kenZuckerman.com

“Shanti” – the world’s first automatic Tanpura robot

ken — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:58:57 +0000

“Shanti”, the world’s first mechanical device which automatically plays an acoustic tanpura, giving both musicians and audiences the pure acoustic sound of the tanpura in both practice and performance settings.

Check out “Shanti” on youtube!

India’s venerable Tanpura – now with a great new twist!

The soothing sound of the Tanpura, India’s ancient stringed accompaniment instrument, provides a rich carpet of sound on which the musicians recreate the age old tradition of ragas and talas. In recent times many musicians have switched to electronic digital drone devices, which attempt to imitate the sound of a real tanpura. Although these devices are compact, convenient and do not require someone to play them, the sound they produce does not measure up to the real tanpura. But now there is an alternative: Shanti, the Automatic Acoustic Tanpura Player.
Now you can have the real sound of the Tanpura whenever and wherever you want.

Designed and manufactured in Switzerland by Ken Zuckerman and a team of European craftsmen. Protected by international patent laws. 2012 Patent Pending #61473718.

Sarod bridge micro-adjuster

ken — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:55:48 +0000

Sarod bridge micro-adjuster

The exact placement of the sarod bridge is critical to the sound of the instrument. Not only does a slight change in position influence the sound, but changes in temperature and humidity require additional changes in the positioning in order to achieve the optimum tone and clarity. I thought of several possible systems to simplify what had always been a cumbersome process of changing the position of the bridge, but it was Daniel Bradley who came up with the simplest and most effective solution.

Here is a close-up of the tiny screw which has been inserted into a hole drilled into the end pin of the sarod bridge. It is attached to the thread which holds the bridge in place.

Micro bridge adjuster – By using a screw driver, one can easily move the sarod bridge by either tightening (increasing the knots in the connecting thread), or loosening. A beveled point of contact between the screw and the post insures that it holds its position, and also makes it easy to make precise changes in the bridge placement. It works like a charm!

Wooden Resonators for Sarod

ken — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:52:57 +0000

Wooden resonators for the sarod
These resonators, made in different sizes and with a variety of woods, increase the volume and improve the tonal quality of the sarod.

Resonators made from a mixture of Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Pear and Rosewood. Thanks to Markus Schori and Rolf Joray for their contributions during the development and fabrication of these resonators.

This oversize resonator not only combines the unique sound qualities of 3 woods, but also has a brass horn inside to capture the higher frequencies. It increases the volume, bass, mid-range and high frequencies of the sarod! Special thanks to Rolf Joray for his untiring work during the fabrication and fine-tuning this resonator.

Geared Tuners

ken — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:25:00 +0000

In recent years Ken Zuckerman has made significant contributions to the development of India’s traditional instruments through various innovations and inventions. The innovations include the integration of precision geared tuners into the traditional pegs of the sarod and tanpura, wooden resonators, which have increased the volume and tonal quality of the sarod and a sarod bridge add-on which allows for micro adjustments of the bridge placement. His recent invention, “Shanti”, is the world’s first mechanical device which automatically plays an acoustic tanpura, giving both musicians and audiences the pure acoustic sound of the tanpura in both practice and performance settings.

Geared tuners

Planetary gears (4:1 ratio), implanted into the traditional sarod pegs

Finished pegs inserted into sarod. Special thanks to Daniel Bradley for finding a way to implant these planetary banjo tuners into the traditional sarod pegs and turn this idea into an elegant and superior tuning system!

satzladen — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 15:04:43 +0000

Exciting news!
The new CD “Indian Ragas & Medieval Song” has just been picked as one of the 10 “Top of the World” CD’s by Songlines Magazine.

Welcome!

To listen to a 7-minute collage sampler of Ken’s music, please click here:

“Whether playing the medieval lute, oud, sarod, and whether appearing alone, with his mentor Ali Akbar Khan, with Jordi Savall’s Hesperion XXI or with medieval chant expert Dominique Vellard, Ken Zuckerman is one of the world’s most eclectic masters of improvisation. His electrifying performances of medieval, Renaissance and classical Indian music leave his audiences breathless. Following sell-out performances in 2001, he returns to the Purcell Room with two of his favourite musical colleagues, both master percussionists.” Phillip Pickett, South Bank Centre, February 2006.

