I have just found this book/cd study guide on amazon. Has anyone used this as a learning tool? Also, can anyone recommend a high quality recording of Nikhil Banerjee? He is so amazing!
Re:A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, The Raga Guide
Aug 11, 2003 01:41 p.m.
I can't give you a review, as I just received this a couple of days ago off of eBay, and haven't had a chance to read or listen to the CD's yet. But skimming it looks pretty good, but covering a LOT of material. I got so many other things going, I probably won't have much time to spend on it yet, but I'm looking forward to working through this. I think it will be a wise investment in time.
Namaste',
Billy Enigmar Godfrey
Re:A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, The Raga Guide
Aug 11, 2003 02:02 p.m.
Jaym, take a look at the offerings of raga records. Apart from Khazana, they have the most complete collection. Any of them are good quality, but Nikhilji was at his best when playing Hemant. That was his specialty
Re:A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, The Raga Guide
Aug 11, 2003 02:08 p.m.
Thanks for the info. I will check out the raga records site.
Regarding the book, it seems like it will be a wealth of knowledge and hopefully, it will be possible to play along with each raga and get them under the fingers, regardless of what the lead instrument is. . .sarod, voice etc.
Re:A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, The Raga Guide
Aug 11, 2003 03:19 p.m.
A very cool book: my girlfriend gave it as a christmaspresent some years ago, wellwritten, clear and covering a lot of material. The ragas are played on sarode, flute and voice, so their sa isn't the sitar sa unfortunatly. But still a fab book for the information on the ragas.
Re:A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, The Raga Guide
Aug 12, 2003 12:59 p.m.
I believe I mentioned this in a post a while back, but you can purchase a software package on the Web called SlowGold which enables you to independently change the speed and pitch of CD playback. Ideal, in my opinion, for transcribing or playing along. The even let you download a free demo.
I've had the Raga Guide for a number of moths and I feel it was a very worthwhile investment. Knowledgeable text, great listening! At first I was only attracted to the sarod pieces, but I'm beginning to see that he vocal and flute perfromances are also miniature gems!
I am currently using Slow Gold to experiment with hearing the slowed-down detail of some of the sarod music. One of these days, when my technique is stronger, maybe I'll be able to play a couple of them. (Well, yes, I know, it's not the best thing to copy someone else's playing, but I do feel it would be very educational to experince, first hand as it were, how Buddhadev das Gupta writes and phrases music.)
Re:A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, The Raga Guide
Aug 12, 2003 01:58 p.m.
I'm with Billy. Exact copying of somebody else's phrasing and style is how I learned guitar. And when you take sitar lessons, your teacher expects you to play exactly, and I do mean exactly, like they do! Every little andolan, every little inflection on the meends, etc. Sometimes the only difference between two ragas is that little "shake" at the top of a meend! Someday when you think you're good enough, you can go off and do your own improvising. Or just play fusion, and the heck with it. .
Re:A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, The Raga Guide
Aug 12, 2003 01:29 p.m.
Bob (Aug 12, 2003 12:59 p.m.):
(Well, yes, I know, it's not the best thing to copy someone else's playing, but I do feel it would be very educational to experince, first hand as it were, how Buddhadev das Gupta writes and phrases music.)
Do you really think its not the best to copy soemone else's playing? Yes, I know much of ICM is improvisational, but cannot some or much of that improvisation be based off of someone else?
Namaste',
Billy Enigmar Godfrey
Re:A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, The Raga Guide
Aug 12, 2003 04:20 p.m.
Since I'm heavily into samplers, electronica etc. I've experimented with sitar recordings (mainly "tuning" an existing recording to C#, loop nice phrases so I can heard them over and over again. . ., slowing down the speed). I kind of disagree with the copying of a record. I mean: when studying with a teacher you'll have to copy his/her phrases as well (certainly in the beginning). But I've got to say it's a bit frustrating to even try to copy the great player. I looped a simple (. . .) phrase of a Shahid Parvez Recording (just two notes, maybe 5 sec.) and MY GOD there is so much ornamentation, subtle shadings going on I stopped doing it, otherwise I would be totally frustrated!!
I am only working with the material my teacher provides that's more than enough for me now thank you!
Re:A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, The Raga Guide
Aug 12, 2003 05:33 p.m.
Heh, sure it can be frustrating! That's why learning comes slow. Learning how to play just a few sequential notes with complex ornamentation may take you one whole day to get it just right. But if you have a good ear, and you ask your teacher to show you that "special" ornamentation and correct you when you mess up, you might be surprised that with practice, you can do it. But hey, that's how it works with me. You do what you're comfortable with!
Re:A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, The Raga Guide
Aug 13, 2003 12:29 a.m.
Is there any really good sitar software tutors out there? I would get a PC if I knew there was software stuff that teaches sitar from beginning to very advanced stuff. I only have web tv right now.
Does anyone know? I have all the Batish videos but they only go so far and not far enough for me. I would call myself an above beginner but not really an intermediate because my understanding of the theory I guess would be described as very lacking.
I have the ability in my hands but weak in the knowledge. I've gotten many complaments on my playing of the sitar but I know I'm far from doing true ICM.
Re:A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, The Raga Guide
Aug 13, 2003 05:46 a.m.
I'd think SwarSystems http://www.swarsystems.com/ would be your best shot. Their Swarshala 3 Pro has a sitar on board (haven't heard it though). Also see another topic on this board.
