Neel Murgai

Neel Murgai Ensemble

Innova 756

 

 

 

1 Charukeshi Monday

Based on Raga Charukeshi, this piece includes a traditional gat (melody) from the Maihar

Gharana (school of Indian music) that I learned from an old recording of my guru, Pundit Krishna Bhatt. The gat is set to Matta Tala, a rarely heard rhythmic cycle of 9 beats. I analyzed this melody to establish a chord sequence that became a new foundation for textural composition, improvisation and elaboration. These elaborations are punctuated by composed tihais (rhythmic phrase repeated three times) leading back to the melody in a traditional manner.

 

2 Panchatantra

Named after an ancient Sanskrit collection of childrenÕs stories and fables, this composition begins with a minimalist concept of offset repetition. Successive parts are repeated and embellished at will by the musicians in a playful manner.  After solos, the piece concludes as it began in palindrome form.

3 Brooklyn ki Bhairavi

This piece includes another traditional composition from the Maihar Gharana in Raga Bhairavi. The melody was made famous in a popular recording of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pundit Ravi Shankar. Lines of counterpoint were created to embellish this composition. Improvisation on these themes gives way to another palindrome ending.

4 Space Twang

An old composition of mine, this piece is played in a light classical style. It is set to raga related rules of my own creation and a simple chord structure. The name was created off the cuff by an old band mate, and over the years it stuck.

5 Evening in A: Raga Yaman

This composition draws heavily on Raga Yaman, a romantic yet melancholic raga of the evening. It features a Lydian scale that we play from D, hence the key of A. The opening vamp and improvisation reveals the romantic nature of this raga. This improvisation comes together in ensemble passages and tihais stretched throughout the piece.

6 Coi Umeed

The melody in this song is of Eastern European gypsy origin. I had heard it in the epic gypsy film ÒLatcho DromÓ. Years ago I set this melody to Urdu lyrics from Ghalib, a 19th century writer of

a poetic form called Ghazal. Somehow the melody and lyrics just seemed to fit in a natural way.

The translation comes from K. C. KandaÕs ÒMasterpieces of Urdu GhazalÓ.

7 Raga Khammaj, Rupak Tala

This joyful, romantic raga  of the evening is performed here in the classical North Indian manner, with sitar and tabla only. The main melody or gat, is set to Rupak Tala, a cycle of seven beats.

8 Ngong

A spontaneous improvisation, this piece contains a wonderful arc that becomes a true journey. Here I put down my sitar for the daf (Persian frame drum) and overtone singing. A long, minimal droning intro gives way to chanting and rhythmic fireworks. The only set features are the drone tonality and the chant ÒNgung, ngong, ngang ngingÓ. These syllables create overtones that pop out from the back of the throat and provide a unique sound.

 

 

 

Lyrics - Coi Umeed - 

 

Coi umeed bar nahin aati,                            All my hopes stand belied,

Coi surat nazr nahin aati.                           No prospect is in sight!

Maut ka ek din maayen hai,                          Death will come when it will come,

Neend kyon raat bhar nahin aati?                Why comes not sleep at night?

 

Aage aati thi haal-e-dil pe hansi,                I once could laugh at the state of my heart,

Ab kisi baat par nahin aati.                         But nothing can make me laugh today.

Ham wahaan hain jahaan se ham ko bhi,       I am in that oblivious state,

Kuch hamaari khabar nahin aati.                  A stranger to myself where I am.

 

 

 

 

Engineered, mixed and mastered by Sam Crawford

Additional engineering by Michael Gittleman

 

Tracks 2,4,5 composed by Neel Murgai

1,3,6 are MurgaiÕs treatments of traditional material.

Lyrics in 6 by Ghalib

8 by Murgai, Maneri, Gupta, Heffernan

 

Cover design by Indra Gill

Cover illustration by Matthew Lillis

Daf Man illustrations by Neel Murgai

 

Special thanks to many people, without whom this music would not be possible:

My teachers: Krishna Bhatt, Edgar Grana, Ravindra Goswami, William SweeneyÉ

My Family: Jessica Plotnick, Indra Gill, Leith MurgaiÉ

And the many other musicians, teachers, friends and family members who have

supported and inspired me along the way.

 

[email protected]

www.neelmurgai.com

 

Innova Director: Philip Blackburn

Operations Manager: Chris Campbell

Innova is supported by an endowment from the McKnight Foundation.