Movement in Rupak Tal for two violins (1992)

Violins:  Walter Mony

                          Calvin Lewis

The source of inspiration for this piece was the seminars led by the great Ravi Shankar in which Robert Rollin was a participant.  The term Rupak Tal in North Indian music refers to the temporal and rhythmic organization.  Here it is based on the Indian rhythmic syllables – Tin Tin Na, Dhi Na, Dhi Na, which transliterates in Western notation to (123) (45) (67) – 7 beats or 7/8 in this work.  The various strands of thematic lines seem to pass through a magic lantern as they are buffeted about, fragmented, inverted, augmented or compressed all in a rambunctious tempo with the limping gait of 7/8.  Melodic strands and rhythmic complexities take precedence over harmonic content.  As in Indian Classical Music, hemiola-like patterns periodically cloud the sense of  meter which is reasserted when the two players recon verge on the downbeat.  The ensemble intricacies evoke a heady and visceral experience for players and listeners alike.