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Reena Esmail

Composer

Magan Rehna

May 17, 2019 by

Program Notes

(forthcoming)

Recording

See video above.

For Beyond, a full length album of bhajan arrangements performed by Saili Oak and Salastina Music Society, composed by participants of the Shastra Summer Collaborative, click here.

Special Performance Requirements

This piece requires a Western classical string quartet, and a Hindustani singer.

The piece is relatively challenging for the string quartet, so a student ensemble would only be able to handle it at an extremely high level.

For Hindustani singers, the piece works like a standard bhajan (with the exception of a sargam section at the end that will need to be memorized, as the quartet will be imitating you in a jugalbandi style — you are the sawal and they are the jawab).

This piece is not written with the Western classical voice in mind. However, the score does provide a notated version of the bhajan (in simple notation – you would need to listen to the recording, available here [LINK to the Spotify link of Mag Rehna] to get the nuances in each phrase. Especially if you are familiar with pronunciation of Indian languages, it is certainly possible for the intrepid Western classical singer who wants to try something a little different! (Bear in mind, the Hindustani voice is often lower than the western voice – so it will fit better in the mezzo/alto range)

Text

(forthcoming)

Premiere/Performances

This piece was commissioned by Saili Oak for her album Beyond. It was premiered on May 10, 2019 at Oak’s album release, Beyond LIVE! at Rosebud Coffee in Pasadena, CA

Related Catalog Items

  • Aria
  • Ram Tori Maya – two Hindustani singers and string quartet (original)
  • Meri Sakhi Ki Avaaz (My Sister’s Voice) -chamber orchestra
  • Meri Sakhi Ki Avaaz (My Sister’s Voice) -Piano Quintet

$35.00Select Purchase Options

Instrumentation: Hindustani vocalist and string quartet

Duration: 6′

Year: 2019

Movements: 1

Languages: Hindi

Written for: Saili Oak

Program Notes

Recording

Special Performance Requirements

Text

Premiere/Performances

Copyright © 2023 Reena Esmail | All Rights Reserved.