Applying Karnatic Rhythmical Techniques to Western Music

Rafael Reina argues that today's music demands a new approach to rhythmical training that will provide musicians with the necessary tools to face more varied and complex rhythmical concepts. Reina uses the architecture of the South Indian Karnatic rhythmical system to enhance and radically change the teaching of rhythmical solfege at a higher education level. The book is a clear and complete guide that will enable future solfege teachers and students to use these techniques and their methodology to greatly improve their rhythmical skills. An accompanying website of audio examples helps to explain each technique.

For examples of composed and improvised pieces by students who have studied this book, as well as concerts by highly acclaimed karnatic musicians, please click here: http://www.contemporary-music-through-non-western-techniques.com/pages/1587-video-recordings

Zusatztext "This important study provides a comprehensive view of one of the richest rhythmic traditions in the world. Built on sustained experiential learning, Karnatic rhythm provides an almost scientific investigation of rhythmic possibility, something which, through dedication and long study, Rafael Reina is especially able to convey and invoke. His is a study from a Western musician, and the double benefit of this book is that he is then able to demonstrate the efficacy and inspiration that a Karnatic approach to rhythm and rhythmic structure can bring to Western music, showing both how it can enhance performance and learning techniques, and also be a source for the composer of intriguing and reframing compositional devices." - Peter Wiegold, Brunel University, UK"It is impossible to discuss the whole content of this extensive work here, but this is unmistakably a book you can continue to read for many years with great pleasure, to either improve yourself or be inspired by new creative ideas."- David de Marez Oyens, de Bassist Magazine"Applying Karnatic Rhythmical Techniques to Western Music is an ambitious book. In less than 500 pages, Rafael Reina is able to present dozens of Karnatic techniques, explain how to practice them, and show how they can be applied to learning and creating rhythmically advanced music, giving composers, improvisers, and other musicians a great array of tools. Furthermore, Reina's work allows readers to access all of this information without needing to become fluent in a different language or having to learn a new instrumentThe second part of the book centers on applying Karnatic techniques to performing and composing Western music. The first chapter analyzes works from composers such as Brian Ferneyhough, Vijay Iyer, György Ligeti, John McLaughlin, Iannis Xenakis, and Frank Zappa, organizing them according to the rhythmic procedures featured in the piece. Although many of the excerpts were written by composers with no knowledge of Indian music, the use of Karnatic techniques to describe these works is not forced, as the similarities with the rhythmic devices explored in the first section are obvious. Here, Reina's thesis shines by showing how the study of Karnatic music is a great aid when dealing with complex compositions, even if their relationship with Indian music is unintended. The second chapter presents three pieces by Reina's students with commentaries from both the author and the composers. Complete scores are included for all three works and the Karnatic techniques utilized are listed and explained. This chapter showcases how the rhythmic devices featured in the book can be integrated into Western music in a variety of different ways. Each composer has a distinct approach, but none of them seem interested in Karnatic music for its exotic flavor; most listeners probably would not hear any Indian influence. In the commentaries, the students express how Reina's program has given them a more cohesive method for working with complex rhythms, which has also improved their music's playability".- Echo: A Music-Centered Journal, Volume 15.1 (2019) Informationen zum Autor Rafael Reina was born in the former Spanish colony of Equatorial Guinea and until the age of 13, was exposed only to African music, flamenco, Stravinsky and Béla-Bartók. He went on to study jazz, West African, flamenco and Berber music, and graduated 'Summa cum Laude' in composition from Berklee College of Music (USA). Reina's extensive oeuvre includes three contemporary operas and ensemble pieces performed world-wide. He also co-founded two ensembles with non-western influences. After moving to Amsterdam, Reina studied Karnatic music in South India, which led to the creation of the programme 'Contemporary Music Through Non-Western Techniques' at the Amsterdam Conservatoire, a PhD thesis at Brunel University (UK) and ultimately this book. Klappentext Most classical musicians, whether in ...

Autorentext
Rafael Reina was born in the former Spanish colony of Equatorial Guinea and until the age of 13, was exposed only to African music, flamenco, Stravinsky and Béla-Bartók. He went on to study jazz, West African, flamenco and Berber music, and graduated 'Summa cum Laude' in composition from Berklee College of Music (USA). Reina's extensive oeuvre includes three contemporary operas and ensemble pieces performed world-wide. He also co-founded two ensembles with non-western influences. After moving to Amsterdam, Reina studied Karnatic music in South India, which led to the creation of the programme 'Contemporary Music Through Non-Western Techniques' at the Amsterdam Conservatoire, a PhD thesis at Brunel University (UK) and ultimately this book.

Klappentext

Most classical musicians, whether in orchestral or ensemble situations, will have to face a piece by composers such as Ligeti, Messiaen, Varèse or Xenakis, while improvisers face music influenced by Dave Holland, Steve Coleman, Aka Moon, Weather Report, Irakere or elements from the Balkans, India, Africa or Cuba. Rafael Reina argues that today's music demands a new approach to rhythmical training, a training that will provide musicians with the necessary tools to face, with accuracy, more varied and complex rhythmical concepts, while keeping the emotional content. Reina uses the architecture of the South Indian Karnatic rhythmical system to enhance and radically change the teaching of rhythmical solfege at a higher education level and demonstrates how this learning can influence the creation and interpretation of complex contemporary classical and jazz music. The book is designed for classical and jazz performers as well as creators, be they composers or improvisers, and is a clear and complete guide that will enable future solfege teachers and students to use these techniques and their methodology to greatly improve their rhythmical skills. An accompanying website of audio examples helps to explain each technique. For examples of composed and improvised pieces by students who have studied this book, as well as concerts by highly acclaimed karnatic musicians, please copy this link to your browser: http://www.contemporary-music-through-non-western-techniques.com/pages/1587-video-recordings

Inhalt
Instructions to Access Online Material, Rafael Reina; Introduction, Rafael Reina; Part 1 Description of Karnatic Concepts and Techniques; Chapter 102 A: Foundations, Rafael Reina; Chapter 1 The Tala System, Rafael Reina; Chapter 2 Gatis, Rafael Reina; Chapter 3 Jathis, Rafael Reina; Chapter 4 Gati Bhedam, Rafael Reina; Chapter 5 Rhythmical Sangatis, Rafael Reina; Chapter 6 Jathi Bhedam, Rafael Reina; Chapter 7 Introduction to Anuloma-Pratiloma, Rafael Reina; Chapter 103 B: Exclusively Creative Techniques, Rafael Reina; Chapter 8 Mukthays, Rafael Reina; Chapter 9 Yati Phrases, Rafael Reina; Chapter 10 Yati Mukthays, Rafael Reina; Chapter 11 Tirmanas, Rafael Reina; Chapter 12 Compound Mukthays, Rafael Reina; Chapter 13 Yatis Prastara, Rafael Reina; Chapter 14 Double and Triple Mukthays, Rafael Reina…