Tabla Concerto

A note from composer Dinuk Wijeratne about his Tabla Concerto:

1. Canons, Circles
2. Folk song: ‘White in the moon the long road lies
(that leads me from my love)’
3. Garland of Gems

While the origins of the Tabla are somewhat obscure, it is evident that this ‘king’ of Indian percussion instruments has achieved global popularity for the richness of its timbre, and for the virtuosity of a rhythmically complex repertoire that cannot be separated from the instrument itself. In writing a large-scale work for Tabla and Symphony Orchestra, it is my hope to allow each entity to preserve its own aesthetic. Perhaps, at the same time, the stage will be set for some new discoveries.

While steeped in tradition, the Tabla lends itself heartily to innovation, and has shown its cultural versatility as an increasingly sought-after instrument in contemporary Western contexts such as Pop, Film Music, and World Music Fusion. This notion led me to conceive of an opening movement that would do the not-so-obvious by placing the Tabla first in a decidedly non-Indian context. Here, initiated by a quasi-Baroque canon in four parts, the music quickly turns into an evocation of one my favourite genres of electronic music: ‘Drum-&-Bass’, characterised by rapid ‘breakbeat’ rhythms in the percussion. Of course, there are some North-Indian Classical musical elements present. The whole makes for a rather bizarre stew that reflects globalisation, for better or worse!

A brief second movement becomes a short respite from the energy of the outer movements, and offers a perspective of the Tabla as accompanist in the lyrical world of Indian folk-song. Set in ‘dheepchandhi’, a rhythmic cycle of 14 beats, the gently lilting gait of theTabla rhythm supports various melodic fragments that come together to form an ephemeral love-song.

Typically, a Tabla player concluding a solo recital would do so by presenting a sequence of short, fixed (non-improvised) compositions from his/her repertoire. Each mini-composition, multi-faceted as a little gem, would often be presented first in the form of a vocal recitation. The traditional accompaniment would consist of a drone as well as a looping melody outlining the time cycle – a ‘nagma’ – against which the soloist would weave rhythmically intricate patterns of tension and release. I wanted to offer my own take on a such a recital finale, with the caveat that the orchestra is no bystander. In this movement, it is spurred on by the soloist to share in some of the rhythmic complexity. The whole movement is set in ‘teentaal’, or 16-beat cycle, and in another departure from the traditional norm, my nagma kaleidoscopically changes colour from start to finish. I am indebted to Ed Hanley for helping me choose several ‘gems’ from the Tabla repertoire, although we have certainly had our own fun in tweaking a few, not to mention composing a couple from scratch.

© Dinuk Wijeratne 2011

 

“The piece is fantastic, complex, and brilliant. The orchestration and solo writing are masterful. I didn’t think one could pull off [such] a concerto, but Dinuk did. I don’t know of anything like it. The audience went crazy after it for good reason.” John Corigliano

“This is simply the best Western Classical piece written for my instrument”– Sandeep Das, Grammy-winning tabla player; Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble

“Dinuk Wijeratne’s Tabla Concerto is a breath of fresh air in the repertoire – a vibrant, colourful piece that orchestras love to play, and audiences will never forget.” JoAnn Falletta, Music Director: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & Virginia Symphony Orchestra; Principal Conductor: the Ulster Orchestra

“Dinuk is one of the most gifted musicians I know. His Tabla Concerto is a pioneering work of musical fusion, a seamless integration of the most complex aspects of North Indian Classical Tabla music into a totally Western model.”– Bernhard Gueller, Music Director: Symphony Nova Scotia

“Dinuk Wijeratne’s Tabla Concerto is a fresh, engaging, cross-cultural, embracing and original piece, which blends cultures marvellously. Combined with Sandeep Das’ virtuosity and energy as soloist, the concerto delighted both audience and orchestra at its US premieres. To include tabla recitation in the last movement was a stroke of genius.”– Alastair Willis, Music Director: Illinois Symphony Orchestra

“Dinuk’s Concerto for Tabla and Orchestra is utterly spectacular. From the moment it begins, you are drawn into an evocative world where cultures have no barriers, and co-exist in a way that is completely natural. Add to that a high octane, colourful score and everyone…musicians, audience, conductor…all leave excited and looking for more!”– Robert Franz, Music Director: Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Boise Philharmonic

Tabla 101

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Our featured Vibrant Light soloist Shawn Mativetsky is a course lecturer at the Schulich School of Music.  He was a part of Shulich’s Short Form Studies and created a guide that takes you through rhythmic applications inspired by the music of North India. It begins with an introduction to the tabla and includes a permutation exercise to include in your practice sessions!

It’s a great introduction to the tabla and a sneak peek into what we will experience with Dinuk Wijeratne’s Tabla Concerto.