* * * * *

To view a 2-minute sample video, please click the PLAY button

New!

Watch Ken’s recent performance of Raga Madhumalati on youtube!

New! Inventions and Innovations for Indian Instruments

Check out “Shanti“, Ken’s new automatic acoustic tanpura player on youtube!

Shanti’s new spruce housing produces an even better sound than ever!

ken — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:26:19 +0000

February, 2013: It looks almost as if Shanti has flipped her lid! We just finished fabricating a new housing made out of a beautiful old piece of spruce wood, from a 275 yr-old Swiss tree. Not only does it result in a stronger, more resonant and overtone rich sound, but the raised lid, with 2 independently adjustable side flaps, enables the sound to be projected in various directions. And because the sound is captured, amplified and projected through the top of the housing, it is now perceived from a higher point acoustically, as if the tanpura were upright. Tuning the sarod to this rich complex of overtones is more precise, easier and it is almost a musical duet in itself. I am thrilled with this evolution in “Shanti’s” development and am extremely grateful to Rolf Joray, the Swiss master craftsman who has supported me throughout this endeavor with his precise and artistic skills and creative input. We hope to have a model available for musicians in the near future!

The new “Shanti” – with lid closed.

Shanti, with lid raised and back flap down. This position projects the sound both to the right side and outward (to the audience).

Shanti – front view with lid raised, back flap down and front door removed. This enables one to see the rotation and plucking action of the robot and allows for access to make fine adjustments of the plectrums.

Shanti – side view with both flaps down. This projects the full sound to the side, in the direction of the musicians.

Contact Ken Zuckerman!

satzladen — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:33:14 +0000

E-Mail: info@kenzuckerman.com

News!

ken — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 08:26:15 +0000

New Release! Meeting Two Worlds II: Indian Ragas & Medieval Song

ken — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:56:02 +0000

To listen to a song from this CD, please click here:

To read more and order this CD direct from Glossa please click here.

To order this CD in the Europe please click here.

To order this CD in the US please click here.

To listen and download this CD from iTunes please click here.

To listen and download this CD from emusic please click here.

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Upcoming & Recent Concerts

ken — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:09:43 +0000

2012 * * * 2012

November 16, 2012 , Musik-Akademie, Basel, with Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri

November 10, 2012 , Zurich, Switzerland

August 25, 2012 , Zurich, Switzerland

July 28, 2012 , Ali Akbar College, San Rafael, Calif., with Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri

July 22, 2012 , Portland, Oregon

June 22, 2012 , Aix en Provence, France, with Dominique Vellard

May 6, 2012 , Salon de Musique, Basel, with Kushal Das

To listen to a sampler of Kushal & Kenâ€˜s music, please click here:

May 4, 2012 , Neunkirch, Switzerland, with Kushal Das

April 22, 2012 , Rietberg Museum, Zurich, with Sanju Sahai

April 15, 2012 , Fairfax, Virginia, with Anirban Roy Choudhuri

April 14, 2012 , Washington, DC, with Anirban Roy Choudhuri

April 2, 2012 , Slippery Rock University, PA, with Samir Chatterjee

March 10, 2012 , Brandeis Residency & Concert with Homayun Sakhi

March 3, 2012 , Asia Society, New York City, with Homayun Sakhi

March 1, 2012 , Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, with Homayun Sakhi

February 25, 2012 , Boulder, Colorado, Naropa Institute

January 13, 2012 , Kolkata – Weavers’ Studio Centre, 94 Ballygunge

January 11, 2012 , Kharagpur – Indian Institute of Technology

January 10, 2012 , Kolkata – AKAAR PRAKAAR

January 8, 2012 , New Bombay

January 4, 2012 , New Delhi – India International Centre, with Akram Khan

January 2, 2012 , Pune

2011 * * * 2011

December 24, 2011, Ahmedabad

December 27, 2011, Mumbai (Dadar)

December 28, 2011, Mumbai (Shivaji Park Nagarik Sangh)

December 29, 2011, N.C.P.A. Mumbai – Listening session on the music of U. Ali Akbar Khan

July 2, 2011, Badenweiler, Germany

July 5-6, 2011, Braunwald, Switzerland, with Dominique Vellard – “Songs of Love & Ragas of Longing”

July 9, 2011, Rietberg Museum ZÃ¼rich, Switzerland, with the ZÃ¼richer Kammerorchester

2010 * * * 2010

December 23, 2009 – January 11, 2010, India Tour

January 1, 2010 – Bhopal, India

January 15, 2010, Mumbai, India – Ken receives an award from the Music Forum for his contribution to the cause of Indian Music.

