Ancient Ireland Meets India

The Irish bass trumpet shown here features on Ancient Music of Ireland Vol 1 – A New Acoustic Colour – with PALEOSONIC Kontakt instrument. https://www.ancientmusicireland.com/sound-library In this video clip you will hear Dr. Deepak Paramashivan who is a scientist turned ethnomusicologist, composer, teacher and an actor. He is a leading authority on Sarangi – the instrument he plays here. Simon O’Dwyer – Co-Founder – Ancient Music Ireland plays a reproduction bass Bronze Age trumpet – Dord ĺseal. In October 2016 Ancient Music Ireland were invited to present Bronze and Iron Age Irish trumpets at the ANIMUSIC, 5th International Scientific Meeting for Sound and Musical Instruments, Organological Congress, Tomar, Portugal. Deepak Paramashinvan, a classical player from India/Canada was one of the delegates. He sang and played a 40 stringed instrument named sarangi, he used ‘itanpura software’ to provide the accompanying drone. This performance took place at the Convent of Christ Templar Castle of Tomar. Afterwards, Simon O’Dwyer, co-founder of Ancient Music Ireland approached Deepak and proposed a musical collaboration, whereby Simon would play a continuous overtone on the bass Bronze Age Irish trumpet in place of the ‘itanpura’ software on this occasion as accompaniment to a classical Indian song and the sarangi. The Irish instrument is a reproduction of an original from Co. Kerry, South West of Ireland circa 700 BC. Once Simon demonstrated the sound, Deepak was very interested in the idea. Together they arranged to perform the collaboration for the delegates at the conference. After locating a rehearsal space – a practice session took place. They worked out tuning for the piece. The Indian ‘sarangi’ stringed instrument was tuned a little sharp of E. The bronze mouthpiece on the Irish trumpet was in E flat but O’Dwyer had a plastic version tuned to E. He was able to shorten it enough to bring the two instruments into the same key. For the performance, which was played in a lecture theatre later that evening, Deepak sat in his usual cross-legged pose, however, O’Dwyer preferred to have his legs straight out in front. It was decided that both musicians should be at the same height. The performance was received with huge enthusiasm from the audience who were mostly musicians, scientists and musicologists. Ancient Music Ireland have been in touch with Deepak and there are plans to explore another collaboration between the instruments of ancient Ireland and classical India. You will find the outstanding catalogue of work including the ‘sarangi’ by Deepak here https://www.deepakparamashivan.com/