Anoushka Shankar goes back to her Indian classical roots and to her father Ravi Shankar’s music in her new album “Home.” The CD consists of 2 tracks: Guru, which I believe is a homage
to her father and Celebration, which I imagine is Shankar’s celebration of music in general.

The album consists of music in two ragas: Jogeshwari and Khamaj. A raga is like a framework for music that consists of notes, scale, nodal structure and the time of day when it is played. Each raga is played during a particular time of the day or season. For instance track #4 Celebration in Raga Khamaj is generally played at night.

The tracks in the album follow the classic structure of a Hindustani or North Indian music performance So, for instance in Guru in Raga Jogeshwari – there is an Alaap or beginning, Jod or introductory intermediary style that has a simple rhythm, and Gat or playing a fixed composition.

The album consists of music in two ragas: Jogeshwari & Khamaj. A raga is like a framework for music that consists of notes, scale, nodal structure and the time of day when it is played. Each raga isplayed during a particular time of the day or season. For instance Khamaj is generally played at night.

1-3.Guru in Raga Jogeshwari is in 3 parts: Alaap, Jod & Gat
Alaap is generally the name to a opening section of a long piece. This starts in a slow & meditative way & builds up to a beautiful piece. Jod starts off steady & the tempo increases steadily. Gat beautiful & melodic with some fantastic sitar riffs midway - the fast-paced kind that many associate
with the sitar.
4.Celebration consists of Aochar, Dadra,Teentaal & Coda.Aochar is another form of Aalap or introduction which is very short, Dadra is a light taal or beat, Teentaal is a basic rhythmic structure in Hindustani music consisting of 16 beats.

Kamla Aug 2015