ARR played this during his interview in CNN telecast this week....he said that this instrument is very close to human singing.
On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 4:09 PM, Prakash Balaramkrishna < [email protected]> wrote: > > > http://musicmavericks.blogspot.com/2009/03/continuum-fingerboard.html > > The soundtrack of 'Delhi 6' had a track 'Rehnu Tu', in which composer > A.R.Rahman used a new instrument called 'Continuum Fingerboard' in the > postlude of the song. The sound of the tune played in the piece appeared > very 'wind'-y indeed, but what surprised me were the meends felt in that. > intriguing. A small google search revealed that the instrument was invented > recently and its picture was peculiar, because the instrument did not have > keys. Here is a snapshot about the instrument: Continuum > Fingerboard<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuum_%28instrument%29>. > > > While a cursory reading about the instrument paints a vague picture about > it, a demonstration actually showcases what it actually > is<http://www.cerlsoundgroup.org/Continuum/html/examples/ex235.html>. > This instrument seems to be having everything in it, to become the next most > sought instrument in classical & fusion music circles of India. The wide > range of possibilities that this instrument can open up is surely a shot in > the arm of people who jam with traditional keyboards and synthesizers. More, > it crosses the limitations of keyboards such as gamakas and meends and also > offers newer explorative/experimental options in vertical movements, > filtered pitch variations. > > Kudos to the inventor. And pretty often, some people do argue about the > global outlook of A.R.Rahman. While the subject is a matter of discussion in > another post, his selection of this obscure instrument (obscure for now > atleast, within the realm if Indian Film Music) for playing a medley of > Carnatic raagas in the tail-end piece of a Hindi film-song ballad which has > traces of 80s Enlgish pop - well, thats global outlook indeed. > > For now, I am just imagining the range of possibilities this instrument > offers, particularly in the hands of maverick keyboard artists. Louis Banks, > Loy Mendonsa, Adnan Sami, Viji Manuel, Brian Silas etc. Are you listening? > > > >

