Tuesday, July 29, 2014

World Rhythms News 14: North Indian Raga and Tala

World Rhythms News Banner
Issue 14. Summer 2014:
Welcome to the World Rhythms News, an infrequent newsletter dedicated to world music education written by Matthew Montfort, leader of the band Ancient Future.

In this issue:

Section One: North Indian Raga and Tala
Section Two: Further Study



Section One: North Indian Raga and Tala

Raga

Close Up of Pandit Habib Khan Playing Sitar
A raga is a melodic recipe for a mood. Raga could be described as a "super scale" using a set of notes in ascending (arohi) and descending (avarohi) order, sometimes including prescribed alternate routes, a hierarchy of note importance, and a key phrase that shows the heart of the movement of the raga. This ancient system is both an art and a science of how musical notes create certain moods. The recipe for each raga holds the key to an unlimited number of potential melodies, each perpetuating the mood contained in the raga.

Rag Kalyan

Rag Kalyan is an evening raga that falls within a scale corresponding to the Western Lydian mode, which is a major scale with an augmented fourth. From C, the scale would be as shown below (a dote above a note indicates the octave above, a dot below indicates the octave below):
                             .
C   D   E   F#   G   A   B   C
                             
1   2   3   #4   5   6   7   8

But Rag Kalyan is more than just a scale. Ascending passages start on the major seventh below the root, and skip the tonic and often the fifth:
                         .
B   D   E   F#   A   B   C
.
7   2   3   #4   6   7   8

Descending passages employ the full scale:
.
C   B   A   G   F#   E   D   C

8   7   6   5   #4   3   2   1

The vadi, or dominant note of a raga, is the major 3rd. It can be a note that passages pause on. The samavadi, the second-most prominent note, is the major 7th, which is the note ascending passages start on.

Rhythmic Cycles

Photo o Bayan

The concept of the ever-recurring cyclic rhythms of the universe is one of the basic tenets of Hindu philosophy. The perception of the cyclic nature of life is reflected in Indian classical music through the device of tala,  a recurring time-measure or rhythmic cycle.

In the same way that raga can be described as a “super scale,” tala is a “super time signature,” a recurring time-measure or rhythmic cycle with distinct sections. The beats have different degrees of emphasis within a tala, and are marked with a system of hand claps, hand waves and movements of the fingers. The most important point of rhythmic emphasis is the sam, the first beat of the tala and point to which all variations eventually return. It is represented by the symbol "+," and is marked by a hand clap. The khali,  literally the empty beat, is the unaccented beat of the tala. The lack of accent is emphasized, making the khali a very important beat. It is marked by a wave of the hand and is written with the symbol "o." Talas have other accented beats known as tali, also marked by hand claps. In written notation, the tali are numbered, starting with the number two. In this presentation, each beat is equally subdivided by the number of syllables it contains. For example, in beat one of matta tal, the syllable "dhin" is equal to one beat, and in beat two "terikita" is played as four sixteenth notes. To practice reciting theka, use this pronunciation guide to Indian drum syllables.

There are an estimated 350 talas in North Indian music, of which ten are in common use. Presented here is the most common tala, the 16 beat tintal, and one of the least, the nine beat matta tal. Each tala has a theka, which is a standard groove represented by onomatopoeic drum syllables and played as an accompaniment. Click on the tabla head Tabla Audio Icon below to hear audio of the thekas:


Tabla Audio IconTintal

16 beats, divided 4 + 4 + 4 + 4:

   +                   2                   

|: dha  dhin dhin dha  dha  dhin dhin dha

   1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8   


   o                   3     
 
   na   tin  tin  ta   ta   dhin dhin dha :|

   9    10   11   12   13   14   15   16

 
Tabla Audio IconMatta Tal

9 beats, divided 4 + 2 + 3. In this case, the final 3 beats are subdivided 1 1/2 + 1 1/2: 

   +                                       o
|: dhin      terikita  dhin      na        tin       na 

   1         2 e + a   3         4         5         6
   1         2         3         4         5         6            
                   
 2
 
 dhin dhin na   dhin dhin na  :|

 7    +    8    +    9    +

 1    2    3    1    2    3
    

'Yearning for the Wind' Video in Rag Kalyan and Matta Tal

Yearning for the Wind on YouTube
YouTube Video of 'Yearning for the Wind' with Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar
Reached the #1 Position on the Ethnocloud World Music Chart

Recorded in hi-res audio and video in December 2013, Yearning for the Wind is the first audio/video release in Ancient Future history. This evocative piece was produced for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's ambitious ongoing fan-funded project. Yearning for the Wind is the first EP and video to be released to raise awareness of the archive.

