Musical Bridges 2023: Juhi Bansal, composer

Musical Bridges is a multiyear project in which the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival commissions new works that place classical chamber music within a broader musical and cultural context. Musical Bridges and this performance is made possible through the generous support of the Desai Family Foundation.
A world premiere by
JUHI BANSAL (b. 1984)
Tum ho Meri Zameen (You are my Earth)
Ranjana Ghatak, voice
Melvin Chen, piano
Eunseo Laura Lee,* violin
Miranda Werner,* violin
Lindan Burns,* viola
Michael Zyzak,* cello
Norfolk Festival Fellows.
Recorded live at the Music Shed on July 14, 2023
JUHI BANSAL about the work:
"Tum ho Meri Zameen" grew out of an earlier collaboration
with Ranjana Ghatak, where we created music in response
to stories from our communities about the women who
inspire them. One of the strongest recurrent themes
across the submissions was of sisterhood - of women
coming together to uplift each other’s voices in support
and celebration. Tum ho Meri Zameen (You are my Earth)
celebrates the ways that we come together to share, to form
bonds, and to strengthen each other.
The piece draws heavily on elements from the Hindustani
tradition: piano takes on the role of tabla, setting and
elaborating on the taal (the rhythmic cycle); strings weave
in and out of melodic and rhythmic roles during various
sections. The performance will begin with an opening
alap (an improvised section where the soloist explores the
raag), which flows into the composition (on the lyrics
"Tum ho meri zameen"). This is followed by improvised
taans (playful, rhythmic figures that show the virtuosity of
the voice) then a short, slow instrumental interlude. The
final section is a tarana, where the vocalist sings on joyful
syllables, blurring the line between voice as an instrument
that shares meaning through text, and voice as pure
instrument. The performance ends with a rendition of the
Shanti Mantra (a prayer for peace) in raag Bhairavi.
In gratitude to Ranjana Ghatak for her friendship,
teaching, and music.