Quality: 7.5

Difficulty: 8.5

(7 pages)

Highest Note: alt. G^#

Indian Carnatic music uses ragas to determine pitch. The word “raga” means “coloring, dyeing, tinging,” and ancient texts defined it as “that which colors the mind.” A raga is similar to the Western scale, but more intricate: a collection of pitches, ornaments, and melodies that are used as the basis for improvisation, each raga has its own “musical personality.” (Taken from my paper "Western Influences On Carnatic Music," written for Ohio University's Art History 330, Winter Quarter 2003, taught by Dr. Gary Schwindler.)

In a way this piece is simliar to serial music; each movement is based on the raga stated in the first movement. It is manipulated by ornamentation and adding and deleting pitches.

Besides the rhythm the most difficult aspect of this piece is its totally foreign structure; once the played becomes familiar with this, it should be much easier

Very difficult rhythmically, some glissandi, unusual and changing meters, some rhythms left up to the performer

Good sense of rhythm

Light articulation, especially in movement IV

Willingness to experiment and learn something totally new

Air support over leaps

Good finger technique

Listen to this piece and to Indian Carnatic music

Research Indian Carnatic music

Find the raga wherever it appears

Begin slowly for accurate rhythm

G. Dobree; This Green Tide; Lutyens