The Learn section is a virtual encyclopaedia of Indian classical music. The program is divided into three main sections: Learn, Practice and Compose, all aptly labelled. After the CD self-ran and installed Swarshala, I simply inserted the authorisation floppy and, following the obligatory chuntering and whirring, Swarshala was authorised. Swarshala 3 Pro is Windows-only (although its Learn section is available separately as a $50 cross-platform application called Swar Tutorial) and installed painlessly on my XP PC. For those who prefer to use a hardware sampler, Swartrax packages the same sample library in Akai format, but includes the MIDI files and Librarian application, which are important components of the product. Their Swarshala 3 Pro/Swarplug bundle can provide not only Indian instruments in VST Instrument form (Swarplug) but also teach you about Indian music and provide a virtual Indian backing band for you to practise with (Swarshala). Into this breach step Swar Systems ( a Swiss company who specialise in Indian music software. Is it true the classical form doesn't change chords? What are the different instruments you need to get that Indian flavour? What's that instrument that sounds like a goose being throttled? But to a puzzled outsider, Indian music may seem initially intimidating and they may approach it filled with questions. So I'm naturally familiar with the sound of Indian music, whether it's the pukka classical tunes my dad prefers or the more poppy Hindi film soundtracks my mum sings along with. I'm lucky in that I grew up listening to my parents' record collection. And American too, judging by the Indian flavour in tracks from Missy Elliot, Redman and other hip-hop/R&B heavy hitters.
Add that to the mainstream success of artists like Asian Dub Foundation, Nitin Sawhney and Talvin Singh and you can see that Indian music is finally becoming a visible part of British musical culture.
Now, however, nary a day goes by without another advert Bollywooding it up or trance act sampling some 'Indian atmosphere'. Apart from immigrant families like mine and perhaps a few Beatles-influenced Western fans, there wasn't a great market for it or appreciation of its unique possibilities. When I was growing up, Indian music in Britain was a very underground thing. The Practice pane sets up a virtual Indian group for you.
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