Hindu Modes...

[giovannimusica]

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]

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...

[giovannimusica]

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

[Thomas Dressler]

This is very intriguing. Where can one learn about Hindu modes?

[giovannimusica]

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

[giovannimusica]

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!!!

Happy Musicizing,


Giovanni

[dr.ahclaire]

Hello,
Is Ianco's book available in English?

[acc]

Hello,
Is Ianco's book available in English?

Hi — and welcome to Magle's!

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.