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Classical purists hate it and will only use a just-tempered instrument like the tanpura for accompaniment (these things are used as scale-setting drones) but I don’t have the refined ear to have such subtle preferences. Yet I dislike the harmonium at a visceral level.
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Hmm. Duffy (begging you for mercy), some Adele, some Maroon 5, Dance Monkey (dance for me) seemed to hook me in a vaguely “raga” way. Oddly enough no conscious fusion attempts like George Harrison’s or John McLaughlin seems to hook me at all. I find that stuff dull.
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Replying to @vgr
are there examples of such songs that come to mind?
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Oddly enough I don’t really like jazz either though it’s often compared to raga. But besides the improv and call-and-response aspect, it’s actually quite different.
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And I now think improv vs composed is a relatively surface level aspect of music. I like a lot of semi-classical Indian music genres (ghazal, qawalli, kirtan) which is raga style but composed rather than improv.
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Heh the dominant tempo of raga music is very slow/slow/medium but it’s an acquired taste. Only the last 10-15% of a piece *might* go hard allegro and maybe allow the tabla or mridangam a solo riff.
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i know nothing about the tabala but HOLY this goes hard especially in the last 5 minutes or so music.youtube.com/watch?v=059QnV (thx @vgr)
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Percussion doesn’t even kick in till the second movement usually. As a kid, dragged to performances I’d hate the long first movement (aalap) and fidget till the percussion appeared, and only actually enjoy the end. As an adult my tastes flipped. I enjoy the aalap the most.
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I should make a calendar appointment to listen to music on purpose like once a year at least 🤔. I think it’s been 2-3 years since the last time. Not counting the time my wife dragged me to the symphony a few months ago (pretty good).
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End up going to a live thing (usually symphony) every year or so. Last non-classical thing was Buddy Guy in 2018 I think. Last Indian classical thing was probably 7-8 years ago. Most performers I like are either dead or very rarely tour the US.
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