The album's concept, Dhrupad Fantasia, began to take shape in 2011, aiming to synthesize different musical worlds.
Compositional Technique
Ragas are characterized by specific times of day or night for performance, and their identity includes micro-intonation, with each note said to have seven intonations in Dhrupad.
Historical Context
The album draws a connection between English Renaissance consort music from the time of Elizabeth I and the Dhrupad tradition during the reign of Akbar I, as both rulers were important patrons of art music.
Interpretation
The performers searched for melodies that could be linked both polyphonically and modally, using English folk melodies that had found their way into Renaissance court music as a starting point for raga improvisation.
Compositional Technique
The improvisatory part of Dhrupad is structured in three sections: Alap (free improvisation without rhythm), Jod (with steady rhythm), and Jhala (with increased pulse to virtuosic levels).
Composer's Artistic Vision
The project involved interweaving the modality of Indian ragas with the polyphony of Elizabethan England to create new sounds and textures.
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