using Indian instruments

Hey Jacky...you know, I wouldn't worry much about using instruments
from any culture in any positive way...after all, the guitar has been
used for zillions of styles of rmusic successfully. Yes, we associate
sitar, tabla, etc, with Indian music...but, this sort of thinking, to
me, may get in the way of one's creativity if we're not careful. In
fact, it wasn't long ago that guitar itself was not accepted in Indian
forms by some of the traditional maestros; now, I know there are several
great guitarists in that tradition. Instruments are just tools of
communication...it's the end result that matters. Of course, I'm sure
this is not news to you...just wanted to mention it...thanks...Hstick

--- In tuning@y..., "Neil Haverstick" <STICK@U...> wrote:
> Hey Jacky...you know, I wouldn't worry much about using
instruments
> from any culture in any positive way...
..............

In a positive response to Neil's message, I may recapitulate the
requirements for playing raga music (these requirements do not apply
if your are NOT playing a raga, but just enjoying the beauty of a
note, or a scale, or the timbre of any instrument):

For an instrument to qualify to play Indian classical music,
(i) it should be capable of playing meend (glissando)
(ii) it should be capable of playing gamaka
(iii)it should be capable of producing 5-limit JI
This implies that it should be fretless. Or it may have frets
but must easily take care of shruti-s.

But note that vina was replaced by Sitar; pakhavaj by tabla; sarangi
by Harmonium (for accompaniement). Also, Santoor was a folk
instrument adopted to the classical music style, and has to simulate
meend and gamaka. Violin and guitar have become instruments of
choice. So, the Indian classical music has undergone many changes,
but the requirements enumerated above, remain the same.

For a musician to qualify to play Indian music:
(i) He must be proficient in meend, gamaka and shruti-s.
(ii) He must have thorough knowledge of the raga-s.

But here again, there are levels of proficiency and learning.
Ideally, only after reaching the highest level should a musician
think of performing, especially on the stage.

These are the guidelines for any instrument, Indian or not, and any
musician, Indian or not.

Haresh.

Haresh wrote,

<<But here again, there are levels of proficiency and learning.
Ideally, only after reaching the highest level should a musician think
of performing, especially on the stage. These are the guidelines for
any instrument, Indian or not, and any musician, Indian or not.>>

I just thought I'd mention that I think that there are many musics
where technical finesse and proficiency are far from top priorities,
or even relevant concerns really... and sometimes it's exactly this
sort of a (cultivated or plainspoken) lack of such things that helps
open up another way of looking at the same materials and questions.

--Dan Stearns