Shankar Ghosh - Music of the Drums

Shankar Ghosh
Music of the Drums

Album IN 1980 on Inreco label
Jazz, Classical, Folk, World and (Indian Classical)

DESTINY - This composition is based on the style of the theme or Gat of Indian Classical Instrumental Music. Different ornaments of Instrumental Music such as Alap, Tan, Bistar, Larant, Thoke-Thala, Jhala, Sath Sangat, Sawal-Jawab etc. have enriched the music. The Melody is based on Raga Hindoli and Tal Tintal. INSPIRATION - In a Tabla or Pakhwas it is a practice to recite some of the compositions of the Drums (boles). In this piece I have used recitation of Drum syllables (boles) tuned to Raga Deshkar, a morning Raga and tried to give it an uncommon form. The composition is based on Tal Kharwa of 8 beats cycle. HAPPINESS - This is a simple but very appealing composition based on Tal Dadra of 6 beats cycle. The Title MUSIC OF THE DRUMS signifies an effort to prove what a musical atmosphere the drums, in an organised form can create. A drum orchestra normally brings to the mind of a listener an ear shatterings experience. But that is before one has witnessed our show or listened to his record. Right from the beginning I have been keen on removing such a misconception. Where in the whole world one can find such sonorous musical instruments like TABLA, MRIDANGAM, JAZZ SET, PAKHWAJ, KHOL, MADOL, DHOL, TRIPPLE CONGO when thy are in the hands of stalwarts? Henve I have tried to do justice to such instruments. The instruments used in this orchestra are all percussion instruments. The musical part of the orchestra is played on two sets of TABLA-TARANG (tabla tuned to required notes) and one set of JAL TARANG (cups filled with water and tuned to required notes). Nicely said by a critic that "a properly conducted assembly of INDIAN DRUMS working on an imaginatively composed score could turn out the be as engrossing as a normal orchestra." My idea, always was to make people feel that they were enjoying a normal orchestra in which the instruments were nothing but DRUMS: THE MOST INTRICAT RHYTHMIC PATTERNS PERFORMED WITH ACCURACY AND EASE HIT THE MIND OF THE LISTENERS. - Shankar Ghosh Shankar Ghosh, a student of Late Sri Anathnath Bose, Late Firoz Khan of Punjab, Sri Sudarshan, Adhikari and last but not least his celebrated Guru Sri Jnan Prakash Ghosh, is an important name in the field of Tabla playing all over India and abroad. Besides touring with Ostad Ali Akbar Khan in the continents and the U.S.A. from 1962 to 1972, he was also a professor of Ali Akbar Khan College of Music in America. Since last few years, Shankar Ghosh has made a name for himself as a composer of Percussion Orchestra, giving full-fledged stage performances for full three hours with his young and energetic troups of various Percussion instruments of the East and the West which he has names as "MUSIC OF THE DRUMS". INRECO presents this record which will enlighten the versatile genious of Shankar Ghosh as a composer of rare merit. INRECO 33 1/3 RPM LONG PLAY RECORD Manufactured & Marketed by THE INDIAN RECORD MANUFACTURING CO. LTD. Calcutta, India DESIGN: REBANTA GOSWAMI