Punjabi Folk Music

First of all let me wish all the readers of my blog a happy, successful and peaceful 2016.

I was recently visiting a site of Buddhist Stupa remains which are 2100 years old and where at the same site carved statues and pillars and coins of Kushan period of 1 to 3 CE have been recovered. The site also revealed several artefacts of the Late Harappan period.

But today's' post is not about the site but the person I met there and who rendered Punjabi Folk music in his rustic voice.

Teja Singh on Tumba at Sanghol

Teja Singh, an employee of ASI is also a prolific Punjabi Folk singer. Here he sings in the majestic setting of Buddhist and Harappan ancient site of Sanghol in Punjab, India. The musical instrument that he is playing is called Tumba or Tumbi.

Teja Singh on Tumba

He is singing the folk song on the Punjabi legend Puran Bhagat.

Also read:
Buddhist Vestiges of Sanghol, Punjab

Foot-tapping Fusion Drums Music from Ghana, Africa

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Indo Africa Cultural Confluence which has coincided with the Indo-African Summit currently being held in Delhi. 

Fusion Drums music performance from Ghana

The event was organised by the Delhi International Arts Festival at Nehru Park in Delhi. There were performances of whirling dervish of Egypt, dance & music of Ethiopia & fusion drums of Ghana. Besides this the Indian band Delhi Inde Project also known as Dilli Wala Band also rendered some rock Sufi music.

The drum performances by the Ghana team was superb. Listen and see the small video of their performance here-

A short video of Fusion Drums music from Ghana

More such performances should be held so that we can listen and see the music and culture of the world.

Also read:
Sufiana Music by Bandanawazi Qawwals
European Day of Languages - Enthralling Performance
Wise Guys and the Maharaj Trio for the Butterflies

Sufiana Music by Bandanawazi Qawwals

I spent an enjoyable evening listening to the Qawalis & Sufiana Music by Bandanawazi Qawwals from Hyderabad. The event was organised at the Epicentre in Gurgaon as part of the Delhi International Arts Festival 2015.

The Bandanawazi Qawwals rendering Sufi music

One of the living descendants of this famous band of people is Ateeq Hussein Khan Bandanawazi. Born in 1980 in Hyderabad to a family of classical Sufiana qawwals, he belongs to the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana of musicians. Besides learning Qawwali from his father Ustad Iqbal Hussein Khan Bandanawazi from a very early age, he also picked up various forms of classical music like Dhrupad, Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, Tarana and Bhajan.

The evening started with the soulful song Kahe ko Byahi Bidesh – by Amit Khusrau – the best known Sufi poet that Delhi has produced. He lived from 1253 to 1325 CE and was the best known disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi. Indians may have heard this song umpteen times as it is played at almost all weddings at the time of departure of the bride from her parents house.

They mesmerised the audience with the rendition of Chaap Tilak Sab Cheeni – again by Amir Khusrau

This was followed by Bhar Do Jholi Meri –popularised more recently by the film Bajrangi Bhijaan. Do hear the clipping given below.

Bhar Do Jholi Meri sung by Bandanawazi Qawwals

Last, but not the least, was the ever popular song Dumdum Mast Kalandar. I have heard Runa Laila, Abida Parveen, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sabri Brothers and others rendition of this song earlier.

Dumdum Mast Kalandar sung by Bandanawazi Qawwals

The evening was supposed to have commenced with of Qawalis & Sufiana Music by Ayaz Nizami Qawwals from Pakistan. But because of the recent happenings in Bombay & Delhi we were deprived of listening to them. At least the Bandanawazi Qawwals did not disappoint! They got a standing ovation by an appreciative audience. The auditorium was full on Dussehra/Durga Puja holiday.

Also read:
Sufi Music by Sabri Brothers
Sufi Dervish Dance

European Day of Languages - Enthralling Performance

I got an invitation to attend the European Day of Languages (EDL) held on 26 September 2015 at the Cyber Hub, Gurgaon. 

Karim Ellaboudi, Matteo Fabroni, Vasundhra, Marcello Allulli & Saurabh Suman at EDL

Initially when I went there I was a bit disappointed as the programme was not well organised and the information on the schedule of events was sketchy. But as the programme progressed we were enthralled by performers from various countries and organisations. The programme was the courtesy of the European Union.

