Hey friends, I was supposed to blog on my recent album called ‘PASSION’ by my band Stree Shakti, but did not earlier.. as I was busy travelling... So here it is.. http://anuradhapal.com/stree_shakti_cd.htm
MY ‘PASSION’ ALBUM comprises of 6 tracks- Passion, Celebration, Coming together, Heartbeat, Romance and Moods of totally 61 minutes.
I have toured with my band Stree Shakti comprising of Shubhada Paradkar on Vocal, Sukanya on Ghatam, Latha on Kanjira and others on Violin, SItar and Veena, for more than 10 years.. The superb chemistry that we enjoyed due to our extensive performances & touring together, is fortunately translated even in the CD. For eg- when we performed at WOMAD Festival for 150,000 fans, the collective roar of the fans saying..- ‘We want more...’ still gives me goose flesh..
The tracks are described below.. I will blog about my concept and compositional process soon.. I look forward to your responses.
1.PASSION- - A groovy drum & bass beginning, followed by a beautiful composition in Raga Basant- Bahar by Mita Nag & a passionate multi percussion interplay by me playing Tabla , Pakhawaj, Djembe, Darabuka, Udu, Bongo- Cajun & Udukku, sets the tone for Woman Power ( Stree Shakti) defined by Passion!
2. CELEBRATION - Begins with OM & a shloka from the Sama Veda invoking Shakti ( Power) to the first form of organized music called Dhrupad Dhamar developed in 1st A.D, followed by an interaction between the Vocal, Veena & the majestic Pakhawaj, Dhripad Dhamar gives way to a Chhota Khyal joined by the Violin & Tabla, culminating into a spunky Tarana, celebrating the journey of Hindustani Classical music from its origin to the present times.
3. COMING TOGETHER - A Carnatic Percussion dialogue between the Ghatam, Tabla & Kanjira.
4. HEART BEAT- The Carnatic system of Indian music opens with a stunning Tillana played on the Veena in Raga Hindolam, corresponding to Raga Malkaus in the Hindustani system, embellised by electrifying percussion by Sukanya on Ghatam, Latha Kanjira & me on Tabla , all beating as one.
5. ROMANCE- A beautiful Alaap, Jod & Jhala by Sitar exponent Mita Nag followed by a lively composition with Anuradha Pal in Teentaal, recreating the beauty & romance of the monsoons. The duo had mesmerized audiences at the prestigious Dover Lane & Uttarpara Festivals in Kolkata in 2013.
6.MOODS- takes us on a musical journey of interaction between Ragas (fixed melodic scales sung or played at a certain time of day or year) & Talas (fixed rhythmic composition having a set pattern of beats and structure).
Each raga & tala express a different mood & feeling called ‘Rasa’ . Starting with cool alaaps in the morning Ragas, Lalit & Vibhas to energetic bol-tans in afternoon Raga Multani, to the spirited evening and night ragas of Bageshri, Paraj & the intense Adana, culminating with Bhairavi, the talas increase in complexity from 5 beats to 5 ½ beats to 6 beats to 6 ½,7, 7 ½ and finally ending on a 8 beat Tala called Aditaal in the Carnatic system and Teentaal in the Hindustani system. percussion trio explores different rhythmic patterns called Jatis like Chatusra, Tisra, Mishra & Sankirna, climaxing into a resounding Bhairavi on the Vocal, Veena and Violin.. dissolving all lines of demarcation between different systems of music, thereby embracing World Music at large.
