My Mother passed away last Friday while I was away on a short business trip to the US.
Her music, love for books and animals has come down to us, not as perfectly as she might have wanted.
Have I reconciled with her passage? Time will tell.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Geeta Dutt
What nostalgia, such marvelous music...eternal brilliance..
Waqt ne kiya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS681XZqAoQ
Babuji dheere chalna:
Waqt ne kiya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS681XZqAoQ
Babuji dheere chalna:
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Youtube Tabla wonders
Some amazing old footage of musical greats needs to be acknowledged.
Here is Ustab Ahmad Jaan Thirakwa on the Tabla with Ustad Habib Khan on the Vichitra Veena (no one plays it anymore)
Pandit Anokhe Lal of Benaras
Ustad Tafo Khan of Pakistan
One more of Tafo Khan
The late Ustad Amir Khan with the late Pandit Shyamal Bose, with whom I spent many days in Kolkata. He taught me some pieces in Bihag and taught my son Tabla. He was a wonderful short-tempered genius. Memories of a lifetime.....
Here is Ustab Ahmad Jaan Thirakwa on the Tabla with Ustad Habib Khan on the Vichitra Veena (no one plays it anymore)
Pandit Anokhe Lal of Benaras
Ustad Tafo Khan of Pakistan
One more of Tafo Khan
The late Ustad Amir Khan with the late Pandit Shyamal Bose, with whom I spent many days in Kolkata. He taught me some pieces in Bihag and taught my son Tabla. He was a wonderful short-tempered genius. Memories of a lifetime.....
Monday, March 23, 2009
Rupak Taal
A nice seven beat taal (3 + 4). A favourite for many, though I do not find it easy since I didn't apply myself when I should have.
Here is an example
Here is a piece by Zakir Hussain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvPMLQSz4y0
Here is an example
Here is a piece by Zakir Hussain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvPMLQSz4y0
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Basant
And this is Basant from a Pakistani movie.
Horrendously difficult on a violin, mathematically brilliant and lovely to hear.
A modern version from Rashid Khan
Horrendously difficult on a violin, mathematically brilliant and lovely to hear.
A modern version from Rashid Khan
The beauty of impermanence
As time passes by and one gets older, it seems right that memories become a burden. Its great that nature dulls the sharpness of some poignant thoughts of events and people.
One looks back with surprise - was I that dumb? How could I have said such and such or done this or that? Was that really me?
I read a science fiction story once that talked about the conquest of death and the accompanying agony of those who wanted to be rid of too many memories, good or bad. The fear of passing on then perhaps went away. We shall move from one reality to another and never know the difference. The observance of cruelty, of a certain God who keeps desperate hopes alive but looks away at the suffering and pain of the innocent - a message garbled by philosophical rubbish, designed to keep us sane - yes, this is not a reality I am interested in. To that extent, I am happy when time accelerates and the pain of the innocent stops. But the cries of their agony will last beyond time.
I wrote a book many years ago on the survival of the animal kingdom and our own eradication as a punishment for centuries of depravity. The logic of suffering of the mute escapes me entirely. But we are superior, we are told, and have the right to erase and inflict.
One looks back with surprise - was I that dumb? How could I have said such and such or done this or that? Was that really me?
I read a science fiction story once that talked about the conquest of death and the accompanying agony of those who wanted to be rid of too many memories, good or bad. The fear of passing on then perhaps went away. We shall move from one reality to another and never know the difference. The observance of cruelty, of a certain God who keeps desperate hopes alive but looks away at the suffering and pain of the innocent - a message garbled by philosophical rubbish, designed to keep us sane - yes, this is not a reality I am interested in. To that extent, I am happy when time accelerates and the pain of the innocent stops. But the cries of their agony will last beyond time.
I wrote a book many years ago on the survival of the animal kingdom and our own eradication as a punishment for centuries of depravity. The logic of suffering of the mute escapes me entirely. But we are superior, we are told, and have the right to erase and inflict.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Basant - Mallika Pukhraj and Tahira Syed
An extraordinary piece based on Raag Basant, a simple beat and two brilliant singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq3bb33sElU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq3bb33sElU
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