A Potpourri of Vestiges Feature
The
majestic Mehrangarh Fort will play host to over 250 artists at the 12th edition
of Jodhpur RIFF from 10-14 October, under the brightest full moon of the
year. Music plays a key role in the transmission of cultural heritage and
mirrors the society that we live in. And more so, it’s root and traditional
forms.
Committed to premiering novel collaborations,
programming fresh and compelling music and providing professional opportunities
for both legendary and emerging performers, Jodhpur RIFF has always had a
line-up of a diverse range of performances, spanning multiple genres and
styles.
This
year is no exception: an unusual musical alliance between Rajasthani and Irish
musicians called 'Citadels of the Sun;' the ancient Armenian duduk (a double
reed, woodwind instrument) played by maestro Emmanuel Hovhannisyan in
collaboration with Swiss-based Authentic Light Orchestra lead by Valeri Tolstov
and Veronika Stalder; maestros Ballake Sissoko from Mali on the kora, the
ghatam legend Padma Bhushan T.H.Vikku Vinayakram and the incredible Muzikas
from Hungary.
For
the first time, the iconic RIFF Rustle is led by a woman - the fantastic
Havana-born Yissy Garcia and percussionist Marypaz from Cuba.
Announcing
the Jodhpur RIFF 2019 edition, Patron of the festival, HH Maharaja Gaj Singh II
of Marwar-Jodhpur said, “I am
happy with the role played by the festival in India’s cultural landscape and
the positive impact it has had on our music ecosystem and the livelihood of the
folk musicians. The enthusiasm with which the festival started 13 years ago,
has not ebbed, only further increased, and with a far more meaningful
resonance.”
Echoing
his sentiments, Festival Director, Mr. Divya Bhatia said: “Jodhpur RIFF
provides a platform that recognises, acknowledges, respects and celebrates our
Rajasthani intangible heritage. Moreover, it creates opportunities and
facilitates the judicious use of resources for the revitalisation of this heritage
- providing inspiration, opportunities, engagement and reward
(livelihood) for the traditional artists. I am glad that we have retained our
standing across the world as India's premiere international roots music
festival, with its freshness and qualitative edge intact.”
Jodhpur
RIFF 2019 highlights include:
IN
RESIDENCE
Jogi
music traditions of Mewat featuring Ram Swaroop Jogi, Babunath Jogi, Yusuf
Khan, Mehbub Khan and others-custodians of music and storytelling traditions
of the region under the patronage of a variety of Rajput nobility.
Monika
Gour, Kadar Khan Langa, Ghevar Manganiyar, Sumitra Devi, Aidan Singh Bhati,
Shankar Singh Rajpurohit evoke the richness of contemporary Rajasthani poetry
and popular and epic folk songs.
LIVING
LEGENDS
More ritual than
performance, the priests and followers of Jasnath ji ke Bhope are believers in
Shakti, the divine female energy principle expressed through their relation
with fire. Unique to their tradition, their daily practice includes
the control of senses, walking on burning cow dung to trance-like music,
feeling the energy of the universe flow through them.
Hakam
Khan Manganiyar, an elder of the community and is a custodian of the rich
repertoire of the Manganiyar vocal traditions.
Rawata
Ram Shekhawati Rawata ji, custodian of the dhol thali nritya with his group
from Shekhawati. A farmer-led, entirely improvised dance celebrating the
success of a new crop.
Kachara
Khan Manganiyar - internationally renowned sufi folk singer.
RIFF
DAWN concerts
Meghwals
of Marwar: Traditionally, weavers, Meghwal are known for their contribution to
embroidery and the textile industry, and for the rich folklore they nurture.
Bhallu Ram, Teja Ram and Parbhu Ram will sing the poetry of popular and the
saint poets of Rajasthan.
Nirguni
songs of Rajasthan, an amazing tradition, led by the soft and lilting vocals
Bhaga Khan Manganiyar and Mahesha Ram Meghwal.
Valeri
Tolstov multi-instrumentalist and composer, Andrew Cronshaw zither-player and
heavily influenced by traditional Finnish, Scots Gaelic and North Iberian music
& Carnatic vocalist extraordinaire Mahesh Vinayakram - collaborate
with Asin Langa, young Sindhi Sarangi maestro and Darra Manganiyar, master of
the kamaicha.
Bir
Singh is a singer and lyricist based out of Amritsar, Punjab. With his
versatility, original and nuanced writing and a bold voice, this multifaceted
singer has made a mark for himself in Punjabi folk.
MAIN
STAGE
Sumitra
Devi in her mellifluous vocals along with other young women singers, who are
breaking gender and social norms by reclaiming their space in folk music will
perform at the opening night concert and will presents a variety of
riveting performances reflecting the diversity of traditional Rajasthani music
and excerpts.
Womanly
Voices seeks to bring to the fore voices of women singers from the folk
traditions of Rajasthan. While women from these traditions perform in their own
communities, it is rare to see them present their work on mainstream stages.
Artists like Mohini Devi who will be singing in both the jogi Kalbeliya
tradition as well as in maand, Rajasthan’s unique contribution to the
Hindustani music repertoire; and mother daughter duo Ganga and Sunder, who sing
spiritual songs in their own inimitable style.
