Santoor: Old Meets New

"Santoor Navazan" Breaking with traditional music

from Monda
14-Dec-2011
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Bavafa

Different yet fantastic…

by Bavafa on Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:10 AM PST

I enjoy breaking and exploring new ways, especially if they are equally or more enjoyable.  This certainly falls into that category for me.

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad


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Monda

Ari, Arj, rtayebi1, Miko

by Monda on Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:44 AM PST

Ari jan, being the accomplished artist that you are, I am glad my reasoning made sense to you.

Dear Arj, Thank you so much for the education. I had no idea how the instrument was manipulated to achieve this sound. I agree with you, the innovative talents are abound and truly respectable!

Miko, I look forward to hearing them Live as well. 

rTayebi1, glad you enjoyed.


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Miko

Awesome!

by Miko on Wed Dec 14, 2011 09:14 PM PST

I loved it,I wish I could see them live. Thanks for the clip Monda.

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Arj

Re the gimick

by Arj on Thu Dec 15, 2011 07:11 AM PST

Dear Monda, indeed, it is a gimick, and quite innovative I might add! These guys, by manually dampening the strings, manipulate the resonance of santoor and expand its limits, hence changing the whole dynamics of the instrument!

Evidently, they are not claiming to be a traditional band, but simply using a traditional instrument to experiment with modern concepts! That's how the new generation of Iranians are; instead of dismissing the tradition, they try to bridge it to modern ideas! Perhaps, that's what sets our population apart from, let's say; Iraq, Lbiya or even India, for they either are stuck in the tradition or totally ditch it for something extremely foreign that makes them look foolish!


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rtayebi1

I just loved it

by rtayebi1 on Wed Dec 14, 2011 07:34 PM PST

I thought it was great.


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Ari Siletz

Monda

by Ari Siletz on Wed Dec 14, 2011 07:01 PM PST

Good points!


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Monda

Enjoyable gimmick!

by Monda on Wed Dec 14, 2011 06:15 PM PST

I can understand how this could offend the true traditionalist ears. If the players enjoyed their hearts out playing what the composer enjoyed creating for/ innovating on the new santoor, And some of us enjoyed hearing it, then the gimmick works, no? As far as compositional necessity goes, I didn't find this the first time the contradiction pleasantly worked on the ears. 


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Ari Siletz

Gimmicky!

by Ari Siletz on Wed Dec 14, 2011 01:23 PM PST

Why use a santoor ensemble to play a composition that can be delivered much more powerfully in a standard ensemble which includes, say, bowed strings and drums? Or if the idea is to use a traditional instrument, why compose a melody that is devoid of traditional references? There is no compositional necessity that explains the unusual ensemble of instruments. Overall an enjoyable piece, but from the creative point of view, the appeal is mostly to novelty.


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Arj

Absolutely perfect!

by Arj on Wed Dec 14, 2011 08:43 AM PST

Beautiful music! Reminiscent of the 80s electronic music (Jean michel Jarre, APP...), yet no synthesizers and totally unplugged! Simply genius!!


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