Al Gromer Khan & Amelia Cuni - Monsoon Point (1995)

Al Gromer Khan & Amelia Cuni - Monsoon Point (1995)

Al Gromer Khan is probably best known for his superior sitar abilities, having been formally trained by the Khan-i-Gharana family of sitarists, a family which dates back to Mughal India. On this piece, Mr. Khan plays electronic keyboards of his own composition, which is accompanied by the accomplished Dhrupad singer Amelia Cuni.

Dhrupad is said to be the oldest form of vocalization/music originating in North India. It has become the basis for the classical form of Indian music, and its roots are said to be found in the recitation of sacred Sanskrit texts.

Traditional Dhrupad is in two major parts, alap and Dhrupad. Alap is vocalization without words, and is the meditative part of the traditional compositions. The second part, Dhrupad, is usually chanted accompanied by a two headed barrel shaped drum called a pakhawaj. The alap portion usually builds the raga and the dhrupad part becomes a worded chant in rhythm cycles. It is a very complex construction of composition, and to be a Dhrupad singer requires years of practice and a lifetime of devotion to the art form.

Al Gromer Khan provides a composition here that is soft, floating, never intrusive and allows for Ms. Cuni to fill the spaces between the keyboard accompaniment with her mellow vocals. I believe the piece never progresses beyond the alap form, allowing this to be a completely meditative composition.

To some people, dhrupad may be an acquired taste. If you are not familiar with this form of music it may seem foreign to the Western ear. However, Ms. Cuni's skills make this an excellent example of the art form. Mr. Khan has provided a background somewhere between Eastern and Western music styles, giving enough "Eastern Influence" to allow Ms. Cuni to not seem out of place, yet having enough "Western Influence" to allow the "Western" listener to find some hold on the music.

The style is floating, soft, like a still pool on a calm day, allowing Ms. Cuni to produce gentle ripples on the water. This is not traditional Dhrupad, which is why it works well to the Western ear. This is a very lovely work provided by both Al Gromer Khan and Amelia Cuni. (amazon.com)

Tracklist:

1. Monsoon Point 55:32

Al Gromer Khan & Amelia Cuni - Monsoon Point (1995)