the Raw & the Cool - folk music

Beat of India - At the heart of music. The folk music of India

Go listen to some of the samples they have trustingly provided on this website. You get 3 x free samples - that you get to keep forever - for just signing up with yr email. And, no, I havent been flooded with spam from them. Nothing except an email giving me the links to those 3 songs.

When you think that some of these folk singers and musicians are probably the last of their kind... and you can buy their mp3 song for less than a dollar, it just boggles the mind.

If I was not an impoverished filmmaker, I would do something about these people. Their raw voices, the sound of the wind in the trees and of the village fair behind them - its deep in our blood - and it moves us far more than any highly processed pop song.

Passionate about Saag Aloo?

Tigers & Strawberries: One Potato, Two Potato, Red Potato, Blue Potato

Never thought I'd see the day. When a blogger posted passionately about Saag Aloo, not to mention the much maligned culture of India. SO someone still loves the colours the vibrant life the textures...?

Must be an American. No one in this country likes people from the Indian subcontinent. For proof, try being a South Asian in Birmingham. It can take several hours to get any service at shops, stations, restaurants if you can get anyone to answer your queries at all. I've never been to a more miserable hole full of misanthropes in my life.

That said - was pleasantly surprised to find someone other South Asian housewives - was posting passionately on Indian food.

on Seeing 'Don' after 20 years...

- the common buffoon - replaces the westernised obviously corrupt anti-hero. The simple and innocent villager from Benaras falls into the cunning policeman's trap. Now why can't I write simple screenplays like that.

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Does Fantasy have a colour or nationality?

Today we discussed: Do Indians write Fantasy?

At first I said, "No".

Then thought for a bit, and realised – that, yes, we do.

After all, those stories based around Mythological characters, usually found in vernacular literature (more experimental and innovative than Indian English writing) – aren’t they a kind of Fantasy?

“But isn’t that more like Historical writing?”

”Well, Western Fantasy is based on history too – medieval history. They are all mired in the same old vision of a medieval feudal Europe. That’s not the only version of history you know.”

“Hmmm, that’s true…”

“It takes some getting used to, it's hard to get one’s head around – but fantasy can include alternatives to castles, knights, dragons and ogres. It could be about an opulent eastern kingdom with maharajahs, blue gods, tigers and marble palaces. I mean, why not...?”

Thank You, Ennio Morricone!

On Monday night we went to see Ennio Morricone conducting his works in the Royal Albert Hall.

It was a lucky coincidence I'd bought Time Out that day and we only just caught it and got good seats.

The venue itself is so special, just telling a cabbie "Royal Albert Hall" has an effect. And then Knightsbridge.

The ultimate exclusive London postcode. The other people arriving all looked very interesting,

R recognised a TV celebrity or two sitting next to us. Our seats were in the stalls very close to the stage,

just under the exclusive opera style "box" seats.



R had always admired Ennio Morricone's works, he had a tape of his compositions since he was a little boy.

Only he never dreamed he would ever get to see the Maestro perform live. And on his birthday.

It was a very special concert to celebrate his 75th birthday. Him conducting the Rome Sinfonietta -

a huge orchestra, a colection of every possible musical instrument ever invented,

including a large drum bells and percussion section, a piano, cellos etc joined by the Crouch End Festival Choir

who have made quite a name here - all 50 of them or more. It was a huge affair.

Preceded by an excerpt from a film about him by his son, which was a bit disappointing.



He has composed music for 400 films! And worked with most of the world's top directors.

He was received with cheers whistles and loud applause every time he made an entrance.

The program was divided up by kinds of cinematic scores/kinds of films.

Sergio Leone's films had a separate section, one short piece each from 4 films.

We were wondering how he would perform the famous Good,Bad and Ugly theme which he said

was inspired by a coyote's cry. They did it (the coyote howl) by a unearthly sounding horn instrument

and the theme from the famous scene where the 3 actors stand around the gold just before the shootout

called "The Ecstasy of Gold" was performed by an impressive soprano singing the difficult theme live.

It worked and was hair-raising. There was a deafening standing ovation after that section.



Ending with the theme from "The Mission", it was a long long program, going from 8 to 10.

And even after that there had to be an encore, so the Sergio Leone bit again.

Then more standing ovation, and another encore! And then another!

The audience was just not letting him go.

To top it all at about this point a voice cried out "Thank you Ennio!!"

And the orchestra laughed with the rest.

Then someone cried out "Happy Birthday Ennio!" - before you knew it the entire audience was on its feet singing

"Happy Birthday to You Dear Ennio" then the orchestra picked it up, and then the choir joined in.

It was very moving. Specially for R who was loudly singing along.



By the time we got out we saw it was 11 - too late to eat out. Everyone was filing out looking flushed and happy.

We never noticed the time passing!

Thinking of revisiting Sergio Leone films, buying a proper CD of Morricone...



Also, R now leaves for work merrily whistling the Good Bad Ugly theme.



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