On 26/09/2013 19:56, Braig, Eugene wrote:
Truly intriguing. Thanks, Stuart!
Eugene
Thanks Eugene. I could also have said that - in the little piece I
played (and probably generally) - the bits of harmony in the guitar part
are sometimes quite different from the keyboard version. I'm sure there
is a dissertation here, if it hasn't been done already!!
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
WALSH STUART
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2013 2:52 PM
To: lutelist Net
Subject: [LUTE] Indian 'English' guitar music from Calcutta, 1789
I came across a curiosity on IMSLP - "The Oriental Miscellany; being a collection of the
most favourite Airs of Hindoostan, compiled and adapted for the Harpsichord &c. By William
Hamilton Bird." (Calcutta, 1789). The '&c' in the title is the guitar! There is a quite
lengthy section of the Airs set for the guitar at the end.
I wondered if these 'Hindoostanni Airs' were simply dreamed up in Covent Garden by
someone who had never set foot in India but a quick search online reveals that William
Hamilton Bird did live and work in India (and publish this book) - and later died in
Dublin. A feature on the harpsichord player, Jane Chapman, says that " the
publication was the first collection of Indian music transcribed from live performance
into Western notation and adapted for harpsichord."
In the Introduction to the Oriental Miscellany, Bird writes:"The greatest imperfection,
however, in the music of every part of India, is the total want of accompanyments; a third, or
fifth, are additions, the Compiler, during a residence of nineteen years in this country, and with
the most favorable opportunities, has never heard..." and he says "he has taken great
pains to bring them [the airs] into form as to TIME."
But he does claim to "have adhered to the original compositions."
Sometimes he adds variations - to make the music less 'insipid'. Bird implies
that all these pieces are songs. He does not mention instrumental music.
There is no mention in the Introduction of the guitar section at the end. The
music in the section for the guitar is all in C (occasionally A
minor) and mostly single lines but with full C major chords every so often.
This must surely be the wire-strung 'English' guitar (guittar).
some of the guittar setting have a low G so a seven-course instrument is
sometimes called for.
I've had a quick go at one of the Airs (It does seems a bit odd!), Dandera
Vakee. In the guitar version it is marked, Con Spirito. The keyboard version is
in A and Vivace. It's a 'Terana' (Bird describes the Terana as sung only by
men). And I think he is saying that the piece comes from Serodes (?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0UdyOgdjA0
Stuart
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