In the fall of 2008, Olympia-based anthropologist and Evergreen professor Llyn De Danaan traveled to the Indian state of Rajasthan with a group of visual artists.
Llyn De Danaan (Photo by Beth Brooks)
Her goal was to produce a portfolio of portraits of Rajasthan, but she also brought along her Zoom digital recorder. While there, she recorded the sounds of the streets and schools of this colorful region of the Indian subcontinent.
In her own words:
“I asked permission to record music and chatted with some performers about their work. I heard singing, chanting, and drums all night every night. I leaned out my tent flap or shuttered windows with the recorder to catch snatches of the enchantment.”
Upon returning to Olympia, she compiled the sounds of birds, songs, tunes, dances and the back country of Rajasthan into a 26 minute audio documentary that will transport you. So hit play, kick back, browse the photos and enjoy a new perspective.
Rajasthan Soundscape (give it a second to load; it’s a big file)
All photographs and soundscape by LLyn De Danaan Fall 2008.
Camel-Eye View of Farmhouse Near Pushkar
Farmworkers Near Jaipur
Man with Newspaper
Pausing at Pushkar Camel Fair
Man tuning his Ravanahathha during Pushkar Camel Fair. Made at home, these instruments feature a coconut shell bowl covered with goat hide. The neck is bamboo. Small bells keep time and add depth to the draws of the bow across the strings.
Closeup of Ravanahatha being played by musician in Udaipur.
Man near Jaipur playing one form of a Sarangi, an instrument in the classical Hindu tradition found throughout Rajasthan.
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