ancient music

Are you ready to take on a musical journey from the Patagonian Mountains that will immediately transport you to the ancient world? This is a podcast unlike any you have heard before...

We know the importance of music in ancient Greece; the backdrop to every ceremony, festival and religious endeavor it also accompanied dinners, symposiums, and literature itself. Indeed, the plays and poems we love so dearly were all sung...

But what did ancient music sound like? What instruments and melodies did they use? And how can we reconstruct these ancient sounds today?

Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with Argentine luthier and musician Alberto Magnin and Classical Wisdom’s former editor, Kristin Deasy; they will take you on an investigation of ancient instruments that will deepen your cultural understanding of the ancient world, bringing sound to history.

Best of all, Alberto and Kristin will perform ancient melodies on ancient instruments... immediately transporting you to another time and place.

To learn more about Classical Wisdom Speaks, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com

You can find Alberto Magnin’s music on:
Sound Cloud - https://soundcloud.com/albertomagnin
Apple music - https://music.apple.com/ar/artist/alberto-magnin/904106327
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/63Vv31lt7Bh3kIRUlEcWVC
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChNkl3qhlnjMhphWGyTNixw

Following the previous interview with Gundecha Brothers, who dedicated their lives to continuing this style of music, we present the part II of the talk, where among other interesting insights, the main topics covered are:

The importance of Sanskrit and the connection between Dhrupad and this language, the three notes used in the Vedic chanting style, and the difference between mantra chanting and mantra singing.

Dhrupad claims the distinction of being the oldest form of Indian Classical music heard today, its origin can be traced back to the chanting of Vedic hymns and mantras. The birth of Dhrupad as we know it today coincided with the Bhakti movement and consequently was more devotional in nature. It was rendered in temples facing the the Divinity full of devotion and bhaav, this was the genesis of what became known as Haveli Dhrupad/Sangeet.

Dhrupad is a body of spiritual and mystical knowledge to be practiced with devotion (Bhakthi) and dedication (Shraddha). It is primarily an act of submission to one's inner spirit, not a tool for entertainment.

The Gundecha Brothers  from Ujjain, India are classical vocalists of the Dhrupad genre of the Dagar Vani (a tradition of classical Dhrupad of 20 generations tracking back to Swami Haridas.) From 1985 to 2019 the duo consisted of brothers Umakant Gundecha and Ramakant Gundecha and were awarded the Padma Sri for art for 2012. Following the death of Ramakant Gundecha in 2019, his son Anant began to perform with Umakant in the Gundecha Bandhu. They also run a Dhrupad institute outside Bhopal, India, where they teach students from all over the world according to the guru–shishya tradition, or parampara ("lineage"), denoting a succession of teachers and disciples.

"Dhrupad is the search of the ultimate, the search for a true sound, the eternal sound, the sound of the cosmos. Dhrupad is Nada Yoga - the yoga of sound. It is the best way to get yourself into a calm, peaceful state of mind." Umakant Gundecha

"In Dhrupad, we sing the notes in their pure form. Both the performers as well as the listeners experience the life energy in these notes. Dhrupad is therefore really about going deep into the essence of everything, including oneself. You can see yourself through Dhrupad." Ramakant Gundecha

In the series of the three podcasts from a meeting with one of the most well-known Dhrupad singers from India namely GUNDECHA BROTHERS, the first part covers the insights about the connection between Dhrupad and Naad Yoga or Yoga of Sound, as well as Dhrupad’s approach towards the concept of BHAVA or expression and RASA or flavor. In India we say, “If it’s not touching your soul, it’s not music,” and this music has this intrinsic power.

This very statement describes the potential of this music from India which has been one of the most ancient forms of music. It was traditionally performed only in temples, as an offering to the deities. That is why even now, the sounds and vibrations of Dhrupad are able to take a listener into a very deep state of silence and serenity.

“The ultimate goal of Dhrupad is to reach a state of thoughtlessness.” Umakant Gundecha

Dhrupad is said to be the oldest existing form of North Indian classical music and it has continued due to the persistence and dedication of different masters who have passed it from generation to generation along the centuries.

Due to its strict adherence to purity, learning Dhrupad is very difficult. It takes years of rigorous and painstaking practice, involving many hours - eight or more - of singing everyday, before a Dhrupad student can reach a stage when he will be ready to perform competently. These early years of total devotion to learning also mean total financial dependence, as the student does not have the time to earn a living. In the past, the teacher took care of the needs of students, so that they could commit themselves completely to the study of music. 


You can also watch part of the talk in Youtube : https://youtu.be/8_s-SiLOjkU