Interactive Poll: Sounds of Asia

Edited by Mila-13 - September 06 2021 at 10:03

my three choices

The Anders wrote: Geinoh Yamashirogumi: Osorezan JPN Are they eating celery in the quiet choir section towards the end?

  

There were 9 solid contenders for the first 3 spots for me.  Finally, narrowed it down to 6, then made choices between the 6.

Edited by Snicolette - September 07 2021 at 13:22

The Anders wrote: First batch: Kodo: Stomp JPN This one is very short with two guys playing a big drum against each other as were it a boxing match. Personally I would like to hear more as it is a bit difficult to judge this when it's only one minute. It sounds to me like it is part of something else, and that it needs to be heard in the context.

I actually think it's just a short tune.What I love about it is the double bass rhythm effect from the "backside" drummer. I wish it was longer too. They used to run a festival at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto called 'Supercussion'.  Drum and rhythm bands from all over the world. It had some cool acts.

Edited by Lewian - September 07 2021 at 16:13

^ An interesting read. I don't think it's all subjective and would argue that one can be more objective when one has greater knowledge and familiarity. And while personal biases are a common factor in appreciation, one can utilise frameworks of analysis for a more objective evaluation within that framework (even if biases are behind the framework). It's harder to judge when you don't have as many reference points and you haven't learnt "the musical language" so much. My issue sometimes is when people without adequate justification claim something to be good or bad from an objective standpoint, yet it clearly comes down to personal taste and often lack of experience from that person when it comes to bad (the right comparisons help). I don't take a deeply analytical approach to how I choose in these, I'd say that I go with what most appeals to me in some way.

Edited by Mila-13 - September 08 2021 at 13:16

JD wrote: [QUOTE=jamesbaldwin] Small dissertation Congratulations. Excellent post. You have discovered the golden egg of this poll. Sometimes you have to put it all aside. Just put it on the shelf and take a leap of faith. I'm sure someone more famous than me once said "I may not know much about Asian music...But I know what I like !"

  Well said, JD and also, Lorenzo!

This was an interesting and diverse edition, in terms of cultural backgrounds or musical genres. I would like to thank you all for being part of this musical journey!

Since many of you have already commented on the submitted songs or musical pieces  I decided to add just a few details about the instrumentation or cultural backgrounds.

On one hand we got to hear pure ethnic music from Bali and Tibet, the latter with a religious connotation and on the other hand different kinds of fusion with ethnic or folk elements, plus a few exceptions.

Ethnic Music

Kodo

is a Japanese taiko drum ensemble."Taiko" are a broad range of Japanese percussion drums. In Japanese the term refers to any kind of drum, but outside Japan, it is used specifically to refer to any of the various Japanese drums called wadaiko. They are still used today in religious ceremonies as well as in folk festivals such as thanksgiving and in the past in warfare.

Dewa Alit & Gamelan Salukat: 

A music ensemble from Bali playing “gamelan”, their traditional ensemble music where various traditional percussive instruments are used i.a. metallophones played by mallets and a set of hand-played drums called "kendhang", which register the beat. The "kemanak" (a banana shaped idiophone) and "gangsa" (another metallophone) are commonly used gamelan instruments in Java.

Balinese Monkey Chant 

is a “kecak”, a form of Balinese Hindu dance and music drama that was developed in the 1930s in Bali and is traditionally primarily performed by men.

The Monks of the Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery

Ritual Music of Tibetan Buddhism: Musical chanting, most often in Tibetan or Sanskrit, is an integral part of the religion. These chants are complex, often recitations of sacred texts or in celebration of various festivals. 

Yang chanting, performed without metrical timing, is accompanied by resonant drums and low, sustained syllables. Each instrument mimics the sound of an animal, the drums being the footsteps of elephants and the horns mimic bird calls. Individual schools and even individual monasteries, maintain their own chant traditions. 

to be continued

Edited by Mila-13 - September 10 2021 at 17:53