Partho Das -Music Of The Sitar

In world music, some instruments are so distinctive that hearing only a few notes brings to mind a particular country and a particular culture. No instrument is more identified with Japan than the koto (even though the koto was actually invented in China and brought to Japan by the Chinese), and just as no wind instrument evokes thoughts of Scotland more quickly than Celtic bagpipes, no string instrument says "India" more than the sitar. It's hardly India's only important string instrument -- even those with only a casual interest in traditional Indian music should know about the vina, the sarod, the sarangi, and the surbahar -- but it's certainly among the country's most recognizable. One of North India's excellent sitarists is Partho Das, whose Music of the Sitar was recorded in Delhi in June 1989. This album finds him playing three instrumental North India-style ragas; the shortest is the eight-minute "Dhun in Raga Bhairavi," while "Raga Bageshri" lasts 30 minutes, and the equally hypnotic "Raga Yaman" lasts 28 minutes. Such extended performances aren't for those with short attention spans, but because Das is such a master of his instrument, he has no problem holding the attention of serious sitar enthusiasts. Das is joined by tabla drummer Rashid Mustafa on this excellent CD. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

TRACK LISTINGS

[01]. Partho Das - Music Of The Sitar-Raga Bageshri
[02]. Partho Das - Music Of The Sitar-Dhun (In Raga Bhairavi)
[03]. Partho Das - Music Of The Sitar-Raga Yaman

Partho Das (sitar)
Rashid Mustafa (tabla)

DOWNLOAD

Part1

Part2

3 Idiots

DOWNLOAD

Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan -Enchanting Strings

Shujaat Husain Khan is perhaps the greatest North Indian classical musician of his generation. He belongs to the Imdad Khan gharana (tradition) of the sitar (lute) and is the seventh in the unbroken line from his family that has produced many musical masters. His style known as the gayaki ang, is imitative of the subtleties of the human voice. Shujaat Husain Khan is the son and disciple of master sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan. His musical pedigree continues back through his grandfather, Ustad Inayat Khan; his great-grandfather, Ustad Imdad Khan; and his great-great-grandfather, Ustad Sahebdad Khan - all leading artist of their generation. At the age of three Shujaat began practicing on a specially made small sitar, and by the time he was six, the child prodigy started giving public performances. Since then he has performed at all the prestigious music festivals in India and has traveled around the world performing in Asia, Africa, North America and Europe. Shujaat Husain Khan has developed his own unique style of playing Indian classical music. His approach to rhythm is largely intuitive, fresh and spontaneous, always astonishing his audiences. He is also known for his exceptional voice, which he uses for singing folk songs and poetry. This album presents a mesmerizing performance of Raga Bageshri by one of the finest sitar players, Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan. Raga Bageshri is a popular raga of the late night, which is meant to depict the longing to be in communion with the beloved. It is said to have been first sung by Mian Tansen, the celebrated court singer of the Emperor Akbar in the sixteenth century. It is a melodious and enchanting raga that showers joy galore. It is very distinctive and instantly recognizable by the attentive listener.

DOWNLOAD

Part1
Part2

Ilaiyaraaja & Hariprasad Chaurasia -Nothing But Wind

With his virtuousic blowing technique, Hariprasad Chaurasia has turned the Bansuri (bamboo) flute into an instrument of beauty. Blending the musical traditions of India with imagination and innovation, Chaurasia has reached beyond classical music to create a sound of his own. Presented with the national award of the Sangeet Natak Academy in 1984, Chaurasia received the Gaurav Puraskar from the state government of Maharashtra, India in 1990, the Padma Bhushan and the Konarak Samman in 1992 and the Yash Bharati Sanman in 1994. In addition to recording as a soloist, Chaurasia has collaborated with such jazz musicians as John McLaughlin and Jan Garbarek. His compositions have been heard in several Indian films including Silsila, which he co-wrote with Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. Although he began his musical studies as a vocalist, Chaurasia switched to the flute after hearing a performance by Pandit Bholanath a year later. Inspired by what he heard, Chaurasia spent the next eight years studying with Bholanath. He later studied with surbahar player Shrinimati Annapurna Devi, the daughter of Ustad Allaudin Khan and the siter of Ali Akbar Khan. In 1957, Chaurasia began playing and composing material for All India Radio in Calcutta. Ten years later, he collaborated with Shivkumar Sharma and Brijbhushan Kabra on a much-celebrated raga suite, "Call Of The Valley." ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide. TRACK LISTINGS (01) [Illaiyaraaja] Singing Self (02) [Illaiyaraaja] Mozart I love You (03) [Illaiyaraaja] Song of Soul (04) [Illaiyaraaja] Composer's Breth (05) [Illaiyaraaja] Nothing But Wind

