This is another stellar release in the JVC (Japan Victor Corporation) World Sounds series with great music, generally called Odissi, from the eastern state of Orisha in India that accompanies a form of classical dance that, as the liners note, "is known for the sculpture-like poses of the dancers" and which was said to be influenced by temple sculptures.
It is added that this form of dance and music began with temple prayers with maharis, or young women who danced for the gods while residing in the religious edifices. In later times, however, the performance of orissi took place in courts and at festivals, but, despite the location changes, the components remained intact.
While the music here is by those from Orisha, the notes remark that the use of raga melody and tala rhythms originated with the Karnatic tradition of South India, though elements also come from the state of Bengal to the north. The five instruments include the pakhawaj, a dual-headed drum; the violin, the bansuri, or flute; the manjiri, or gong; and the harmonium, while there are also male and female vocals.
The pieces consist of two pallavi, in which "a simple rhythm gradually grows in complexity" and "the vocal line forming the melody consists entire of meaningless syllables," which, to this listener, means that the voice is one of the instruments. The third tune, a dashaavatara is a hymn from the Gita Govinda and concerns a description of ten incarnations of the god Vishnu. Yami He, or "To Whom Shall I Go?" also is taken from that ancient work and is about a female shepherd waiting for the arrival of the god Krishna. Lastly, Yahi Madhava ("Go Over There") reflects the shepherd reprimanding the god after arriving following an assignation with another woman.
Being a massive country within a subcontinent, India has a remarkable diversity in its music and the Orissi Dance Music recorded here in 1986, with the troupe performing at a JVC studio in Tokyo, is representative of a merging of styles from adjoining areas of the Orisha state. The performances are exquisite, including the singing as well as the instrumental playing and the sound quality is stellar. Multiple listening is a treat because it is both an aural excursion to eastern India, but also time traveling through a tradition dating back many centuries.
