East/West fusion

[offthewall]

I just realised that I don't recall telling you guys about my recent exciting find.
For many years I have had a hankering for a sitar.
At last one turned up for a very reasonable price.
It needed fully restoring and took an awful lot of work to get it put to rights but I finally got it done and working.

More recently my favourite lyricist came up with a story based on some Eastern philosophy so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try a bit of East/West fusion.
Sitar teamed with acoustic baritone guitar.
Finished out with hand percussion pack from Jamstix and a bit of penny whistle.
Lyrics below.

WHEN RUMI MET ATTAR song lyrics
by Joel Sattler

on the day that Rumi met Attar
was the day that the star appeared
the star of alternate knowledge
the ending of ultimate fear

the day of the morning forever
the night that was only a dream
a hand took a hand in friendship
and what is was what could have been

the son behind the father
the father in front of the son
the sea being followed by ocean
the one being all it becomes

Attar gave Rumi a book
of the web that is weaved in the world
how a man can get tangled in wealth
his soul for the love of a girl

but the work is worth that you live for
and the word is worth all you can say
so remember tomorrow's a promise
of the labor we put in today

on the day that Attar met Rumi
was a day of a thousand years
the past is the future a circle
of joy and the ending of tears

listen to the reed
and to the tale it tells
there are a billion heavens
but only a single hell

all who you think you seek
you seek and no one else
his essence speaks through thee
you are looking for yourself

when we are dead seek not our grave
seek not our grave beneath the earth
but look into your heart and you will see
all that we have become worth

[folderol]

Interesting song, and good performance.

Also congratulations on learning yet another new instrument and as a {cough} mature {cough} student too

[offthewall]

Thanks mate.
Got to say that this is no 'quick learn'.
18 strings all with primitive wooden keys to tune'em with.
Movable frets which have to be aligned 'by ear' to get each note of a scale in pitch.
A top heavy structure to support and strings like wires to cut your finger-tips up into pieces.
And, to cap it all, the playing position is certainly not arthritis-friendly. I've had to invent a sort-of sling system to support the damn thing!
Needless to say I am taking it slow!

[MarioD]

James that was excellent

That Sitar sounds great.  I had a flashback to the late 60's.  Love that sound.

You are one multi-talented musician!