Composed by scalloped fretboard guitar innovator Matthew Montfort, Yearning for the Wind is a poignant piece based on Rag Kalyan. The composition also incorporates harmony and other guitaristic elements, and in passages follows the muse of the moment over the rules of raga.

Yearning for the Wind on YouTubeYearning for the Wind on YouTube

Yearning for the Wind starts with an alap, an introductory melodic improvisation that shows how the raga moves. This short alap truncates some of traditional forms that are used in longer expositions. It starts slow and unmetered, but instead of developing into a traditional jor, the section of the alap in which a steady pulse appears, it introduces harmonies as a way of increasing intensity.

Once the alap comes to a conclusion, the slow gat, or main theme, is introduced in the tala. The nine beat matta tal provides an intriguing setting for this duet with Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar, who is considered one of the most gifted tabla players of his generation. The gat starts with the main melody in the lower register, or the asthai, followed by the antara, a second section of the melody in the higher register. Then there is a melodic guitar improvisation over the tala with a light harmonic rhythm guitar background instead of the traditional drone.

After the gat is reprised, a new theme is introduced that puts a phrase of four against the final three beats of the nine beat tala. It is used as a lahara, an ostinato employed to accompany a tabla solo. Vishal begins his solo by exploring the main tabla sounds which flow with the soft groove of the nine beat rhythm. He slowly builds up to a vibrant rela (a fast tabla composition characterized by rapid drum rolls) utilizing a tishra jati (triplet) bridge that draws from the end of the matta tal theka for a graceful transition that remains attuned to the mood of the composition.

The fast gat that follows also employs the phrasing of four against the final three beats of the tala. There is another improvised guitar solo, followed by a fixed ending that employs a guitaristic riff followed by a tihai: a rhythmic phrase repeated three times and timed to end on the sam, the first beat of the tala. In this case, the tihai has a high ostinato played against it by the rhythm guitar that helps further enhance the climax of the tihai. This is followed by the lahara, this time played in the high register, with a second (and faster paced) tabla solo, followed by another tihai, into a restatement of the antara of the fast gat, followed by the final tihai. The piece ends with the rhythm guitar fading on an accompaniment ostinato similar to what a swarmandal, or Indian harp, might play.

Yearning for the Wind Cover
Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Ancient-Future.Com AF-90352. Signed Enhanced Audio/Video E-CD-R-$17.98: Buy E-CD Now. iTunes.


Section Two: Further Study

Rhythm Training Book Sale

Ancient Traditions--Future Possibilities Book

Ancient Traditions - Future Possibilities

Book/Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Soundfiles: $52.95 (SALE! Normally $69.95): Buy 1 Now.
"You've heard Afro-Pop, sitar, gamelan and world music for years. But do you know what they are and how they work? Better yet, would you like to play those twisted cross-rhythms and melodies? In Ancient Traditions--Future Possibilities, Matthew Montfort, a founding member of the world music band Ancient Future, has put together the book for people who want to dig into world music with both hands. Wherever possible, Montfort has provided beat counts alongside the standard musical notation so even if you can't read music, you can still learn the rhythms." – Richard Kadrey, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Music Lessons Via Skype

Skype Pick Icon

And Other Multimedia File Exchange Methods

Private Lessons with Matthew Montfort

Study any of the subjects on the education section of Ancient-Future.Com through private correspondence lessons (via Skype or any method of file exchange) with Ancient Future bandleader and guitarist, Matthew Montfort. Feel free to email info@ancient-future.com with any questions you may have about how correspondence lessons can help you in your musical development!

All compositions, recordings, video, and text in this article © 2014 Ancient Future Music. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

1st Audio/Video Release in Ancient Future History, 2 New Tracks, 3 Concerts, 4 CDs on Sale, 5 #1 Videos

Ancient Future Times
Twitter: Ancient Future Band (Ancient_Future)
Facebook: Ancient Future Fan PageMatthew Montfort Fan Page
July 2014 Issue:
One New Release
•First Audio/Video Release in Ancient Future History
Two More A.F.A.R.
•Two New Tracks Added to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings
Three Concerts
•Lick Observatory, Incline Village, Reno

Four for Forty
• Four Acclaimed Releases Just $10 Each
Five #1 Videos
14 Number 1 Chart Positions on Ethnocloud, June 1, 2014

