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Hindu Modes...

giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
Both Tournemire and Messiaen used Hindu Modes in their music - Why? Could it be the Paris Exposition that was held towards the end of the 1800's? 'Tis quite exotic fare considering the heady times Europe was going through.
 

acc

Member
I've looked it up in Pascal Ianco's Tournemire biography: he only says that Tournemire mentions hindu modes in his treatise "Précis d'exécution, de registration et d'improvisation à l'orgue".

So I looked that up, and I only found a list of 28 (of 72 existing) hindu modes, and a brief remark that they can be used in improvisations.

That's all the information I could get hold of, I'm afraid...
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giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
Acc,

In Tournemire's composition entitled *Sept Chorals-Poemes d'orgue pour les Sept Paroles du Christ* choral No.5 *Sitio* ( J'ai soif ) Tournemire uses the Hindu Mode *Chandrakala* as a tonal cell. His use of that mode poignantly describes the Crucified one crying out in thirst.

As a *color* device, it is a stroke of genius of Tournemire. I have this notion that when Messiaen heard Tournemire's use of Hindu Modes, he became smitten by them and the possibilities for their use in his compositions.

Cheers,

Giovanni
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giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
The *mela* or parent scale that Tournemire uses as a tonal cell in Choral No.5 "Sitio" is entitled *Chalanata*, not *Chandrakala* which I erroneously stated. Robert Sutherland Lord wrote an article for the Diapason magazine where he does a musicological analysis of Tournemire's Sept Chorals-Poemes d'orgue pour les Sept Paroles du Christ. I believe it was published in November 1977 if my meory serves me.

We should keep in mind that there are 72 *melas* or parent scales in the Carnatic system. I include a link for your perusal:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melakarta

Cheers,

Giovanni
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giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
Dear Tom and Acc,

I found a link which you can use to look up the Carnatic *melas*:

http://www.usd.edu/eric/music/scales.cfm

Click on the *bar* between "C" and "Display Scale" and scroll down to *Mela*. The results will be displayed as numbered and named notes on the chromatic scale. You can choose the key in which you want the scale to be displayed.

From a *color* standpoint, this is cool stuff!!!
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Happy Musicizing,

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Giovanni
 

acc

Member
Hello,
Is Ianco's book available in English?

Hi — and welcome to Magle's!:tiphat:

As far as I know, there is no English translation, though I can't be 100% sure.

The (original French) edition was done by Éditions Papillon (Switzerland) and is still available: go to http://www.editionspapillon.ch, then click on "Mélophiles", and then on "Tournemire". It's also available at a number of French online book sellers.
 
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