Nand Kedar (Pink Moon)
Michael Robinson
About this work:
Tendrils (Nand Kedar, Kirvani, Madhu Kauns, Chandra Kauns), my fourth CD, is based entirely on Indian ragas. Composition began after almost one year of private study with Harihar Rao, Ravi Shankar's senior disciple. The influence of Indian classical music is also pervasive on my previous CD, Hamoa, but the present CD contains four pieces which actually use the raga form.
Pink Moon is a fitting beginning in this context. It is based on Nand Kedar, an invention of Ram Narayan, the great sarangi artist. This is actually the first raga I remember hearing on a recording back in 1975, and it had a powerful effect. I chose a piano, with Indian tuning, along with various Indian and Balinese percussion, a digeridoo rhythmic ostinato, and tanpura, to present this sweet and hopeful raga. The title presented itself when I was driving home from a Saturday evening concert of Indian music on the 134 from Eagle Rock. Hanging in the sky in front of me was a large, pink full moon, which I had never seen before or since.
- Michael Robinson, December 1999, Lahaina
© 1999 by Michael Robinson All rights reserved
Year composed: 1995
Duration: 00:19:53
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. Pink Moon (Nand Kedar) is voiced with samples of the following acoustical timbres using Indian tunings: piano, tabla, Indian & Balinese percussion and tanpura.