One New Release

First Audio/Video Release in Ancient Future History
Yearning for the Wind Cover
Composed by scalloped fretboard guitar innovator Matthew Montfort, Yearning for the Wind is a poignant piece based on Rag Kalyan, an evening raga that corresponds to the Lydian mode. The composition in three movements also incorporates harmony and other guitaristic elements. A duet with Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar, who is considered one of the most gifted tabla players of his generation, Yearning for the Wind is set in matta tal, a nine beat rhythmic cycle. As a bridge between the slow and fast sections of the piece, Vishal Nagar performs an elegant tabla solo over the soft nine beat groove that slowly builds up to a vibrant rela (a fast tabla composition characterized by rapid drum rolls).
Recorded in December 2013, Yearning for the Wind was produced for the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's ambitious fan-funded recording project. The digital preview release of Yearning for the Wind is available now at iTunes and other digital retailers as an mp3 and video download. The enhanced CD version (an audio CD with a CD-ROM session for computers with liner notes and an HD video with 96/24 hi-res audio) will be released at fine stores such as Ancient-Future.Com and Amazon.com starting July 22, 2014. This is the first audio/video release in Ancient Future history, just in time for the band's 35th anniversary year!
Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Ancient-Future.Com AF-90352. Signed Enhanced Audio/Video E-CD-R-$17.98: Buy E-CD Now. (Ships by 7/22/14)

Two More A.F.A.R.

30th Anniversary CD Mystery Cover
On February 11, 2014, the exact 35th anniversary of the first Ancient Future concert, two new studio tracks were added to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, which now has 70 minutes of music in it!
The first track added was Yearning for the Wind. More than five months before its E-CD release, it was made available to supporters of the archive in mp3, CD quality, 96-kHz/24-bit hi-res audio, and a full resolution HD video that is higher quality than is possible for E-CD or iTunes release.
The second track added, East of the Sun, reunites original Ancient Future members Matthew Montfort and Benjy Wertheimer with help from Paul McCandless of the band Oregon. The basic tracks for this poignant piece with an Afro 5/8 groove and a haunting melody were recorded live in the studio on 4/1/2011 by Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Benjy Wertheimer on tabla, and Mariah Parker on santur. Additional scalloped fretboard guitar and fretless bass parts by Matthew Montfort and oboe parts by Paul McCandless were recorded in Ancient Future's newly upgraded home studio in 2013, producing this lush new quintet version. It is available to supporters of the archive in mp3, CD quality, and 96-kHz/24-bit hi-res audio file formats.
Now that the music business has collapsed due to the tech industry's successful promotion of the meme that content should be virtually free, Ancient Future really truly needs YOUR support in order to continue to bring you music. Streaming companies are valued in billions of dollars, but streaming royalties are measured in thousandths of a cent, so is imperative for everyone who reads this newsletter to help in some way. Please become a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. Please let your friends know about this opportunity to support world fusion music. Share this newsletter, and share Ancient Future posts on social networks. And if you can afford it, please consider making a VIP donation to move the project along faster.
Recording Newsletter. $15 (receive 128 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $15. Download Supporter. $25 (320 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $25. Limited Edition CD Sponsor. $50 (all previous plus CD quality audio): Subscribe @ $50. Honorary A & R Representative. $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75. Donor VIP. Make Additional Donation.

Three Concerts

Ancient Future Concerts in California and Nevada

Ancient Future Trio

Photo of Mariah Parker, Matthew Montfort, and Vishal Nagar
Featuring Mariah Parker, Matthew Montfort, and Vishal Nagar
Saturday, July 19, 8:30 p.m.
Benefit Concert for UCO Lick Observatory
Main Building Hall
Mount Hamilton, CA 95140
Adm: $40 general seating, $100 preferred, $150 VIP. Tix: UCSC ticket office 831-459-2159 after May 1. Info: 408-274-5061, www.ucolick.org.
This trio version of Ancient Future will perform music from Ancient Future's many recordings, including their latest release, Yearning for the Wind. The program includes the concert, astronomy lecture, and (weather permitting) viewing through the historic 35-inch Great Lick Refractor and the 40-inch Nickel Reflector telescopes!
Matthew Montfort is Ancient Future's leader and has released two solo guitar releases: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar and Sympathetic Serenade, for which he was lauded as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor. Montfort is a pioneer among guitarists who have had their fretboards scalloped in order to play various forms of world music that require intricate note-bending ornaments while still being able to play chords.
Vishal Nagar is considered one of the most gifted tabla players of his generation. Born into a family of musicians, Vishal has been surrounded by music in an extremely musically creative and artistic environment. Vishal had his initial training with the late Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan of the Delhi Gharana. After his Ustad's untimely demise, Vishal continued his training under the guidance of Ustad Shamim Ahmed Khan. He also has had intense rhythmic training from his mother, the renowned and highly respected Kathak dancer and vocalist, Urmila Nagar.
Mariah Parker is a composer and multi-instrumentalist. She released her first solo recording of her compositions, Sangria (Ancient-Future.Com AF 2017), in 2009. Her CD release party drew a full house at the famous Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland for her Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble, which features a stellar lineup of musicians including the Grammy-winning Paul McCandless of the group Oregon.

