on the success or otherwise of this experiment in the orchestration of Indian music. |