Music of Bengal Monsoons

Hori Mon Maujaye - teaser of a Kirtan

2007-06-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

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Kirtan, also known as sankirtan, is the call-and-response chanting inspired and popularized by the great saint Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The roots of kirtan go back over 500 years to Renaissance India. During this period the influence and style of kirtan became the focal point for the upsurge in religious expression in Bengal led by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This joyful mood quickly spread throughout India, where today kirtan is accepted as one of the surest paths to enlightenment. The singing is accompanied by the ancient musical raga musical tradition with a rhythmic drumming style that transports the chanters to profound spiritual realms. In its religious fervor, it has been likened to modern American Gospel music, and in its heartfelt expression it compares to profound states of deep meditation.

This kirtan is an extract from Girish Chandra Ghosh-authored play 'Noti Binodini'.

Girish Chandra Ghosh (February 28, 1844 - 8 February 1912) was a famous Bengali musician, poet, playwright, novelist, actor and Sri Ramakrishna's celebrated disciple.His lifelong association with the theatre at its nascent stage greatly helped the development of Bengali theatre, transforming what had been amateur theatre into a professional one. Author of the largest number of Bangla plays, Girish Ghosh was probably the greatest actor of his time.

'Hari Mon Maujaye' is a devotional song in which Noti Binodini calls out in search of Hari (Sri Krishna), pleading him to come out of his playful hiding and relieve her awaiting soul. This edited version is my short tribute to two stalwarts of Bengali Theatre - Late Shri Girish Chandra Ghosh and 'the queen of Bengali folk theatre', Late Smt. Bina Dasgupta who famously portrayed the title role of 'Noti Binodini'.

Shokatorey Oi Kandichhe Shokoley

2007-03-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

Can you hear that Father?
They are crying, distressed, weak.
Can you hear them?
Speak into their ears
Talk to their souls
Give them the Word of Prosperity.

Living with tiny expectations
Living with anxiety
Losing whatever they get
...Beyond all consolation

Happiness calls from various directions
Like a mirage on the desert plains
...The thirsty is left to wander piteously

The day ends.
The game ends.
Evening falls.
The troubled soul then cries aloud
...Trembling with fear.

Oh Father of the world,
What does Destiny have in store?
Where does Peace reside?

Give yourself, Father,
They need you!
Fulfill their hopes,
Come close to them.

Oh listen to them, Father.
They are crying...sad... distressed...

Swarabitan#8
Karnati bhajan
Ektaal
Brahmasangeet
Composed by Rabindranath Tagore when he was twenty-two years of age.

Dedicated to the deceased and wounded of Nandigram

P.S: I've sung this song in the middle of highfever and sinusitis. So, please overlook any singing errors. Thanks!

Ami bandhinu tomar teerey taroni amar

2007-03-03T01:59:00.001-08:00

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This holi, I decided to sing an Atulprasadi song. "Ami bandhinu" created by Atulprasad Sen, happens to be one of my all-time favourites. One can just not miss the way "he enriched Bangla songs through his experiments with lyrics, tune, measure, pathos". Here's an approximate translation :

I tie my boat at thy shore,
Unable to row, alone, anymore...

Encouraged by the waves of dawn, I had set sail,
Not guessing that darkness would fall so capriciously.

My sails are frayed by the storm-winds.
Forlorn and confused, I run to thee...
Drifting silently, seeking respite at thy coast.

Whatever now remains with me

I offer thee, oh, please accept it,

And keep thy feet on my broken boat.

I rest my boat at thy shore,

Unable to sail, alone, anymore...

...My homage to the great composer, Atulprasad Sen (1871-1934)

Mor Shondhyay Tumi Sundar Beshe

2007-02-13T18:58:00.000-08:00

(This evening you've come to me...)
Genre : Puja/Shundar (Worship/Beauty)

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Composed by Rabindranath Tagore when he was fifty-three(17th June, 1914).
Swarabitan#40
"Mor Shondhyay" is one of Tagore's 'romantic' songs from the Puja genre.
Translations are due because I simply COULD not get the right feeling! If anyone has a good translation, drop it into my email/comment box.

