Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Ruby Tuesday Too - Indian Musician at the ITC Rajputana Hotel, Jaipur - April 22, 2014





During my five month stay in Jaipur, I spent a lovely evening at the ITC 
Rajputana Hotel.  This brightly garbed young man played outside one of
their fine restaurants.  I think the instrument is a sitar, though I am no expert
on Indian musical instruments.   Please correct me if I am wrong.

From Wikipedia, I learned that the sitar is descended from a simpler Persian
instrument and it is a plucked instrument used in Hindustani and classical
Indian music.  The sitar gained in great popularity in the 16th and 17th 
century.  "It derives its distinctive timbre and resonance from sympathetic
strings, bridge design, a long hollow neck and a gourd resonating chamber."
Musicians normally sit on the ground to play the sitar.

Vilayat Kahn, from a family of court musicians dating back to the Mughal empire,
 is credited with introducing sitar music to much of the world.  His first record was
produced at the age of 8 and his last performance took place when he was 75.

Pop musicians such as George Harrison of the Beatles and Brian Harrison of
the Rolling Stones helped introduce the sitar to the Western world.  George
Harrison visited India to study sitar under one of the world's greatest sitar 
musicians, Ravi Shankar.  











http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilayat_Khan


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12 comments:

  1. Your musician is certainly stunning in his red garb!

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    1. India is filled with so much color. Even ladies in their every day saris are brilliant.

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  2. That's a fantastic photo of the young man, Carmen..and the music and information are quite fascinating.

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    1. I have always liked this music better than some of that wild Bollywood stuff. I've always been drawn to it. I keep saying that, if I had another life, I must have been Indian.

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  3. A nice costume ! I love Indian music !

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    1. I, too, love Indian music, Gattina, especially the relaxing satir music. I have it softy playing as I TRY to get to sleep at night.

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  4. The sitar has such a distinctive sound.

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    Replies
    1. It is definitely unique. I do love it, though, especially its soothing sounds.

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  6. I love Indian music, and also the dances.

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  7. Indian Ruby is gem of royalty; it is worn for improved concentration and for name, leadership, command and fame.

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