Ancient Future Hammered and Picked Duet

Photo of Mariah Parker and Matthew Montfort
Hammered & Picked: World Folk for Guitar & Dulcimer
Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Composer/Hammered Dulcimerist Mariah Parker

Friday, July 25, 7:00 p.m.
Sierra Nevada Guitar Festival
St. Patrick's Episcopal Church

341 Village Blvd.
Incline Village, NV 89451
Suggested donation: $20 for adults
Info: music@sierraguitar.org
Ancient Future's Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Mariah Parker (hammered dulcimer) will perform material from the band's many recordings influenced by Celtic, Latin American, Indian, Arabic, Spanish, European and American music. They will be joined by special Tahoe area guests including world dancer/violinist Sapphira and guitarist/cellist Larry Aynesmith.

Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet

Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar plus Special Guest Mariah Parker
Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar
Shown: Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar
Sunday, July 27, 3:00 p.m.
Reno Artown Festival
Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center

Wells Fargo Auditorium, Room 124
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557
Info: 775-298-1893
Suggested donation: $5 children, $15-$20+ adults.

Strains of passionate flamenco and ethereal Indian raga emanate from this improvisatory duet featuring world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar.


Four for Forty

Planet Passion CD CoverSangria CD CoverSeven Serenades CD CoverSympathetic Serenade CD Cover

Four Releases Just $10 Each

Ancient Future Summer Sale

Five #1 Videos

Ethnocloud Charts
Ethnocloud 6-1-14.pdf (8 MB pdf)
14 Number 1 Chart Positions on Ethnocloud, June 1, 2014
As evidenced by the above 15 page media report, this spring, Ancient Future rose to the top of the Ethnocloud music charts, briefly garnering 14 number one spots in the following categories: Artist by Rating, Top 40 March 2014 Video, Top 40 April 2014 Track, Top 40 April 2014 Video, Video by Rating, Track by Rating, India Influence Video, Gypsy Influence Video, Asian Influence Video, Middle Eastern Influence Video, North American Influence Video, India Influence Track, Middle Eastern Influence Track, and East European Influence Track.
This issue of the Ancient Future Times features five videos that each earned number one spots on Ethnocloud!

Yearning for the Wind

Yearning for the Wind on Ethnocloud
Yearning for the Wind rose to the top of the Ethnocloud World Music Charts, earning #1 spots in both the Video and Track categories for the April 2014 Top 40, and propelling Ancient Future to the #1 rated artist spot in early June, 2014. It is currently the #1 Video by Rating and #1 India Influence Video. The camera work and video editing was done by Michael Bradon at Seven Channel Sound.

Matthew Montfort and Shenshen Zhang

Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Shenshen Zhang (pipa) on Ethnocloud
This video captures the very first time that Chinese pipa master Shenshen Zhang and scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort played together. They met at an acoustic guitar concert set up by steel string guitarist Mike Kostowskyj in Half Moon Bay. Mike invited Shenshen Zhang to perform a number by herself. Matthew was impressed and invited her to jam with him, and this is exactly what happened from their first note together! The unedited video was recorded by Mariah Parker from the audience. It is currently the #1 Asian Influence Video on Ethnocloud, and was the #1 video on the Ethnocloud Top 40 for March 2014.

Prelude and Bookenka (The Adventurer)

Prelude and Bookenka on Ethnocloud
Recorded at Ancient Future's concert at the Freight and Salvage October 16, 2013, this is a medley of Prelude by Matthew Montfort and Bookenka (The Adventurer) by Doug McKeehan from Ancient Future's Asian Fusion release. It features Doug McKeehan on piano, Kash Killion on bass, Ian Dogole on percussion, Matthew Montfort on scalloped fretboard guitar, Jim Hurley on electric violin, and Mariah Parker on hammered dulcimer. It is currently the #1 North American Influence Video on Ethnocloud. The camera work and video editing was done by Michael Bradon at Seven Channel Sound.

El Zaffa

El Zaffa on Ethnocloud
Ancient Future performs "El Zaffa" from their Planet Passion recording. The composition is based on the Egyptian wedding march rhythm "elzaffa" and features Matthew Montfort (composer, scalloped fretboard guitar), Georges Lammam (Arabic violin), Salaheddin Takesh (Arabic percussion), Doug McKeehan (keyboards), and Sapphira (belly dance). It is currently the #1 Middle Eastern Influence Video on Ethnocloud. In memory of and thanks to Brilla and Gordy Hall at Gordyo Video.

World Fusion Documentary

World Fusion Documentary on Ethnocloud
The video documents the history of the world music movement and shows archival clips of many of the variations of Ancient Future. Includes information on the music scene surrounding the Grateful Dead and the Ali Akbar College of Music from which the band was formed. It is currently the #1 Gypsy Influence Video on Ethnocloud. In memory of and thanks to Brilla and Gordy Hall at Gordyo Video.