VOICES FROM INDIA string quartet No. 1 [Hard Copy]

VOICES FROM INDIA (STRING QUARTET NO. 1)
string quartet No. 1

A Culturally Rich Work for String Quartet
Voices from India – String Quartet No. 1 (1997) by Lior Navok is a 17-minute work inspired by the composer's study of Indian classical music. Structured in three movements—Alap, Gat, and Jhalla—the quartet draws on ragas such as Rama Priya, Shyam, Jog, Suddha Vasant, and Suddha Sarang. Rather than imitating Indian classical music, the piece integrates Indian ideas and colors into the Western string quartet tradition. Dedicated to Dr. Peter Row, it offers performers a culturally rich and innovative addition to contemporary string quartet repertoire.

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About the Music
Voices from India grew out of the composer’s first in‑depth study of Indian classical music — its ragas, talas, and improvisational structures — and explores how these ideas can be reimagined within the Western string‑quartet medium. Structured around the traditional sequence of Alap, Gat, and Jhalla, the quartet blends modal melodic writing with rhythmic cycles and drone‑based textures. Rather than imitating Indian classical performance, the piece creates a cross‑cultural sound world that honors both traditions while forging its own expressive identity. The work is dedicated to Dr. Peter Row, whose guidance opened the door to this musical exploration. It is ideal for professional quartets and advanced ensembles exploring modal writing and cross-cultural stylistic fusion, serving as an effective choice for contemporary chamber concerts, world‑music–influenced programs, and recitals highlighting genre-blending string quartet works.

Specifications

Duration: 17 minutes
Year Composed: 1997
Instrumentation: String Quartet (2 Violins, Viola, and Cello)

Product Information

Hard Copy (Score / Parts)
Condition: New 1st Edition score
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VOICES FROM INDIA string quartet No. 1 [Hard Copy]

Name: VOICES FROM INDIA string quartet No. 1 [Hard Copy]
Brand: Lior Navok Music

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Quantity

Item:	Full Score / Set of Parts
Format:	Hard Copy
Edition:	2nd Edition
Copyright:	Lior Navok
Publisher:	Lior Navok Music
Pages:	Score: 35 Part: 48
Binding:	Plastic Spiral
Ink:	Black & White
Paper Size:	Score: DIN A4 / Letter Parts: DIN B4

Program Notes:

Before 1997, my appreciation of Indian music was rather superficial. While I enjoyed listening to it, I was not aware of its compositional and improvisational procedures. It was essential to engage myself in the study of Indian music. A new world, unfamiliar to the typical Western musician, awaited me. As I explored the different techniques used by Indian musicians, I became inspired to compose a piece of my own. The string quartet, which represents one of the main pillars of Western music, seemed an ideal medium to convey the ideas I had gleaned from Indian music.

The quartet is in three movements which are based on a typical form of Indian classical music (Northern and Southern). The Alap is a slow, un-metered movement that is based on one main raga. It can be short or extended up to one hour long. The Alap also serves as an introduction to the Gat. Typically, at this stage, the Tabla player joins the soloist, playing a rhythmic cycle entitled Tala. In Voices from India, the Gat movement is made of a ten-beat cycle (divided 2+3 2+3). Emerging from the Gat is the Jhalla. Here, the soloist constantly uses open drone strings, accelerates into a very fast tempo which leads to a climax and conclusion.

The melodic material of the quartet is based on a few ragas. The main ones are “Rama Priya” and “Shyam” for the first movement, “Jog” and “Suddha Vasant” for the second, and “Suddha Sarang” for the third. Nonetheless, the quartet is not an attempt to imitate Indian classical music but rather an endeavor to bring Indian ideas and flavors into the Western medium of a string quartet. Voices from India is dedicated to Dr. Peter Row who has guided me through the concealed paths of Indian music.