In India, the connection between the universe and sound has long been recognised and is emphasised in Dhrupad singing, the oldest known style of classical Hindustani music.
Italian-born singer Amelia Cuni was so fascinated by this concept that she travelled to India in 1978 to learn the technique herself, studying with renowned masters, among others.
During her ten-year stay in the country, she performed in Mumbai, New Delhi, and internationally. Later, she actively collaborated with contemporary musicians, including her long-time partner, Berlin-based composer and creative instrument maker Werner Durand, who draws inspiration from both minimalist traditions and traditional music.
For Seconds Of Thirst, which was recorded in 2014 in a single session, the couple is accompanied by their close friend Uli Hohmann. He plays a hammered guitar and adds some subtle electronic sounds to a deep drone that unfolds from a PVC clarinet built by Durand. Above it all floats the voice of Amelia Cuni, connecting the present moment with eternity.
Seconds Of Thirst is part of Wild Thyme Music (4): A Sonic Universe.
Find out more about the other artists featured in this episode here: synthesist Eleh, whose minimalist works seem to have their roots in the cosmos itself, and Charlemagne Palestine, known for his long ritualistic pieces without religious references.
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