CALL TO PRAYER

Indian raga in dialogue with baroque viol music from Marin Marais

Romina Lischka, with her western classical music background and knowledge of the North Indian dhrupad, and the classical Arabian vocalist Ghalia Benali, with her openness and interest in other musical
styles, share a passion for the music of Marin Marais (1656-1728). The French gamba virtuoso Marais, a student of the mysterious Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe (1640-1700), composed around 500 pieces for the
gamba and brought the instrument to fame in the French Baroque. Ghalia and Romina first musically met with Marais’ Pièces de Viole. By listening to each other and exchanging musical thoughts about different styles and cultures, Ghalia and Romina developed a dialogue where they attempt to capture the common spirit of Arabian maqams, Indiase ragas and the impressionistic moods of Marais’ works.

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