Next is an interesting work by the current master of Bollywood music, A R Rahman. This piece was performed at a festival in Sydney and represents a fusion of the traditional sitar music of India and modern music. Rahman can be seen playing the piano. He is an Oscar winner for his score for the recent hit, "Slumdog Millionaire".
Lastly is an example of Greek Rembetika music. This music originated in the mass exodus of ethnic Greeks from the coastline of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in 1922. These 2 million Greeks were forced out of their homes by the advancing Turkish army and settled in the slums of cities in Greece since the land was too small to hold them all. This music has been called Greek Blues. This recording is by Rita Abatzi, one of these emigrants. The name of the song is Yia Pes Mou Afti Pou Agapas (Tell Me About the Woman You Love). The recording is from an old 78 and dates back to the 1940s. She stopped recording after World War II and died in 1967. Enjoy!
Let me just say that I love the second video. I especially like fusion music of any kind, and so far this is probably my favorite piece of music that I've heard that has anything to do with India. And I can't believe how fast that the sitar player's fingers can move! Thanks Jane, I now have a new YouTube video to keep on for background music.
ReplyDeleteWOW! The second video was just great. Out of all the "fusion" music I have heard, that is one of my tops. That Sitar player was just mind blowing. I waiting to see smoke or something, it was so fast. Really great pick Jane.
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