THE sounds of Indian musicians from the more than 200 years ago have been revived, recorded and reinterpreted for the 21st century by a Southampton musician.

Highly acclaimed harpsichordist and University of Southampton Turner Sims Fellow Jane Chapman has captured the music as part of a research project.

She explored early musical encounters that took place between the Indian musicians and the West.

Now that work has culminated in the release of a new CD, which looks at compositions staged by Indian performers at dance parties held in the mansions of wealthy English merchants and the courts of Indian Newabs (rulers).

Jane has recorded and released a CD of the Oriental Miscellany, which is a book of musical scores published by concert promoter William Hamilton Bird in Calcutta in 1789, it is regarded by music experts as an important historical source of Indian music.

Jane Chapman, said: “I wanted the new recording to reach back to the roots of this kind of music and reflect how it would have sounded when first performed centuries ago.

“I collaborated with musicians from India to explore how the songs would originally have been arranged and then worked from this to develop a new interpretation.”

The CD recording has been released on Signum Classics website, to find it visit www.signumrecords.com