 

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Music Talk – Vibrant Light

 

We’re going live from the travel section of McNally Robinson Booksellers for Music Talk from McNally! The SSO’s Mark Turner is joined by conductor and composer Dinuk Wijeratne who leads the SSO in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and his Concerto for Tabla and Orchestra which features Shawn Mativetsky. To read the full program, buy tickets, and find out more go to: https://saskatoonsymphony.org/event/v…

Taking Stock

It is a bit hard to believe that this coming fall marks my 10th season with the SSO. When I first took on this role, I took to our blog to share my vision for the future. But somewhere along the way I ran out of time to blog…a good problem to have because it was the result of incredible organizational growth. 

As I’ve watched our orchestra and our organization grow this season, I wanted to take time to take stock of what we’ve accomplished.

Since its launch, we’ve had more than thirty-five million minutes of viewing on the ConcertStream.tv platform. Read that again. 35 million minutes of viewing. Hundreds of thousands of people from 53 countries. From online subscribers to folks who watch our free content, what we’ve been able to do is share our music with more people. Unprecedented accessibility to the SSO has changed us forever.

This season, we’ve been the lucky ones to experience some of the most sensational performances Saskatoon has ever enjoyed. Whether you danced the night away at the Music of ABBA, laughed with the Muppets, were filled with joy at Handel’s Messiah, or had your breath taken away by Jan Lisiecki, I know you’ll agree that this season has felt like a golden age. 

The crowds have been incredible. Multiple sell-out concerts and full houses have left us feeling the love! Nothing beats the thrill of hearing the roar of the crowd. It’s been a season celebrating the exceptional talent that Saskatoon has to offer. With artistic partners like Ryan Davis and Danika Lorèn and performances with the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra, the SSO Chorus, the Greystone Singers, and Aurora Voce…those have been special moments that show this organization and community at its best. 

Then there’s been the profound performances from your SSO musicians. The orchestra, time and time again this season, have stepped up and shown how much a symphony can mean to its community. Whether lifting up homegrown talent, helping toddlers experience the joy of music, or performing alongside a legitimate musical superstar, the musicians of your orchestra have made us all proud.

It goes without saying that an orchestra needs its audience, I actually believe that the reverse is more true. The audience needs its orchestra. What an exciting thing to be able to go to a concert (or watch it on your phone!) and experience the thrill of an orchestra in full flight. It makes our community a better place to call home.

The multiplier effect of an orchestra is astonishing. Our musicians teach, mentor, and inspire students. Those students go on to be people who understand hard work, goal setting, perseverance, and the joy of complex music. The musicians on stage have influenced the lives of countless people across our province.

Our concerts change minds, burst with emotions and imagination, and lift us up out of day-to-day life.
From a child hearing the violin for the first time, to students in schools learning about the importance of living composers, to long-time subscribers hearing new sounds and falling in love with music all over again – the outcome is remarkable.

Orchestras are living, breathing, vital artistic beings that have an exponential impact in their communities. I cannot imagine Saskatoon, and indeed Saskatchewan, without their orchestras. 

This season isn’t without its challenges. The prairies are experiencing a crippling arts funding crisis. The value of music is shrinking in our education system, as it’s easy to ignore the continually growing body of evidence that musical literacy is crucial to a complete education and a student’s success. All arts organizations are feeling the deep effects and challenges of inflation. It’s hard work, and it’s worth it.

The SSO has come a long way – we’re not done. We’re focused on a robust future for music in Saskatoon, one that is filled with passion, innovation, and an ambitious plan for musical opportunities and accessibility. 

In the weeks ahead we have a fundraising campaign to finish. Our Opus 100: Share in the Future campaign crossed its first matching goal in December, and then the generosity of the Frank and Ellen Remai Foundation shone through and extended our matching to a goal of $500,000. To date, we’ve raised over $350,000 – giving us six more weeks to raise another $150,000 to meet our goal. 

I’ll come back to blogging to share my passion for the SSO, because it’s important for us to take stock of how much the SSO means and remind you how fiercely proud we should be.

See you at the symphony – soon,
Mark Turner
CEO and Creative Producer

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Join us at the Hub

The concert ends, you exit TCU Place, and you’re still brimming with excitement after such a fabulous evening. Where to next?

Cross the street and join us over at the Hub at Holiday Inn!

It’s the perfect place to grab a post-concert drink, and snack, alongside fellow SSO patrons, musicians, and the feature guest artists.

We have complimentary appetizers on a first come first-serve basis!

 

What’s happening at the Bassment

The Bassment is one of Canada’s premier jazz clubs and provides musicians of all skill levels a venue to showcase their talents in front of a live audience while accessing a variety of professional, concert-grade instruments. The club offers an intimate, personal concert space with a world-class stage for local, national, and international artists.