January 16, 2010, Krakow, Poland, with Dominique Vellard, Keyvan Chemirani & Prabhu Edouard

February 10 – 14, 2010 – South Africa
Three Shades of Raga, with Pandit Jasraj, Kala Ramnath, Anindo Chatterjee & Vijay Ghate

Songlines â€“ April 2010

You should have been there…

3 Shades of Raga, featuring Pandit Jasraj, Ken Zuckerman and Kala Ramnath, Durban, Cape Town & Johannesburg, February 10, 12 & 14 2010

Not only was South Africa experiencing its hottest summer for 30 years but Three Shades of Raga promised three stars of Indian music on the same bill.

It began with Ken Zuckerman, the American-Swiss sarod player who still attracts some curiosity: can a non-Indian musician, albeit a long-time pupil of the legendary Ali Akbar Khan, really pull it off? As though reading the audienceâ€™s minds, he promises to return as an Indian in his next life. They laugh and then, less than a minute into the recital, theyâ€™ve closed their eyes, any doubts melting away into the sounds of his exquisite alaap. If anything, the recent death of his master has added more poignancy to his music. Theyâ€™re still on a high when Kala Ramnath comes on to mesmerize them with ultra-romantic ragas on her â€œsinging violinâ€. One reviewer has said this is what Mozart might have sounded like if transported to the subcontinent. Jasraj, at 80, is still in full control of three octaves, living proof that age is just a number. He sings from his regular repertoire of Haveli Sangeet (Hindu temple music), plus a couple of joyously received Muslim devotional numbers. He engages in constant banter with his accompanists and when his harmonium player Mukund Petkar keeps turning to see someone, Jasraj makes up a piece on the sport cautioning against the habit of turning oneâ€™s head.

Judging by the audienceâ€™s response, it seems post-apartheid South Africa is a natural home for the classical music of India â€“ thereâ€™s a special relationship as it was once home to Mahatma Gandhi. Indian settlers (here since the 1820s) have never entirely lost their link with the â€œhomelandâ€ and are ready for the real thing.

Jameela Siddiqi

March 31, 2010, Krakow, Poland, The Route to the Orient, with Hesperion XXI

April 14, 2010, Basel, Switzerland – Salon de Musique, in celebration of the late Ustad Ali Akbar Khan’s birthday

June 12, 2010, Basel, Switzerland – Two Worlds of Modal Music

July 31, 2010, San Rafael, California – Ali Akbar College Summer Series

August 27, 2010, Zurich, Switzerland – RÃ¶ntgenplatzfest 2010

October 2, 2010, Cologne, Germany – Two Worlds of Modal Music

October 12, 2010, Oviedo, Spain – The Route to the Orient, with Hesperion XXI

October 24, 2010, Bern, Switzerland – “Zoom In” Festival

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2009 * * * 2009

January – March, 2009, Dartmouth College, Hanover New Hampshire, Visiting Professor in residence

February 17, 2009, Dartmouth College, 8 PM, with Samir Chatterjee

March 27, 2009, Cambridge, England, with Dominique Vellard and Sanju Sahai

March 28, 2009, Chelmsford, Essex, England, with Dominique Vellard and Sanju Sahai

May 8, 2009, Basel, Switzerland, Schweizer-Indische Gesellschaft

June 5, 2009, Jerusalem, Israel, with Sanju Sahai and Yair Dalal

September 8, 2009, Zurich, Switzerland, with the Zurich Kammerorchester

September 25, 2009, Zurich, Switzerland, with Hanna JÃ¤rvelÃ¤inen (soprano), and Sanju Sahai (Tabla)

October 5-6, 2009, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA, concert & workshop

November 13, 2009, Basel, Switzerland, with Swapan Chaudhuri – Memorial concert for Ustad Ali Akbar Khan

November 29, 2009, Paris, France, with Hesperion XXI

December 23, 2009 – January 11, 2010, India Tour