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Song Carriers [November 20, 2006] If you take a handful of sand from the Thar Desert, add different kinds of spices and a splash of Fauvist paint you will get a celebration of life – in other words the music performed by Dhoad, a band of Rajasthani gypsies who some years ago settled in France. In the Indian state of Rajasthan, which means the land of maharajas (kings), the richest and the most diverse cultural and religious traditions are mixed. Rajasthan is famous as the land of troubadours and wandering poets, as a place where Islam and Hinduism coexist in an atmosphere of absolute tolerance. Many centuries ago Gypsy camps moved from Rajasthan to Spain following the Silk Road and from there all over the world spreading the smell of desert and sensual rhythms of castanets. The music of the Dhoad gypsies is an acoustic hologram of Rajasthan. It is Rajasthani Gypsy folklore that is passed orally from generation to generation and praises epic heroes and maharajas' love. It is Indian classical music they study from the age of five. The majority of the musicians belong to the langa (song carrier) caste. In the 17 th century they were converted from Hinduism to Islam; later they felt influence of Sufism. Monotonous melodies typical of Sufi music change into wild rhythms. In their music there is a prayer to Lord Ramdiv, worshiped by the both Hindus and Muslims. There is pain and delight, the magic of fakirs and the mystery of Gypsies. For the palette to be complete, the music of Bollywood is present in the art of the Dhoad as well. Rahis Bharti is passionately playing the tabla. It is he, a representative of the ancient musical Dhoad family, who created this band of seven people. He had been playing in international ensembles for several years and then decided to get back to his roots and to revive the musical traditions created by his ancestors 500 years ago. Most of the musicians in the band are his brothers and cousins. The musicians will perform at the Avantgarde Folk Club from November 3-8.
Hasmik Hovhannisian |
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