Till then,

Five Hundred Miles - Jab Koi Baat

2007-01-24T05:38:00.000-08:00

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'Five Hundred Miles', a famous ballad about a man who is painfully far away from home became a folk staple through Peter, Paul and Mary's version on their No. 1 debut album, 'Peter, Paul and Mary' (1962), and country-singer Bobby Bare's crossover album 'Top 10 hits' (1963). In 1989, "500 Miles" was returned to the charts by The Hooters, a Philadelphia rock quintet, in an entirely new treatment. However, most believe that quieter renditions like The Kingston Trio's are closer to the true spirit of the song.
In 1990, the rendition by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs inspired Rajesh Roshan's Hindi version 'Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye' which he used in the film 'Jurm' (Kumar Sanu, Sadhana Sargam). 'Jab Koi' comes as an excellent adaptation with some great lyrics!
Here, I've made a humble effort to combine these two masterpieces; a tribute to the essence of the two songs. Hope you like it!

Download this song

This Moonlit Night - Aaj Jyotsna Raate

2006-12-20T07:21:00.000-08:00

Genre: Puja/ Biroho (Worship/ separation of lovers)

Composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
Swarabitan#40

Director(video): Ratan Maitro. Arrangement: Debashish
Album: Dinanto Belay (Raga Music)

This moonlit night,
All have gone to the woods.
Oh the intoxicating winds of spring.

I won't go with them.
Let me lie here in my own room.
Alone in my quiet little corner.

I'll have to remain in this little home of mine.
I'll have to wash it, wipe it with care.
I'll have to keep awake,
Lest he comes.
(I wish I knew when he will come).

Oh! If he remembers me...
In these intoxicating winds of spring...

Bhenge Mor Gharer Chaabi

2006-09-14T05:49:00.000-07:00

Genre : Puja/Bondhu (Worship/Friend)
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Composed by Rabindranath Tagore
when he was fifty-six
Poush 20, 1324/ 4th January 1918
Probahini 67.
Swarabitan#16
Geetapanchashikaa
taken from the play Daakghar
originally inspired from Baul song 'Dekhechhi Roopshagorey moner manush..'
Arrangement : Bodhi-Bappa

Who will break my lock?
Who will take me out of my room, o friend?
No longer can I bear this lonely day without u!
The day may have dawned
The sun may be peeping from the horizon.

I see a road before me
Won't your chariot arrive at my doorstep?

All the stars in the sky stare.
Unblinking.
Waiting by the road of night-and-dawn...

Early morning the merry pedestrians may come and go,
singing in groups.

The flowers may be blooming,
The strings of 'Arunveena' may be creating some more wondrous music...

(Another approximate translation of Tagore. )
Download this Song

My night recedes - Amar Raat Pohalo

2006-08-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

Genre : Prokriti/Sharat (Nature/Autumn)

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Composed by Rabindranath Tagore when he was sixty-four.

Swarabitan#2

Arrangement : Bodhi-Bappa
Flute : Bappaditya

My night recedes,
This festive autumn.
O flute,
Into whose hands do I place thee?

A melody vibrates in your heart
- Approach of a new dawn

Those unspoken words in my soul
Your music stole them all

Just like the morning star,
Time has come to an end,
Oh night. Fare thee well.

Dear all, the above words are not a translation of Tagore's music. I will never be able to translate Tagore. They are merely an expression of what I understand and feel for the song; for I believe, Tagore is far beyond any boundaries of expression.

His words can be interpreted in numerous ways, all deep and pregnant with emotion. Tagore's lyrics, embedded in melody, are indeed a treat to all who seek a soothing refuge.

2006-08-12T23:47:00.000-07:00

!!!

Dear Friends, thank you very much for your support. I am very happy to mention that one of my songs - Aguner Paroshmoni - has been played a 100+ times in only eleven days. In addition to that there has been a 1000+ page view in the same time. Here is a screen shot of my joy.

In addition to this, I am really humbled by your comments and mails that point out my flaws and help me to improve. I hope you will continue to encourage me with your valuable advice and feedback.

Also, as per your feedback, I have also enabled download of the songs. I have provided all the download links below in the 'links' section.

Dure Kothay!

2006-08-08T11:28:00.002-07:00

Some modern songs

2006-08-06T03:41:00.000-07:00

Music knows no boundaries. Perhaps it is for this reason that I have decided to add a couple of my "modern" songs.