Here’s a sample of what’s happening next at The Bassment

Benjamin Deschamps – Augmented Reality
Sunday, November 26

JAZZ TRAVELLERS SERIES • DOORS @ 6:30PM • SHOW@7:30PM • RUSH SEATING

www.benjamindeschamps.com

Saxophonist and composer Benjamin Deschamps is well-known on the Canadian jazz scene for his first three critically acclaimed albums. Having played across Canada and in Europe, he returns with a new musical project called Augmented Reality, winner of Quebec’s Opus Award for Best Jazz Album in 2023. Inspired by jazz greats such as Donny McCaslin and Ben Wendel, Benjamin explores a more electric, powerful, and lyrical sound while remaining true to his unique and ingenious style. He will be accompanied by Nicolas Ferron (guitar), Charles Trudel (keyboards), Sébastien Pellerin (bass) and Al Bourgeois (drums). Jazz fans won’t want to miss this introspective, mature, and innovative musical experience.

Sponsored by David’s Distinctive Men’s Apparel

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Alma Flamenca, Kari Alba, & Duencdecillo Present Devoción
Thursday, November 30

WORLD MUSIC SERIES • DOORS @ 6:30PM • SHOW@7:30PM • RUSH SEATING

www.facebook.com/saskatoonflamenco/

Kari Alba and her dance company Alma Flamenca are celebrating 25 of flamenco art in Saskatoon. Duendecillo, a performance ensemble made up of performers from Cadiz, Spain and Saskatoon, has prepared a program of flamenco art entitled Devoción. The evening will feature El Bancalero (vocals), José Vega (guitar), Kari Alba (dancer), and a number of advanced students from Alma Flamenca including Colleen Kastning, Rachel Heidecker, Rusty McCaig, and Victoria Beaudin.

Devoción aims to bring the audience on a journey to the heart that reveals the profound respect, admiration, and unbreakable connection that draws Duendecillo together in a treasured emotional chemistry.

Sponsored by David’s Distinctive Men’s Apparel

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Belle Plaine
Friday, December 1

COUNTRY ROADS SERIES • DOORS @ 7:30PM • SHOW @ 8:30

www.belleplainemusic.com

Regina singer-songwriter Belle Plaine (Melanie Berglund) was raised on the Canadian prairies near Fosston, SK – population 45. The ingenuity, lonesome yearning, and collaborative work ethic of country life have infiltrated her songwriting, her sound, and her methods. A reverence for artists who defy categorization has led Belle to create a brand of roots music combining the vintage blues and swing tones of the 1940s with classic country styles made popular in the heyday of the Grand Ole Opry. She sees the sees the world as it is adding layers of tenderness and mercy with her evocative, plaintive, and soulful vocal style. Belle’s easy charm shines bright from the stage and her subtle wit can pull a chuckle out of the toughest farmer or truck driver.

Sponsored by David’s Distinctive Men’s Apparel

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Queen Kong
Saturday, December 2

WORLD MUSIC SERIES • DOORS @ 6:30PM • SHOW@7:30PM

www.queenkongtoronto.com

Led by drummer, vocalist, and composer Lorie Wolf, Queen Kong is an exploration of sounds inspired by the Radical Jewish Culture movement in New York founded by John Zorn. Queen Kong seamlessly blends Ashkenazi Jewish idiom with jazz, free improv, rock, and punk to create new sounds and ideas. Lorie is joined by some of Toronto’s top young jazz and world music performers, improvisers, movers and shakers including Michael Winograd (clarinet), Max Forster (trumpet), Nathan Dell-Vandenberg (trombone), Graham Campbell (guitar), and Tom Richards (sousaphone)

Sponsored by David’s Distinctive Men’s Apparel

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A Classic Christmas: Wingerter & Janovsky
Saturday, December 3

JAZZ SINGER SERIES • DOORS @ 1:00 • SHOW@ 2:00

www.martinjanovsky.com

Plumber by day vocalist by night Trevor Wingerter and music teacher by day pianist by night Martin Janovsky team up to present an entertaining performance of Christmas and seasonal classics. Expect to hear everything from Silent Night to Winter Wonderland. A Bassment Christmas tradition, A Classic Christmas is sure to sell out – get your tickets asap!

Sponsored by Wright Construction

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Jay Semko presents an Intimate Winter Night of Songs, Stories & Poems
Friday, December 8

SONGWRITER SERIES • DOORS @ 7:30pm • SHOW @ 8:30pm

www.jaysemko.com

Saskatoon singer/songwriter and poet Jay Semko is best known for his work as bassist and vocalist with multi-platinum JUNO Award nominees the Northern Pikes, and as an award-winning solo recording artist and music composer for film and television. Jay will be performing songs from his vast catalogue accompanied by the stories behind them with tales of his adventures with the Pikes and beyond, as well as selections from his new album, Spiritual, and will also share poems from his book The Poetry & Lyrics of Jay Semko. Jay will be joined by a number of surprise musical guests – this evening promises to be a unique musical celebration with one of Canada’s finest songwriters and storytellers.

Sponsored by Prairie Roots Dental Studio

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