Selection 37 - Performance Segment (R. Iyer)

...built around the kriti "Sarasiruha" (etc...)

Veena player Ramachandra Iyer (see here) was in his seventies when he recorded "Sarasiruha," which is featured in the academic compilation Worlds of Music pictured above. This is South Indian (Carnatic) classical music, which begins with an alap (improvisation), becomes more rhythmic, then moves to the kriti (set composition where the drums kick in), and the pallavi and anupallavi, developments of the kriti.

Something like that, at least. Check here for better details.

Listening to this piece in an ethnomusicology class at SUNY Binghamton in the '90s was an awesome experience for me. You can even hear a dog barking in the background of the recording, so you know this is the real deal.

Download here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?js4b4ukgfzrmjfs

The veena has more of an earthy sound than sitar. Here, it is a thing of beauty. You will be transported to another place. Also check out the work of Chitti Babu, E. Gayathri, and other Carnatic musicians on Spotify and YouTube.

For instrumental favs in other styles, click here for one of my prior posts.

Cheers,

Angus