Abstract
In this chapter, Daboo offers a discussion of an innovative practice-based research project undertaken with musician Kuljit Bhamra to create an electronic version of the Indian tabla drums, as well as a related new approach to notation and teaching for the instrument. The chapter explores complex questions of cultural heritage, tradition and adaptation in performance forms in diaspora communities. As well as outlining the collaborative process involved with creating the prototype for the instrument, there is a discussion of some of the areas of contention that arose during the project’s focus group sessions with both Indian musicians and Western orchestral percussionists.
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Notes
- 1.
This interview, and some others used in this chapter, were conducted as part of the AHRC-funded ‘Southall Story’ project run by Jerri Daboo, which undertook an extensive cultural history of the diasporic town of Southall.
- 2.
I have elected to use initials for the participants of the focus groups, however they all gave their signed informed consent to the discussions from the sessions being used.
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Acknowledgements
With special thanks and acknowledgement to Kuljit Bhamra for his collaboration on the project, and assistance with writing this chapter.
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Daboo, J. (2018). Demystifying or Destroying? Cultural Heritage and Tradition in Playing the Tabla, and Developing the Electronic Tabla and Digital Notation System. In: Whatley, S., Cisneros, R., Sabiescu, A. (eds) Digital Echoes. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73817-8_9
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