As we slowly glided our way out of the “Toorak/Peppermint Grove” end of the houseboats-fringed section of Dal Lake, the musicians were tuning up, plugging in, preparing.
The pictured lute is a Kashmiri rabab – the local version of a twangy lute (aka “rubab” & “rebab”) that probably originated in Afghanistan, where it is widely regarded as “the national instrument”.
As you can see in this video, it is a much more “solid” lute than those deployed in European “early music” circles:
The rabab is generally considered a “folk” instrument; the sarod – a fretless descendant of the rabab – enjoys more elevated status, and is considered a Hindustani “classical” instrument…albeit a “Hindustani” instrument of Muslim ancestry.
(and most “greats” of the sarod are/were members of Muslim musical “dynasties”)
The ensemble was blessedly free of any electronic keyboard.
As would soon become apparent, their amplification system – and/or the “highly compressed” settings applied to it – delivered a whole lot of oomph, but the “fi” was far from “high”.
All players were capable.
The ensemble’s “star” was its one female member; she was equally skilled as vocalist and dancer…and as teacher-encourager of foreign tourists-guests.
Full-tilt song and dance would commence once we were well clear of houseboats and shoreline…
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