First of all, a warning - except for the last one none of these are studio recordings or even off the board, so sound quality is quite bad
Tracks 1-4 are from a Navratri performance: alap, jor, jhalla in raag Durga
followed by a Sultal (fast 10 beat) composition. Track 5 is an example of
Dhamar (14 beat composition) in raag Rupeshri, also known (confusingly) as
Khamaji Durga. All these are highly traditional in their content and
presentation (if a tad short) and quite representative of the Dagar
tradition.
01_durga_alap.mp3
02_durga_jor.mp3
03_durga_jhalla.mp3
04_durga_sultal.mp3
05_rupeshri_dhamar.mp3
Tracks 6-9 are excerpts from a live performance with the Shakti Dance company - you can hear Bharat Natyam dancer Anusha Fernando with her bells!
Track 6 is a short alap-like piece in raag Bairagi, describing the yogic
practices of the demon king Bali.
06_bali_devotion.mp3
Track 7 is an improvisation on a line from a traditional Sultal composition
in raag Todi, extolling the Eagle God Garuda, to accompany the motion
sequence of martial artist Kelly Maclean
07_garuda.mp3
Track 8 begins with the asthayi of a Chautal (12 beat) composition in raag
Vardhani, an invocation of the goddess, followed by a musical/verbal "duel"
describing the buffalo demon Mahisha. The narrator is Colleen Lanki.
08_mother_of_demons.mp3
Track 9 begins with a well known Sloka, Ganga Taranga, which I sang in raag
Hamsadhwani, followed by a traditional Bharat Natyam (Carnatic) dance piece
- the Natesha Kauthuvam by Dikshitar. It is also in the (Carnatic) ragam
Hamsadhwani.
09_natesha_kautuvam.mp3
Track 10 is a complete change of pace, it's recorded by the CBC so the
quality is not bad, even if I'd prefer a different mix. It was a joint
improvisation of several musicians on a given 'sound canvas' created by
Vancouver artist and DJ Paul Pahal. We were all given the 'canvas' and
worked on it separately, the first time we played the pieces together was
live at the studio when it was recorded with an audience present. You had
to be quick on your feet for that one...
10_cyberraj_sohini.mp3