1. Ki nesha tomar chokhe : Bengali version of the popular "Kajra Mohabbat Wala"
lo-fi URL hi-fi URL

2 Phire Phire : Bengali version of the popular "Zara Zara Behakta Hai"
lo-fi URL hi-fi URL

New Songs Uploaded

2006-08-02T10:37:00.001-07:00

I have actually managed to upload a few more songs onto my blog. Although my computer is enabled with the "amazing" broadband connection, somehow an upload of 4MB took almost 30 minutes, (with frequent "Page Not Available" terminators in between)!
I am, therefore, immensely satisfied that I can actually provide the following links, again to the "amazing" Soundclick:

Aamar Raat Pohalo : lo-fi URL hi-fi URL

Dure Kothay : lo-fi URL hi-fi URL

Aguner Paroshmoni : lo-fi URL hi-fi URL

my songs on soundclick

2006-07-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

I recently learned the art of uploading some music on to the net. I took 3 long hours and finally managed three songs (some effort, you would say! well, blame it on broadband!)
here's the link I finally managed to put up. well, there are only 5 songs there now, but I plan to update this thing once my server starts functioning more respectfully!

do check these out, and give me your comments:
<http://www.soundclick.com/mousumi>

I have uploaded a few of Tagore's compositions:
1. Aaj Dhaner Khete Roudryo Chhayay

( low-fi URL) ( hi-fi URL)

(video cd/ audio cd/cassette entitled: "Rabindranather Nacher Gaan" - Raga Music )

2. Shei Bhalo Shei Bhalo

( low-fi URL) ( hi-fi URL)
( audio cd/cassette entitled: "Nabo Basanta" - EBI Music )

I have also put up some of my own modern songs that bear the smell of the typical bengal village life:
1. Aaj Ogo Rather Mela

( low-fi URL) ( hi-fi URL)
(audio cd/cassette entitled: "Modhhur Chhoan" - HMV )

2. Oi Dushtu Projapoti

( low-fi URL) ( hi-fi URL)
(audio cd/cassette entitled: "Modhhur Chhoan" - HMV )

3. Shiber Mathay Jol Dhalilam

( low-fi URL) ( hi-fi URL)
(audio cd/cassette entitled: "Modhhur Chhoan" - HMV )

My Introduction

2006-07-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

ABOUT ME

“The ambience is the distinctly different. It is not the usual intellectual residence of a well-known performer with a Jamini Roy hanging on the wall, there is a thin distinctive aura of medicine and music rolled in one... Mousumi has emerged as one of the brightest stars of the contemporary Rabindrasangeet scene”---- The Asian Age, 16th June,1996.

Mousumi’s father Prof. N. K. Dey, now retired, was the Principal of Ramananda College, Bishnupur- a very old and eminent college of that area. Her mother, Smt. Sikha Dey, also retired, was the Head-Mistress of a School at Bishnupur. Her husband, Dr. Anadi Karmakar, is a visiting Radiologist at Dept. of Radio-diagnosis, IPGME&R, Kolkata.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION:

Mousumi was a brilliant student, loved by all her teachers. She was awarded the National Scholarship in Higher Secondary Examination. She graduated from the University of Calcutta and also secured the Diploma of Radiographic Technology.

MUSICAL ODYSSEY:

Her musical journey began when she was only four. Late Bhaskar Bhusan Nandi, a disciple of Sri Ramesh Chandra Bandopadhyaya- was her first Guru. From him Mousumi inherited the legacy of ‘Sound & Tune’. Subsequently she honed her skills in the presence of Shri Nihar Ranjan Bandopadhyaya (Kheyal, Dhrupad, Dhamar). Smt Maya Sen, Late Subinoy Roy, Kamala Basu (Rabindrasangeet), Biman Mukhopadhyaya (Nazrulgeeti), Smt Dipali Nag (Light Classical). She was also under the guidance of Late Sushil Chattopadhyaya (Atulprasadi, DL Songs). According to most of them, Mousumi’s approach to Music is distinctly different. She is equally at home with various songs including Bengali & Hindi Modern Songs, but her first love remains Rabindrasangeet.

