CHARLES DAVIS - FLUTE PLAYER

[ indian fairy tales ]

The World of Indian Fairy Tales and Oriental Sounds

Indian fairy tales told by Gabi Altenbach, musically accompanied by the Ensemble Chanchala.

Charles Davis (Flutes), Andieh’ Merk (Percussion), Buba Davis-Sproll (Tanpura)

Indian fairy tales have an over one thousand year old tradition and reflect the beliefs and everyday world of the Indian people. The numerous Indian gods find their way in the telling of these stories, as well as the rituals of the Islamic world. Although the religion is an omnipresent element in the Indian fairy tale world, there is seldom a moralizing tone to be found, and the stories are characterised by the humour and cunning of the common people.

Apart from the stories of the gods that descend in the appearance of animals or humans, there is a reversal of roles, where humans appear as Vishnu or Shiva, so that they can win the hearts of their lovers, or to fool the kings. The relationships between women and men are often a theme, and while the men possess the power and exert it over the women in their harem, the women using their cleverness and cunning always win. The interchange between the narration and the music evokes as well as the magic of the orient, the humour and the love of life of the common people.

Gabi Altenbach was employed from 2001until 2006 as a member of theatre of Constance as theatre teacher, narrator, dramatic advisor. Since autumn 2006 she is working freelance in Munich.She narrates and plays for all age groups with a lively and impressionable style. 

The Ensemble Chanchala plays a music whose roots can be found in the cultures of the Arabian and Indian world, as wells as in jazz. Charles Davis is one of the most active jazz flutists in Europe, and plays the flute, alto flute, bass flute and the over two metre high double bass flute. Andieh’ Merk plays in this group the tablas, udu, darabukha and Hang and is a much demanded percussionist in various jazz and percussion groups. Buba Davis-Sproll plays the tanpura, the Indian instrument that accompanies in the background the soloists.