Chinese Berries (Mechakalyani)
Michael Robinson
About this work:
The CD titled Hamoa was a major turning point in my life. All nine pieces on the CD were composed with a new multi-timbral sound module that includes a generous number of world music sounds. In addition, the results of my studies with Harihar Rao, Ravi Shankar's senior disciple, pervade the music on this recording.
Chinese Berries uses the swaras of the Karnatic raga, Mechakalyani, with an energetic sitar presiding over an exuberant blend of percussion ostinatos. The opening melodic theme is repeated at various intervals of the piece by piri, nose flute, esraj, kemanche and hichiricki.
-Michael Robinson, December 1999, Lahaina
© 1999 by Michael Robinson All rights reserved
Year composed: 1995
Duration: 00:10:17
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. Chinese Berries (Mechakalyani) is voiced with samples of the following acoustical timbres using Indian tunings: sitar, tabla, hichiriki, esraj, zampona, mizmar, kemanche and African & Near Eastern percussion. A synthesizer timbre is also used.