Blog Post 5

I chose to watch the following link on YouTube featuring Pandit Bhimsen Joshi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC35uWZFW3g&feature=PlayList&p=3786E62F6052A973&index=4
This differed from most of Ravi Shankar’s performances in that it was based primarily on vocals that told a story to the listener. Fortunately the video I watched translated what he was singing. The drums played an important role in this performance. I noticed that the drummer would not use sticks however, he would make his music via his fingers. It looks like he is using the Tabla. Some of the instruments in the performance include possibly the harmonium, tambura, and possibly the Sitar. The tabla is the most recognizable of the instruments because it differs in that it is a membranophone will the other in my opinion more distinguishable instruments are chordophones.
What impressed me the most about this video is that according to others who have viewed this video, the vocalist (Pandit Bhimsen Joshi) is older than 80 years old and is still able to create the very distinct sounds for this culture. This is truly a classical Hindustani song compared to the more modern western influenced Hindustani music.
It seems to me like it is very traditional to have this sort of setup in this music culture where all the musicians surround the main piece but the way that this differs from other types of cultures is that they are all sitting, most of which I would explain as “Indian style.” The scene is also very traditional and is a different stage setup that most western people are used to