Israeli
musician Noam Vazana who goes by the stage name ‘Nani’ is an acclaimed singer,
composer, pianist and trombonist who brings a breath of fresh air into the jazz
and world music landscape with her hypnotic vocals – her timeless compositions
blending Middle Eastern music, North African beats & her own Ethnic-Jazz
songs.
Citadels
of the Sun are a new two-part creative collaboration that emerges from the many
folklore and historical connections between India and Ireland, from the origins
of the Irish and Indian fiddle to our shared colonial past. The band features
some of the best musicians from Donegal and Rajasthan.
Voita
re-presents the maloya, Reunion Island’s vibrant symbol of creole culture.
Banned until the 1980s, maloya’s strident vocal calls, chanted responses and
complex percussion rhythms originated with the slaves brought to work on the
sugar plantations and became a weapon of resistance. With a mix of African and
Indian slave cultures and a deep
respect for the traditions of the past, Voita’s music laces legacy with
present-day Reunion Island relevance, opening traditional maloya to new and
wider horizons.
Legendary
folk songs of Marwar by some of the regions’ master musicians such as Sugna
Devi, Lakha Khan, Kadar and Asgar Langa, Daya Ram, Barkat and Talab Manganiyar,
a special showcase of some of the most unusual, significant, and legendary
songs of the desert regions of Marwar and its vicinity.
Ballake
Sissoko considered as one of the most important musicians of his generation is
a Malian virtuoso kora player and composer. His performances are known to
entrance audiences in his suave and crystalline sonority, magnified by his
talent as a melodist and an improviser. He is the first local kora player to
master musical styles typical of the Western guitar while still being able to
maintain the traditional West African rhythmic structures required for dancing.
Karolina
Cicha is a singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and one-woman-orchestra,
Karolina is known for her masterful vocals with accordion in one hand, keyboard
in another and drums by her feet.
Legendary
Hungarian folk band Muzsikas who have been considered to have pioneered the
global popularity of Hungarian folk music that is now a well-established niche
in the roots and world music scenes.
Rajasthani
Brass celebrates Rajasthan’s vibrancy and colour as folk musicians will
collaborate with Mehrangarh’s own house brass band - an ensemble on trumpet,
trombone, euphonium, clarinet, bass and other instruments, presenting a heady,
exciting musical reflection of this enchanting region.
Authentic
Light Orchestra, founded by Swiss multi-instrumentalist with Armenian roots,
Valeri Tolstov, combines different musical genres such as jazz, elements of
Armenian folk and modern composition. The band brings freshness to roots music,
with a new musical language and distinctive sound
Pandit
Vikku Vinayakram-Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and Grammy Award winning Indian
percussionist 1991. He has performed globally and is credited for popularising
the ancient percussion instrument ghatam (an earthen mud pot) across the world.
DESERT
LOUNGE
It
is an unusual, moon-lit, rustic musical experience under the stars at midnight
in the tranquility of a revitalised desert park. The night features a variety
of traditional Rajasthani acoustic performances from the various jogi
traditions of Mewat – a Mewati evening of original and traditional poetry,
often satirical, sometimes cheeky and sometimes an unusual telling of epic
myths and stories by Babunath jogi, Yusuf Khan and others
Danish
Husain Badayuni and his troupe of musicians and qawaal from the Rampur Seheswan
gharana will present regional, folk and sufi Qawaali renditions.
DANCE
BOOT CAMPS
Musically
led by legendary folk super group Muzsikas participants will get a fantastic
opportunity to get insights and guidance first-hand from expert dancers, the
unbelievable Hanga Kacsó and Béla Szerényi. The fantastic Asha Sapera will
facilitate a Ghoomar workshop usually performed by women in groups wearing colourful,
mirror-embedded ghaghra (flowing skirts) and covering their faces with a
matching coloured veil.
MOONRISE
SESSION
Pushkar
Lele, one of India’s young and sought-after North Indian classical vocalists
from Gwalior gharana debuts at Jodhpur RIFF, under the rising moon. With rarely
heard compositions in his rich and sonorous voice, Pushkar will uncover the
deep intricacies of Kumar Gandharva’s unique gayaki acquired from over two
decades of study and training.
CLUB
MEHRAN
Producer/
DJ Jose Marquez presents a hot set of Afro, Latin and World dance grooves and
beats.
RIFF
RUSTLE
RIFF
Rustle is our largest, impromptu collaboration performance that concludes the
festival's night time revelries. Every year, the festival appoints one musician
as a 'rustler', who then rustles up other musicians from the festival to
participate in this performance in pairs or quartets or altogether.
This
year the young, highly skilled and accomplished Yissy Garcia will be our
“rustler”. She is a composer and drummer and one of the most powerful artists
of a new generation of Cuban musicians. With her creative impulses and grooves,
her wide-ranging experience with compositions and collaborations that run
across different musical genres and styles, she gathers musicians to come and
jam with her and compatriot Mary de La Paz, collaborating with Rajasthani
musicians and curating a set for the Rustle.
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