DOWNLOAD
Part1
Part2

Soulful Sufi

• Disc - 1
  • 1. Teri Deewani - Kailash Kher
  • 2. Zindagi Ye - Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
  • 3. Teri Justjoo - Roopkumar Rathod
  • 4. Ek Lau - Aamir
  • 5. Tere Bina - Ar Rahman
  • 6. Saiyyan - Kailash Kher
  • 7. Ha Raham - Aamir
  • 8. Maujood Hain - Jaswinder Singh
  • 9. Noor Un Ala Noor - Meenaxi
  • 10. Masha Allah - Saawariya
  • 11. Dilruba - Kailash Kher
  • 12. Waqt Par Bolna - Hariharan
• Disc - 2
  • 1. Mitwa - Shafqat Amanat Ali
  • 2. Bandya - Khuda Kay Liye
  • 3. Gurus Of Peace - Nfa Khan / Ar Rahman
  • 4. Allah Hoo - Khuda Kay Liye
  • 5. Albela Saajan - Kailash Kher
  • 6. Sajni - Master Saleem
  • 7. Tere Naina - Kailash Kher
  • 8. Soniyo From The Heart - Krishna
  • 9. Ishq Nachaya - Sona
  • 10. Ay Hairathe - Hariharan
  • 11. Heer - Sukhwinder Singh
  • 12. Haan Tu Hain - Jannat

DOWLOAD

[20]. World Music Library, KICC 5115 - Jaffar Hussain Khan - Songs of Popular Islam

Qawwali, and Islam "gospel" sang by Jaffar Hussain Khan. Its orogin goes back to the poet-musician Amir Khusrau in the 13th century. Having a background of classic vocal techniques, Khan draws the listener into religious intoxication.

DOWNLOAD

[19]. World Music Library, KICC 5114 - Bhimsen Joshi - Hindustani Vocal Music

Born in February 1922 in Gadag in the present-day Indian state of Karnataka, Bhimsen Joshi is one of the truly matchless male vocalists of Hindustani music: his performances are always a source of joy. From early in his life he was driven by music, a drive which led him to leave home quite young. After many adventures he settled down studying with Sawai Gandharva of the Kirana gharana and one of the foremost students of Abdul Karim Khan. Bhimsen Joshi has a rich and resonant voice which, while utterly classical in tone, has a warm, lived-in quality. ~ Ken Hunt, All Music Guide.
A live recording made in Tokyo in May 1985 with tanpura, tabla and vocal accompaniment with a strong devotional flavor. ~ Ken Hunt, All Music Guide.
Vocal music is concidered the highest position in the Indian traditional music scene. This is a recording of Bhimsen Joshi, a great master of classical Indian vocal music. His rich voice and technique give listeners a deeply moving experience.

DOWNLOAD

[18]. World Music Library, KICC 5109 - Kashmir - Pakistani Music, The Rubab of Kashmir (SUBHAN RATHORE)

Kashmir is located in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. This is a recording of Ghazal, songs of love and the rubab performance by an outstanding musician, Subhan Rathore.

DOWNLOAD

Part1
Part2

[17]. World Music Library, KICC 5113 - India - Super Percussion of India

Joint performance by northern India's prodigious tabla player, Zakir Hussain and the young percussionists from southern India. This recording clearly shows the difference of rhythmic forms between north and south India. Includes commentary by Hussain.

DOWNLOAD

[16]. World Music Library, KICC 5110 - India - The Art of the Sitar (Shahid Parvez)

Shahid Parvez is a middle-ranking sitar player. The son of Aziz Khan and the grandson of Wahid Khan, he was performing in public before he was ten years old. ~ Ken Hunt, All Music Guide.
Shahid Parves represents the new generation of young sitarists in etawa gharana style. With his genius being well known from his childfood, he now makes his international debut with this CD. Accompanied by Nashikant Barodekar on tabla.

DOWNLOAD
Part1
Part2

Abdulrahman Surizehi & Javid Afsari Rad - Karvan

The group Karvan plays music that is a meeting with the Persian and the Baluchi regions. Two of the five musicians comes from the cultural city Esfahan in Iran, two are from Baluchistan which include South-East Iran, South Afghanistan of South-West of Pakistan and on from Karachi in Pakistan. Abdulrahman Surizehi is considered a world-leading virtuoso on Benju. Sufi trance music from Baluchistan is their main expression but with a strong mixture with Persian classical music on Santour. Accompanied by percussion instruments like Tombak, Doholak, Tanburag and Tabla.