First performance was a Tango performed by the two performers (as they say it takes two to Tango) from the Instituto Cervantes which was very sensual. After their performance they did an impromptu dance lesson for the audience and several couples joined on the stage. Here is a small video of the Tango-

It takes two to Tango

This was followed by a brilliant Opera performance by the Neemrana Music Foundation. All the three girls were superb in their performance. I was surprised that such talent exist in India in the field of Opera singing. Here I am presenting a small video of the one of the performers.

Opera by the Neemrana Music Foundation

There was also Latin music where one of the instruments was Mexican but looked like the long horn like Tibetan instrument. It also sounded like that.

Latin Music at the European Day of Languages

The best performance of the day was the performance by Vasundhra Vidalur. First she sang couple of songs accompanied by Karim Ellaboudi on Piano. Later she was also joined by Marcello Allulli on Saxophone, Matteo Fraboni on drums and Bass by Saurabh Suman. She has an amazing voice and I wonder how come I have not heard her before. Her Jazz and Blues are really enthralling. It is a pity that as the programme was not publicised well and as her performance was at the end several people had left before her performance started. Watch a small video of their performance-

Vasundhra and group performing at the EDL

There should be more such programmes so that we can listen to the languages and see dance and culture of countries across the world.

Also read:
Sufi Music by Sabri Brothers
Wise Guys and the Maharaj Trio for the Butterflies
Sufi Dervish Dance

A musical instrument powered by tides

I saw this High Tide Organ in Blackpool in Lancashire in UK on the South Promenade.

High Tide Organ, Blackpool

This instrument plays as the swell of water at high tide pushes air up its eight pipes attached to the sea wall which causes the eighteen organ pipes to sound. The organ must be about 80 feet high. As the tides occur twice a day at an interval of about 12.5 hours duration therefore the high tides are at different times each day. The organ starts playing couple of hours before the high tide and continues till a couple of hours after high tide. Rougher the sea higher the organ sounds therefore the high tide organ is the manifestation of the sea. It has been designed by Liam Curtin and John Gooding.

Blackpool is a seaside town in North West England known for its beaches, trams, pebbled streets and night life. I will write more on Blackpool later.

Loi Krathong Festival of Thailand

I was recently invited to the Loi Krathong festival held at Dusit Devarana in Delhi. The festival was organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The 'Queen' with a Krathong

Loi Krathong is a festival of lights in Thailand wherein floating crown like decorations are floated in water body. It takes place on the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar calender which is normally in November in the Christian calender.

Thailand's Ambassador with the Krathong

The festival started with several Thai dances with the accompaniment of Thai music. Most of the dances were typically slow and graceful as the Thai dances normally are. After the dance performance all the guests were invited to light the lamps and incense sticks and then float them in the water. This part was led by the Thailand's Ambassador to India and then all of us followed suit. The floating lights in the water produced a mesmerizing effect. 

Lighted Krathongs being floated in the water

After the dances the dinner was again sumptuous Thai food and so many typical Thai desserts. The venue - Dusit Devarana  - is a super luxury Thai hotel and resort that has recently opened in Delhi on the National Highway number 8 very close to the Delhi-Gurgaon border. The landscaping of the hotel is fantastic.

I have recorded one of the Thailand's dances on this occasion and I prsent it to you here -

Video of a dance of Thailand on the occasion of Loi Krathong

Wise Guys and the Maharaj Trio for the Butterflies

The German School in Delhi recently organised a concert where the famous German a cappela band Wise Guys from Cologne, Germany sang some very good songs and enthralled the public. The charity concert was held in aid of Butterflies, the programme for the street and working children of Delhi.The band also donated 45,000 Euros in aid of the abused women of Delhi.

The Wise Guys

I have recorded some of their songs and one is presented here -

The Wise Guys

The Maharaj Trio of  Pandit Vikash Maharaj on Sarod, Prabhash Maharaj on Tabla and Abhishek Maharaj on Sitar produced some excellent music as well. Listen to one of their compositions -

The Maharaj Trio

The children from Butterflies also performed on stage on the popular beats of Bollywood music. It was a evening well spent for a good cause.

Ameya Live Performance

Today I watched the AMEYA group giving live performance at Dilli Haat in Delhi. Ameya is a new and upcoming group which has a great potential.

Ameya Rock Group

 Ameya means boundless and this rock group's music is refreshing. This is a five member team and each alphabet also denotes a particular member of the band. The group comprises of Abhishek the vocalist, Vikram the guitarist, Arsh the keybaord guy, Shiva the drummer and Kabir the guitarist. I am sure they will do well and attain great heights in popularity in the very near future. I wish them all the very best!