Until the early part of the century, virtually all Indian female vocalists were from the courtesan tradition, and thus, held a less esteemed position in society (Neuman, 1980). Despite being just as gifted and talented as their male counterparts, they were never considered part of ‘respectable society,’ and never regarded with the same reverence or…
Music is said to be the language of the divine. Why is the azan so musical? Why do we sing hymns in church? Why are religious services accompanied by music? How does music alter our moods, amplify our feelings and give meaning to our existence? The answer is it’s the very life force of the…
The early 19th century was dominated in Europe by the Romantics. Romanticism, sown by contemporary writers, poets and philosophers, gave rise to an aesthete that exalted emotion and nature and their representations in art forms. The Industrial Revolution, Napoleonic wars, the American Civil War and overall disenchantment with the status of society propelled the rise…
Although the broadsides were incredibly popular – as was most street literature – there has been relatively little research into them and dialect/regional poetry, which both Leslie Shepard and Brian Hollingworth mention and correct in their works. The broadsides would be pasted up on pub walls and inside the cabins of ships for easy dissemination…
‘Folk’ performances in this sense can be said to have become short showcases or souvenirs of what might be deemed as its longer ritual ‘authentic’ version. However, the question of authenticity in the case of ‘folk’ genres is replete with the issues of larger cultural politics as well as the agency of the performer. The…
From poems to songs, from proverbs to stories, oral traditions from the Trab el-Bidhân region in north-west Africa have evolved and have been transmitted and developed over the years, nonetheless they have retained their essence as crucial tools to pass on knowledge, cultural and social values, and collective memories of their existence and historical events.…
The author of seven novels, Chaudhuri’s wide ranging creative career extends to being one of the most influential literary critics of his generation, alongside being a poet, essayist, anthologist as well as a trained and critically acclaimed singer in the North Indian classical tradition. While most authors focus on single human protagonists, Amit Chaudhuri believes…
Sometimes you reach earlier than expected and you see the gamelan set in the middle of the living room with a few people sitting around it. Mats are laid out all over the place. You park your motorbike and go around, shaking the hands of the people already present. You especially look out for the…
He escorted mHe escorted me backstage where I followed him down a narrow corridor to the makeshift green rooms. He finally stopped in front of a door, turned to me and asked me to wait. He disappeared into the room as the door closed behind him. The intimidating name card stared back as it slowly…
It begins with the Swedish Academy’s announcement of the award to Dylan. Everyone is surprised, none more than Dylan himself. He goes into hiding, not taking any calls or responding to messages. Nor does he communicate anything to the wider world. He remains totally incommunicado for days on end. The Academicians break into a sweat:…
