published on
"Three Songs" (2018) for Hindustani Vocalist, Soprano and Sinfonietta by Akshaya Avril Tucker. Live recording with Saili Oak, Suzanne Lis and the Prismatx Ensemble at the University of Texas Austin, Bates Recital Hall, on March 21, 2018.
To see the video! Here is the first song: https://youtu.be/3z-uS2Y6kY0
Here are the second and third songs: https://youtu.be/9YuF5r5WSD4
I. Saiyan: Fantasy on a song by Shobha Gurtu (00:00-09:10)
Lyrics:
Saiyan nikas gaye mai na ladi thi
Na kachu boli na kachu chali
Sar ko jhukaye mai to chup ke khadi thi Rang mahal ke das darwaaje
Na jaane kaun si khidki khuli thi
Kahat Kamaali Kabir ki beti
Aise biyahi se to kuwari bhali thi
Kamaali (c.15th Century)
My love is leaving, but I do not resist
In stillness, without my notice, she slipped away.
My royal palace has ten doors
Who knows who opened that window, from which she flew...
As its beloved departs, the mortal body grieves, Said Kamaali, daughter of Kabir.
Transl. Saili Oak & Akshaya Avril Tucker
II. Geliebte Sakhi: Beloved Friend (09:11-22:45)
An earlier version of this song, for mezzo-soprano and sinfonietta, was commissioned by Density512, on the subject of “re-composing” Alma Mahler songs. Thus, the German text and some aspects of its setting comes from Alma Mahler’s Fünf Lieder. In juxtaposing the Heine text with a slow khyal composition in Raag Bageshree, I am creating one human character that sings in two voices. This is a meditative love song, but the lover or friend could be human, divine, abstract — even music itself.
Lyrics:
Ich wandle unter Blumen
Und blühe selber mit,
Ich wandle wie im Traume
Und schwanke bei jedem Schritt. O halt mich fest, Geliebte!
Vor Liebestrunkenheit
Fall' ich dir sonst zu Füßen Und der Garten ist voller Leut!
Heinrich Heine (1797-1856)
I wander among the flowers, blooming, I wander as if in a dream,
swaying at every step.
Oh, hold me close to you!
Enraptured,
I fall at your feet
while the garden breathes the life of thousands!
Transl. Akshaya Avril Tucker
Eri sakhi tyaja maan
Dhara dhyaan, chhaand gumaan Tabhi pave gyaan
Pratamata dhara dhyaan, Sharana eka surajaan,
Pajhe saba miTat agyaan.
Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande (b.1960)
My friend, let go of your arrogance Focus, be compassionate
Let your pride fall away
Surrender to each note
Then you will see that truth:
The artist is the divine servant of music
Transl. Saili Oak & Akshaya Avril Tucker
III. Tarana: Dance (22:45-29:45)
Tarana is based on abstract syllables (“de re na”, “ta na na”) and references two Tarana compositions by Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, in Raag Bhimpalas and Raag Desh. The soprano and Hindustani vocalist explore fast, frequently improvised runs, as well as lyrical lines, playing off one another.
Cover image, "Dancing on the Edge," courtesy of Kamini Avril, painter. (www.instagram.com/kaminiavril/)
- Genre
- Classical