Hilton Chen
Duet
A father and son musical duo perform on the outskirts of Jaisalmer at sunset. The father is playing a keyboard instrument called a harmonium. It is somewhat like an organ in that it makes sound by blowing air through reeds, which are tuned to different pitches to make musical notes. He pumps air into the instrument with his left hand by pulling and pushing the board handle that is attached to a bellow. The boy is singing while using a pair of castanet like instrument called kartals. Kartals consists of a pair of wooden blocks that are not attached to each other, unlike a castanet. One pair is used in each hand of the musician. The pieces are then clapped together at high speeds to make fast complex beats. The boy's hand work here was really amazing, and a still picture doesn't do it justice. After I left India I asked an Indian colleague what the boy was singing. I initially thought it was some ancient Rajasthani tune. Turned out he was singing some popular Bollywood song!
Duet
A father and son musical duo perform on the outskirts of Jaisalmer at sunset. The father is playing a keyboard instrument called a harmonium. It is somewhat like an organ in that it makes sound by blowing air through reeds, which are tuned to different pitches to make musical notes. He pumps air into the instrument with his left hand by pulling and pushing the board handle that is attached to a bellow. The boy is singing while using a pair of castanet like instrument called kartals. Kartals consists of a pair of wooden blocks that are not attached to each other, unlike a castanet. One pair is used in each hand of the musician. The pieces are then clapped together at high speeds to make fast complex beats. The boy's hand work here was really amazing, and a still picture doesn't do it justice. After I left India I asked an Indian colleague what the boy was singing. I initially thought it was some ancient Rajasthani tune. Turned out he was singing some popular Bollywood song!