AWARDS & LAURELS:

Mousumi has been awarded with various prizes, medals in different All-Bengal Competitions, like ‘All Bengal Gyan Goswami Sangeet Competition’ (1994), ‘Uttam Smriti Award’(1995), ‘Hemanta Mukhopadhyay Smriti Talent Search Contest’ (1995), ‘Siranama Award’(Bangla Chalachitra Parishad and Cultural Group 2001)’, ‘Art Forum Certificate’(2003), ‘Tarun Kumar Award’ (Bangla Chalachitra Prachar 2006), to name a few. She was also awarded by ‘Kalimata Nath Ashram Dakshineswar’ in 2002.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

Her first solo album in Rabindrasangeet - Naba Basanta- was launched in Dec’99 from a reputed company, duly approved by the Viswa-Bharati Music Board. ‘Modhur-Choaan’, an album of Folksongs, was published by HMV-RPG in Nov’2001. Her second Tagore-collection ‘Dinanta Belay’ was released in 2003, followed by ‘Rabindranath-er Nacher Gaan’ (Cassette, Audio CD, VCD) in 2005 by Raga Music. Her latest audio album on Tagore songs ‘Amar Raat Pohalo’ was released in 2007 and its VCD counterpart is currently getting its final touches.

Apart from these, she lent her voice to several albums like ‘Beshi Kichhu Chaina’, ‘Debi Pith Ekannya Pith’, etc. She sang for various TV Serials, like ‘Nayak’, ‘Shrimati’, ‘Shudhu Tomari Jonyo’, ‘Upasana’ (ETV), ‘Som Theke Shukru’, ‘Kobikotha’ (Akash), ‘Purabi’, ‘Surer Ei Jharnadharay’ (Zee Bangla), ‘Bhranti-Bilash’(Doordarshan) to name a few. Her first break as a play-back singer was in Raja Sen’s film ‘Chakrabyuha’.

Mousumi completed her Senior Diploma in Vocal & Rabindrasangeet from Prayag Sangeet Samity. She is an enlisted artist of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Govt. of India (EZCC), ICCR, Dept of Youth Welfare, West Bengal State Music Academy, Dept of Sports and Culture, Rabindrasadan, Viswa-Bharati Music Board, Rajya Charukala Parishad, Govt. of West Bengal, All India Radio, Doordarshan and various TV Channels like E-TV, Zee Bangla, etc. She has performed in almost all types of Govt. sponsored Music Festivals like Biswa Bangla Sammelan, Bangla Sangeet Mela, Bible Society and the like.

THE CRITICS SAY:

Her ‘intense involvement with what she renders… her excellent timber…Equally honeyed is the pathos’--- The Telegraph

WHAT MAKES MOUSUMI DIFFERENT FROM THE CROWD?

To start with her melodious voice, there is a tonal quality with wide range; she has her fair share of flair including synchronization with the Music but the flare is above average and at times bordering on outstanding.

for any info about me plz mail at

mousumiindia@gmail.com

my favourite quotes

2006-07-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

da labour of women in da house, certainly enables men 2produce more wealth than they oterwise could. in this way {they} are economic factors in da society. but so are da horses.

charlotte gilman

there are some men who hav their heads fill up with da things they know

wise men come in all sizes

but i don"t need so much sense 2 say

that better than learning a lot of things

s learning things that are good.

all i can do s tell da truth. no, that s not so- i hav missed it. there is no truth tht, in da passing through awareness, does not lie. but one runs after it all da same

jacques lacon

it makes your enemy &your friend, working together, to hurt u 2 da heart, da one 2 slander in &da other 2get da news 2 u.

mark twain

detach da writer from da milieu where he has experienced his greatest sense of belonging, &u hav created a discontinuity wthin his personality, a short circuit in his identity. da result s his originality, his creativity comes 2 an end. he becomes da one-book novelist or da one-trilogy writer

h.roth

da real price of everything is da toil& trouble of acquiring t. labour was da first price, da original purchase money tht was paid for all things

adam smith

memory s not what we remember,but that which remembers us. memory s a present that never stops passing.

octavio paz

no one can read a poem unless he realies tht it s a physical object as well as an abstract vehicle for conveying ideas. a poem has a material existance like a piece f music or sculpture are a plate of meat.

george macbeth

poetry s not an expression of partyline. it s that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what u really think, making da private world public, that s what da poet does.

allen ginsberg

2006-07-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

" Teach me half the gladness

That thy brain should know.

Such harmonious madness

From my lips would flow

The world would listen then as I am listening now!"

P.B.Shelley

Nothing can describe the maddening power of music as this short verse does. My favourite from the poem "To A Skylark"