Monkey Chant is Glenn Kotche’s sonic interpretation of the Ramayana, an ancient Sanskrit epic which tells of a ridiculous battle between Rama and the demon king Ravana. They need to make a movie.
I copied the following from the liner notes (Mobile, 2006, Nonesuch). The timing may not line up with the youtube clip since I could not upload due to size limitations.
CHARACTERS
RAMA, 7th incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu (protagonist) - wires and stick on the drum head and drums in the final section
SITA, Rama’s wife and heroine - friction stick on the snare head
HANUMAN, Monkey general and ally of Rama - large pull-strings on the snare head
RAVANA, ten-headed king of the Rakshasas (demons) from Lanka (antagonist) - small spring clusters on the snare head
INDRAJIT, son of Ravana - hi-hat when struck
MONKEY ARMY - drums (both the chanting ostinato and rhythmic melodies)
PLOT
0’0” - Introduction
0’12” - Exchange between RAVANA and SITA
1’15” - Battle begins between the MONKEY ARMY and INDRAJIT with RAVANA’S Army - devastation on both sides
2’04” - Battle continues, MONKEY ARMY is overwhelmed by poison arrows
3’23” - RAVANA’S invisible demons attack MONKEY ARMY and kill thousands
3’54” - To prevent retreat, HANUMAN decries from “victory to RAMA”
3’57” - HANUMAN smashes the skull of every visible enemy and challenges the demons
4’33” - MONKEY ARMY rallies behind HANUMAN, more monkeys join forces
5’06” - Aggressive exchange bewtween MONKEY ARMY and the invisible INDRAJIT - monkeys are annihilated
5’19” - RAMA’S shock and helplessness, RAVANA tells HANUMAN that the battle has been lost
5’35” - HANUMAN flies to Kailasa Mountain to retrieve healing herbs
6’30” - RAMA embraces HANUMAN for devotion, HANUMAN shouts “victory to RAMA”
6’48” - RAMA and HANUMAN kill INDRAJIT
8’00” - RAVANA and RAMA battle, RAMA answers each of RAVANA’S attacks
8’53” - RAMA kneels to pray to the sun, feels his strength returns and is joyous
9’33” - The final battle, RAVANA charges RAMA, RAMA kills RAVANA
10’58” - SITA’S anticipation for RAMA, his love and sorrow for her
11’15” - RAMA, with mixed emotions, declares to SITA, “We shall return home to Ayodhya”
