Standard Notation

Sounding & “play as written” score

19 pages

Level: Advanced

"The Night Flame" is a composition that reinvents the sonorities and playing techniques of the classical guitar. It is based on Raag Kirwani, a late-night raga, and is set in a four-times-four beat cycle. Raag Kirwani, essentially identical to a minor harmonic scale, lacks recognition as such without the framework of the Western harmonic system. The raga's distinctiveness lies in the delicate balance between melodic and rhythmic elements.

Another prominent element in the structure of this composition is the use of the "Tihai": a rhythmic pattern repeated three times, typically designed to land precisely on the first beat of a rhythmic cycle.

The Raag almost invariably transitions from slow to fast speed; "The Night Flame" intriguingly reintroduces a slow section after heightening the tempo, echoing the classical Sonata form's recapitulation. This composition not only showcases a fusion of musical elements but also serves as a compelling representation of globalization, mirroring the historical influence of the Silk Road on musical evolution.