Fusions Context

When was Anoushka Shankar Born?

1981

When was Breathing Under Water released?

2007

Who worked on Breathing Under Water with Shankar? What was his role?

Karsh Kale (pioneering fusion musician) - Co-wrote many of the pieces as well as playing synthesisers, guitar, keyboard, tabla, electronic and orchestral percussion in the album

What genres of music does Breathing Under Water fuse?

Western Pop, Indian Classical, Bollywood

What is the first song on the album?

Burn

Who is Shankar’s Father?

Ravi Shankar

When did Shankar learn to play the sitar? When was her first performance on it?

Began learning it at 9. First public solo performance at 13

Where did Shankar spend her childhood?

She grew up in London but also spent lots of time in Delhi as a child too.

When was Debussy born?

1862

When was Estampes written?

1903

What is the third movement of Estampes called?

Jardins Sous la Pluie

What style is Debussy often associated with? What was his opinion of this?

Impressionism although Debussy rejected this label on his compositions. He is now referred to as the “Father of French musical impressionism”

If you don’t call Debussy’s music impressionist, what is perhpas a more suitable term?

What does this an impressionism share?

Symbolism

Both share detached observation, creating a feeling or mood rather then deep connection to personal emotion like romanticism

What influences Debussy’s inspiration from the far East and from Spain?

• 1889 Paris Exhibition where he saw a gamelan performance and musicians from Grenada

• Debussy also spent no more than a day in Spain

When did he go to the Paris Conservatoire? What was he like as a student there?

When he was 10 (for 11 years) - he was an argumentative student who frequently challenged the rules of harmony and orchestration

Where does the Habañera rhythm come from?

It is a Cuban dance rhythm