http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DNwdbvDaj8
I took this picture while riding a camel in the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India. There were two young boys who followed us around playing these string instruments. They played some tunes familiar to us like "Mary had a Little Lamb" and some that were unfamiliar. They were walking for a while with some shepherds in the area. We also came upon a shepherd boy holding a baby lamb that we were told was only an hour old. The shepherds were mostly young boys with one older male leader. Neither the shepherds nor the boys playing music spoke much english so our camel guides did a lot of translating. Music comes in the most interesting places sometimes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUt12-4I1hE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQzzQSMhSMo&feature=related
This link talks about the storytelling aspect of kathak dance (the style shown in the video in class today). I don't remember if I mentioned that it is called kathak, but this is the same style. I think it's neat that the rhythm plays such a big part in the specifics of the movements. In western dance, it is ideal to move on the beats, but specific rhythms aren't as involved in determining what movements are done. I like this way of storytelling!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibDy3aLqu6Y
http://www.orientaltakht.com/
An all-female takht! Need I say more? They seem to be very well established and have traveled quite a bit in the middle east and around the world. Their website doesn't say much about the all-female aspect, but I'm sure that makes their traveling interesting, especially in certain countries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPYIcTJ5KOI&feature=related
Dr. Vaneman! You are right! MICHAEL JACKSON IS EVERYWHERE!!!!
It makes me so happy that you were able to get videos on your trip! That is the weirdest looking string instrument that I have ever seen. It is strange to me that Western influence would reach that far into the desert. I also really liked the dancing from class and that you were riding a camel.
ReplyDeleteThe videos are really cool. I haven't had the opportunity to travel much, so I think it is so awesome that you have and that you also have great footage from it! I really think the link that talks about the kathak dance and the story telling is very interesting. I also like this way of storytelling!
ReplyDeleteI love that you got videos on your trip. They were so much fun to watch. The string instrument was a little freaky, but still cool. They kids were just soooo cute.
ReplyDeleteYes, your videos were awesome! And the little boys in the photos are so cute! The all female takht is pretty interesting. Thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteWow Gwen! I'm so glad you had the opportunity to immerse yourself in that culture. Sometimes the coolest things are when music comes to us unexpectedly. I loved your videos! It was really cool to experience what you did through them.
ReplyDeleteGwen I am so jealous you got to travel and see everything you saw! How amazing it must have been to see the Taj Mahal and the wonderful people of this cutlure. The last video is definitely my favorite! Although the music was a lot different from MJ's music, boy can that little boy dance! All I could is watch and listen to the music as he "broke it down"! I really enjoyed all your videos Gwen. :)
ReplyDeleteI took this video while riding on a camel... Gwen your such an amazing person!!! and you videos are fabuolous!!!
ReplyDeleteI love that you were filming while on a camel. Thats awesome...question for you though...do camels really spit as much as everyone says they do? let me know..haha
ReplyDeleteThat is really neat! The little boy and his goat are adorable. I didn't know their where shepards in India.
ReplyDelete