Abdulrahman Surizehi is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest musical ambassadors for Balochistan, a region that spans an area covering parts of eastern Iran, western Pakistan and southern Afghanistan.
A virtuoso on his instrument, the benju, Surizehi first came to Norway in 1987 and has since established himself as a solo performer and a vital contributor to Norwegian acts such as Karvan and Combonations. 2005 saw the release of Surizehi’s first proper release, ‘Love Songs and Trance Music from Balochistan’ (EM), an album that in addition to rave reviews earned Surizehi the prestigious German award ‘Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik’ for best world music album. 2006 saw Surizehi receiving the coveted Folkelarm Awards in the ‘open class’.

Born in Isfahan, Iran, Javid Afsari Rad began studying the Santur and the traditional Persian Radif at the age of sixteen with Parviz Meshkatian and master musician Faramarz Puyvar. His studies led him to Norway, where he later graduated from the University of Oslo in the field of Musicology. Javid’s illustrious career includes solo performances in notable world music festivals in Bayreut, Germany, India, Brazil, South Africa and Holland as well as ensemble work with world known musicians, Pt. Hariprasad, Dr. L. Subramaniam and Chourasia among others. In Norway, where he has lived since 1986, Javid is known as an innovative performer and an ingenious composer. His highly acclaimed work in 2002 included the album COMBONATIONS featuring well known musicians from Iran, India, China, Morocco, Senegal, Gambia and Brazil and the album CARAVAN with musicians from Iran and India. In the same year, Javid conceived and composed the music for the live concert,
ASIATIC CARAVAN featuring musicians and dancers from Iran, China and India, which was performed on tour in Norway. Javid has appeared with Zarbang in numerous prestigious festivals throughout Europe. Through his affiliation with a number of Norwegian Arts Organizations, Javid has composed soundtracks for film and theater.

01. Shervandi zahirig baho, ballok ordok
02. Kordi zahirig zemol kar zahirig vesal (trad baluchi)
03. Damali - leyro (baluchi trance music)
04. Dastgah nava avaz and composition in 4/4 beat
05. Damali (baluchi trance music)
06. Karvan - free improvisation on santur and benju
07. Ghazal - improvisations on baluchi folksong
08. Tabla solo (trad)
09. Tombak solo (trad)
10. South indian folk melody 3,43 (trad indian) charmezrab mahoor (trad persian)

Javid Afsari Rad - Santor
Abdulrahman Surizehi - Benju, Soroud
Jamil Ahmad Magsi - Doholak, Tabla
Ghulam Muhammad - Tanburag
Majid Hesabi - Tombak

DOWNLOAD

Part1
Part2

Inde - Kobiyals, Fakirs & Bauls

This is a recording of an annual festival held in Bengal and the performances on this recording are mostly of solo voice and male choruses.

01. Kobi Instrumental et Question au Maître Tamal Sarkar
02. Kobi Réponse du Maitre Amulya Sarkar
03. Nijashaney Atchey Khoda
04. Alekh Saharey
05. Bhaba Parey Jabi Kerey
06. Banka Nodi Pichal Ghatey
07. Prem Rasika Hobo Kemoney
08. Krisha Anurager Baganey
09. Pirer Pirani
10. Pakhpanjatan
11. Jat Gelo
12. Chai Anondo Chai Prem
13. Instrumental Nimai

DOWNLOAD

Part1
Part2
Part3

Ravi Shankar & Friends - Towards The Rising Sun

As Ravi Shankar explains in the notes to this cd all music in the East, despite other differences, is based on similar structures. This fact gives him the oportunity to explore a merging of the music of India with that of Japan. So here Ravi Shankar uses ancient indian ragas (system of melody forms which form the structure of Indian music) which use five notes and are similar to the modes used in Japanese music to execute his experiment. Of the six pieces contained in the cd five are permormed with the use of both Indian (sitar, tanpura, tabla) and Japanese instruments (the stringed koto and the shakuchachi flute). Of these, four are based on Indian ragas as mentioned above specifically composed to accomodate the use of Japanese instruments and make for very pleasing and meditative listening. The other piece which is called "Improvisations on the theme of Rokudan" is a 17th century Japanese composition for koto and here it is performed with the addition of Indian instruments. Whereas all the pieces on this record including the sixth which is a straight Indian raga are mesmerizingly beautiful, "Rokudan" is the showcase. There is an ascending structure to this piece which concludes with a magnificent crescendo that Shankar himself composed. Overall the music on this cd seems to have a stucture as opposed to other recordings of Indian music I have listened to which feel more free-form that makes it more easily comprehended the way western music is. So from India we travel east to meet Japan and further east to meet the West?

Padhasapa [East Greets East]
Kaharwa [East Greets East]
Improvisation on the Theme of "Rokudan" [East Greets East]
Namah Shivaya [East Greets East]
Tribute to Nippon [East Greets East]
Raga Hemant - Vilambit Gat in Teental - Drut Gat in Ektal [Homage to Baba Allauddin]

DOWNLOAD
Part1
Part2
Part3