Jog (Earth and Rivers)
Michael Robinson
About this work:
Earth and Rivers is my interpretation of Raga Jog. Jog was introduced to me by the great North Indian violinist of the same name, V.G. Jog, on a recording with Zakir Hussain. This CD is a marvel of raga development using varying versions of the same phrases. The use of both komal and shuddha ga, along with komal ni, suggests what turns out to be a superficial similarity with blues and jazz. Nonetheless, it was this connection that made Jog one of the first ragas I grasped.
The following year, I heard another great Hindustani violinist, Kala Ramnath, perform Jog live, with Ajit Pathak on tabla, and this was also a memorable performance.
For Earth and Rivers, I use a kemanche, joined rather unusually with percussion in the alap. The kemanche also employs a number of double stops. The jor and jhala further explore this unique raga, the name of which is related to yoga, and the male/female union of opposites.
- Michael Robinson, December 1999, Lahaina
© 1999 by Michael Robinson All rights reserved
Year composed: 1996
Duration: 00:33:09
Ensemble type: Electronic Instruments and Sound Sources:Live Electronic Sound Sources
Instrumentation: ,1 Computer/Laptop soloist(s), ,1 Sampler (Keyboard/Other) soloist(s)
Instrumentation notes: A computer and sound module are programmed to perform the fully notated composition in real time. earth and Rivers (Jog) is voiced with samples of the following acoustical timbres using Indian tunings: kemanche, Indian, African & Balinese percussion and tanpura.