Six Invocations to the Svara Mandala

The 'Svara Mandala' is a rare kind of harp used in Indian classical music. It is usually played to the accompaniment of tablas. In this 6-movement piece, the 'Svara Mandala' is addressed as a deity, each invocation emphasizing a different sound producing medium (i.e. "Brass and Steel," "Wood and Membranes").

You can hear a recording of Six Invocations on Wichita State University's "World Influences" CD (also available from C. Alan)

Grade Level: 4
Copyright: 1990
Number of Players: 10
Duration: 20:00
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Category: Percussion

Listen to Recordings

Instrumentation

Percussion 1 (large tam tam, 4.3 octave Marimba, 2 castanets, bowed vibraphone, bowed crotale A4)
Percussion 2 (small bowed tam tam, bronze camel bells, xylophone, bowed vibraphone, large tam tam)
Percussion 3 (large thundersheet, 5 temple blocks, high claves, 4 suspended cymbals, crotales [b3, c4, c#4, and f4], sleighbells, castanets)
Percussion 4 (chimes, 3 brake drums, cowbell, 5 toms, snare drum, high bell string)
Percussion 5 (large bass drum, flexatone, slide whistle, musical saw with bow)
Percussion 6 (vibraphone, 3 bowed glasses [c4, d4, bflat4], large marimba box)
Percussion 7 (inside piano strings, bells, triangle, 2 bongos, large vibraslap, brass wind chimes)
Percussion 8 (4 timpnai, 2 suspended cymbals)
Percussion 9 (2 high steel pipes, 2 tam tams, large and med woodblock, crash cymbals, suspended cymbal, bell string)
Percussion 10 (medium bowed tam tam, 2 bowed glasses [b3, c#4], bowed vibraphone, chimes, 2 woodblocks)

Piano
Bass
Celesta