Was Sorabji influenced by Hindu music?

[cuberdrift]

I know little of Sorabji's music and even Hindu music, but I know that Sorabji is known to have composed some of the most difficult repertoire of all time. I like to imagine that this was partly the result of his Indian roots. Of what I hear North Indian music is supposed to be capable of extreme complexity, with concerts lasting overnight (literally). It's also based on a lot of interesting things like the time/weather of the day affecting the listener, etc.

Mr. Hinton could provide some input about this. Maybe there's a connection between Indian philosophy, Scriabin (whom Sorabji is supposed to have modeled his pieces after), and Sorabji.

[outin]

He was born and raised in England with a mostly absent Indian father and non-Indian mother so I doubt he was that heavily influenced by Indian music. From what I've read his musical roots were in the Western classical tradition but he was much into composers such as Berlioz, Busoni, Scriabin, Alkan, Medtner, Mahler and Godowski who were not all "mainstream" either.

So the complexity of his music may just have been a result of his complex personality and various interests outside music.

[ahinton]

He was born and raised in England with a mostly absent Indian father and non-Indian mother so I doubt he was that heavily influenced by Indian music. From what I've read his musical roots were in the Western classical tradition but he was much into composers such as Berlioz, Busoni, Scriabin, Alkan, Medtner, Mahler and Godowski who were not all "mainstream" either.

So the complexity of his music may just have been a result of his complex personality and various interests outside music.

Largely spot on here! Yes, he did retain an Oriental view that influenced his modus op. but, as you say, his music was cast in Western terms and associated with Western thought, albeit with an Oriental influence that made its presence felt in his attitudes to ornamentation and durations.

That's a very over-simplistic response, of course, but I hope that it nevertheless helps.

Best,

Alistair

[cuberdrift]

Largely spot on here! Yes, he did retain an Oriental view that influenced his modus op. but, as you say, his music was cast in Western terms and associated with Western thought, albeit with an Oriental influence that made its presence felt in his attitudes to ornamentation and durations.

That's a very over-simplistic response, of course, but I hope that it nevertheless helps.

Best,

Alistair

So his pieces used the ragas? Indian meters? How does he mix this Orientalist approach with the Western one? Or is the Orientalism only to a limited degree? I find myself interested in this.

[ahinton]

So his pieces used the ragas? Indian meters? How does he mix this Orientalist approach with the Western one? Or is the Orientalism only to a limited degree? I find myself interested in this.

No - nothing specific like that; it manifests itself in his attitude to ornamentation and duration.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

So his pieces used the ragas? Indian meters? How does he mix this Orientalist approach with the Western one? Or is the Orientalism only to a limited degree? I find myself interested in this.

Sorabji's contemporary Erik Chisholm certainly was influenced by Hindu music as his 2nd piano concerto clearly demonstrates.

I recall the 2 composers corresponded frequently and Alistair has the letters. Would seem strange if they were not influenced by each other, but perhaps Alistair would care to enlighten.

Thal