SVARAM Sounds

Name: SVARAM Sounds
Availability: InStock

A Community Sound Exploration

SVARAM is one of the places on the Indian subcontinent experimenting in the field of creating new musical instruments that should be accessible to everybody, directly bringing the joy of music into one’s hands and heart.

The SVARAM organisational model has always followed a participatory approach. This is a transition from a development project into a sustainable enterprise. Our emphasis is on social and cultural awareness. We focus on a holistic paradigm and strategy to create psychological, social and environemental well-being for the growing SVARAM community enterprise. This sustains our innovative energies and discoveries.

Coming Together

As it happens, in the main season, visitors from around the globe walk into our workshop and listening space next to Ganesh Bakery in Auroville. When Kate and Holger dropped by in Autumn 2010 and a spontaneous and playful resonance emerged and without hesitation we found ourselves a few days later in Holger’s “Sunshine Studio” with many of SVARAM’s instruments and Kate’s intriguing voice. Jan, a young percussionist and volunteer at SVARAM joined in. On this SVARAM Sound package you will hear the result of this heartfelt collaboration.

We hope this original soundtrack from the Auroville soil and forests can offer you a glimpse of the spirit of our listening explorations, and bring the SVARAM Sounds into your heart and h-om-e!

While the one and primal track on this Demo leads on a journey into the sound world of SVARAM’s environment and work, it also offers the opportunity to listen and spot the single instrument through separated tracks. There are photos of the SVARAM instruments on our website www.svaram.org and online store, and you can download our catalog for further reference or contact us for more information. You are very welcome to join us in this growing and exciting Sound Adventure.

— Aurelio, February 2011

Production Notes

This package exclusively shows the family of the SVARAM instruments, with the exception of an electric violin added to the last track.

All SVARAM instruments have been recorded in the Sunshine Music Studio (Auroville).

To provide a reliable production of SVARAM Sounds, engineer Holger Jetter used only one pair of Roede Microphones without any equalizing. No other post-progressing plug-ins were used except one over-all reverb.

Kate’s voice has been compressed mildly and in two instances it has been digitally soubled and transposed.

Bamboo Ocarina

The ocarina is an ancient wind instrument with an absorbing quality through its specific encompassing timbre. Originally made out of clay, this model is of selected flute bamboo with its characteristic warm and soothing sound.

Metallophone

With their appealing resonance and precise tunings, these mallet instrumnets attract and touch the listeneres. Different models are available from single tuned bars to sets of two chromatic octaves with resonators.

Swinging Chimes

The Swinging Chimes can be swung gently, rotated, traversed, looped, swayed around and over the body and create an immediately ‘touching’ expereince of the magic of sound and its uniquely layered construction and its wholesome harmonizing effect.

Tracks

01. Promising Storm [Storm Drum, Palmyra Nut Shaker, Kilikilip, Rattles, Egg Shakers]
02. Pond Echoes [Storm Drum, Frog Caller, Ocean Drum]
03. Shifting Shores [Ocean Drum, Rain Rattles, Pulse Tube]
04. Pulsing [Ocean Drum, Energy Chimes, Pulse Tube]
05. Stranded Vocals [Pulse Tubes, Vocals, Ocean Drum]
06. Really There [Vocals, Pulse Tube]
07. Wow [Pulse Tube]
08. Wondering [Pulse Tube, Vocals]
09. Ding Sing [Energy Chimes, Pulse Tubes]
10. Me and Thee [Energy Chimes, Xylophone, Frog Caller, Storm Drum]
11. Ever Onwards [Xylophone. Rain Stick, Wind Chime]
12. Through It All [Storm Drum, Xylophone, Frog Caller, Storm Drum]
13. Here I Am [Nidra Anantar, Metallophone, Lithophone, Storm Drum, Vocals]
14. Will You Come? [Metallophone, Psaltry, Vocals, Ocean Drum, Salangai]
15. Into Secret Gardens [Metallophone, Nidra Anantar, Lithophone]
16. Out the Gates [Tongue Drum, Svaraveena, Palyra Nut Shakers, Kilikilip]
17. Again, Just Us [Lithophone, Vocals]
18. Swinging Chimes [Swinging Chimes, Psaltery]
19. Remembrance [Psaltery, Metallophone]
20. Quest [Tubalophone, Metallophone, Psaltery, Plate Bells]
21. Arrivals [Tubalophone, Metallophone, Plate Bells, Swinging Chimes]
22. Sound Matters [Singing Stone, Nidra Anantar]
23. Ascending [Singing Stone, Nidra Anantar]
24. Familiar Faces [Singing Stone, Double-sided Anantar]
25. Healing Chant [ Energy Rods, Vocals, Nidra Anantar]
26. Clearing [A Bowl of Water, Nidra Anantar, Singing Stone]
27. Wind’s Calling [ Singing Stone, Native American Flute]
28. Over the Plains [ Energy Chime, Singing Stone, Native American Flute]
29. Reflections [Singing Stone, Vocals, Metallophone]
30. Departures [Singing Stone, Ocarinas]
31. Farewell Embrace [Plate Bells, Vocals, Nidra Anantar]
32. Forward Journeying [Nidra Anantar, Overtune Flutes, Tubalophone]
33. We’ll be Returning [Singing Stone, Electric Violin]