Impressions:Where Classical is Contemporary
Track 01: Shiva Shakti
Composer:Mian Tansen; Genre: Dhrupad; Raag: Poorvi; Taal: Sool Taal; Lyrics:Kar Kapal Lochan
The journey of Impressions begins with an Invocation to Lord Shiva, the symbol of power. Set in the evening melody of Poorvi, this is a tribute by Mian Tansen, the legendary court musician of Delhi Durbar. Sung in Dhrupad style, the accompaniment of Pakhawaj and Sarod re-invokes the antiquity of durbar-music.
Track 02: Ecstasy
Composer:Fateh Ali Khan; Genre: Khyal; Raag: Todi; Taal: Teen Taal; Lyrics:Mandal Baje Sajani
With the Joy of making music, the Sarod and the Mandal joins for a question-answer session. The hero begins to play his Mandal and calls for his beloved to join the ensemble and make music. Set in the morning melody of Mian Ki Todi, this is a tribute by the great maestro Fateh Ali Khan. The exuberance of the jamming inspires the Sarod to join in a Sawal-Jawab with the vocalist to conclude the session.
Track 03: Confluence
Composer:Padma Bhushan Jnan Prakash Ghosh; Genre: Tarana; Raag: Jog; Taal: Jhap Taal;
Lyrics:Tom Tanana
Tarana, a musical composition packed with rhythmic syllables, is believed to have originated by another legendary Persian composer-poet of the Delhi Durbar, Amir Khusrao. The pace of the fast Tarana is subdued here by the confluence of the two Gandhars of Jog. The sensation of the late night melody couples with the serenity of the Sadhra; the Sarangi flirts with the voice and the Tabla comes together to work on the rhythm.
Track 04: Longing
Composer:Padma Bhushan Jnan Prakash Ghosh; Genre: Thumri; Raag: Mishra Sohini; Taal: Adhha
Lyrics:Ka Sang Khelu Main Phag
The Sarangi goads the singer to choose a Bandishi Thumri- a musical excellence of the Benaras tradition. The lustful tone of the Sarangi reminds him of Radha’s longing for Krishna, and how she suffers her loneliness on the day of Holi. Sohini brings out the true emotion of those passionate moments.
Track 05: Thrill-Lana
Composer:Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna; Genre: Thillana; Raag: Brindavani; Taal: Adi Taal
Lyrics:Dhim Na Na Na Tillillana
The air at once freshens up with a cool breeze from the South. The breather comes in the form of a Thillana, with all its rhythmic ecstasy, and decks up the heavy air with the sweet fragrance of the tamarind. The Mridangam player manifests his excellence in the form of a Thani-Avartanam before the charanam spices up the mood to charm the queen of the heart.
Track 06: Revelation
Composer:Dr. Rajeeb Chakraborty; Genre: Ghazal; Raag: Mishra Patdip; Taal: Keherva
Lyrics:Tanha Tanha Sa
The singer transcends to a level where he experiences Revelation. The memory of his long-lost past returns to him, and he speaks to his inward self. It reminds him of the moment he fell in love with the court-dancer in Lucknow and began singing a Ghazal couplet. This track pays tribute to the classical tradition of Urdu Shayari andGhazal.
Track 07: Harmony
Composer:Padma Bhushan Jnan Prakash Ghosh; Genre: Khyal; Raag: Rageshree; Taal: Ek Taal
Lyrics:Raag Sang Raagini
Love is in the air- be it visible, be it a melodic strain. The voice of the Raga meets with the splendor of the Ragini. The Sitar can’t wait to burst out in harmony with the voice. The Sarangi anecdotes in places but welcomes the musical meeting. The sitar speaks in the language of the voice, whispers harmony and responds to challenges posed by the singer. This music celebrates the Union of the Raga andRagini in Rageshree.
Track 08: Madly-Medley
Composer: Traditional; Genre: Khyal; Raag: Madhumanti; Taal: Teen Taal
Lyrics:Kahe Maan Karo
With a flash of a lightening, the dream ends. The singer finds himself in a Jam Pad with all his musician friends, trying to create a new-age sound. He gears up to jam with his friends on cajon and the music builds up with the whole line up joining in the groove. The Raga responds to the demand of time, fusing boundaries between the classical and the contemporary…
Vocalist / Sound Designing: Anirban Bhattacharyya
Percussion /Rhythm Programming: Bivakar Choudhury
Mridangam:Kesavan
Sarangi: Ahsan Ali
Sitar: Umashankar
Sarod: Pritam Ghosal
Bass Guitar: Arpan Guha Thakurta
Mixing Engineer: Niharika Ghai
© All rights of Mehfil Records works are reserved. Unauthorized broadcasting of this record is strictly prohibited. Released in January 2013
Anirban Bhattacharyya is a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Patiyala tradition and a budding ethnomusicologist from Kolkata. A senior disciple of Padmashree Ajoy Chakraborty, An...
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