CONTEMPORARY RAGA #02: AMALA


EN - The Raga Amala ( Pure in Sanskrit ) is the second in the series of the open collection Contemporary Raga. The song has a sinuous and mysterious character and uses a eastern scale and melody. Again, as in the case of the Raga Udaya, the recording was done in the natural setting of the beach. The philosophy remains the same, only minimal equipment and post production was adopted for the realization of this raga: an ordinary smartphone, a hand recorder and a little speaker for the shruti box in the background. For this you can sometimes hear the waves’ roar and the wind howling. I believe this relatively lo-fi approach is the one that better pictures the feeling of being there in the moment, just like a polaroid. It’s also a way to encourage everyone to produce their own music whatever the conditions. Capturing art in this way makes it affordable to anyone and doesn’t diminish the quality of your work. In this regard digital technology can be used effectively at your own advantage. This music is created within a broader research project in music therapy in Indonesia and has both therapeutic and artistic purposes.



IT - Il Raga Amala ( Puro in sanscrito ) è il secondo nella serie della collezione aperta Contemporary Raga. La composizione ha un carattere misterioso e sinuoso e impiega una scala e melodia orientali. Anche in questo caso, come nel caso del Raga Udaya, la ripresa è stata effettuata nella cornice naturale della spiaggia. La filosofia non cambia, per la realizzazione di questo raga è stata impiegata un'attrezzatura minima e poco lavoro di post produzione: sono stati sufficienti un comune smartphone, un registratore tascabile e un piccolo altoparlante per lo shruti box in sottofondo. Per questo motivo a volte si può sentire il fragore delle onde e l'ululato del vento. Credo che questo approccio relativamente lo-fi sia quello che meglio restituisce la sensazione del momento, proprio come in una polaroid. È anche un modo per incoraggiare a produrre la propria musica in qualsiasi condizione. Fotografare l'arte in questo modo la rende accessibile a chiunque senza per questo svilire la qualità del proprio lavoro. A questo proposito la tecnologia digitale può essere utilizzata efficacemente a proprio vantaggio. Questa musica è stata realizzata nell'ambito di un più ampio progetto di ricerca in musicoterapia in Indonesia e ha scopi sia terapeutici che artistici.


photo Harimukti Rosida, Kondang Merak, Indonesia
Location: Kondang Merak Beach, East Java, Indonesia

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