Jaunpuri: Rendition of a Raga
Jaunpuri is a composition based on a traditional Indian raga and rare, old vocal composition. The work combines Western compositional structures, notation, and harmony with the basic structures and materials of Indian classical music.
Notable Performances
- National Sawdust Brooklyn, NYMay 2017 Piano, tabla, and tanpura version
- Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall New York, NYApril 2015 Indian vocals, piano, tabla, and tanpura version
- National Recital Hall Taipei, TaiwanNovember 2013 Premiere
“Jaunpuri is based on a traditional Indian raga, but shaped with Western compositional notation, structures, and harmony. An embellished piano melody twirls and spins through a buzzing tabla and tanpura trance, building in intensity until the circling rhythmic cycles spin out into a breathtaking rhapsody.”
More Press
“The heart of the album consists of two compositions by Michael Harrison for piano in just intonation, tanpura and tabla. Jaunpuri is a mesmerizing piece, a nocturnal raga of Hindustani classical music, animated by an irresistible wave movement… A wonder! Hijaz Prelude… can be considered as forming a diptych with the previous, yet it is more internalized and structured on more audible loops. The atmosphere is close to a trance brotherhood. Song of forgetfulness of the self in the drunkenness of sounds… A second wonder! ”