Abha Varma comments : Rajan parrikar, thanks for a lovely writeup on Yaman. (I will call Rajan's latest writeup on "Kalyan" Yaman.)
Recently, one evening I listened to Ravi Shankar's Tilak Shyam over and over again. Like a woman possessed. While Tilak Shyam is a poignant reminder of the transience of time, its passage, Yaman brings home a sense of eternal timelessness. There is no past, no future and sometimes not even a present.
If, as the learned say, the shlok above holds the meaning of human existence, Yaman is the sound of cosmic creation, its music, its resonance, its beat, its soul, its heart. It is a yogi's melody. Kumar Gandharva's "Yaar vena aayo re", Pandit Kashi Nath Bodas's "Deho daan mohe" and the completely unknown "darshan deo shankar mahadeo", they all have a spirituality about them that is so difficult to capture in words. Just like a sunset atop Klingmann's Dome in the Smokies. Or a moonlit night on Kinner Kailash (Shiva's holiday home, I am told) so well captured in Arun Bhalaik's picture.
The film section is out of this world. Vish's contributions are acknowledged. The four most notable songs from this section are: "sapna ban sajan aaye", "Lau laga ke", "Har ek baat par" and the evergreen "eri aaali piya bin". Lata's voice sounds so pure, so sweet in "eri aali piya bin".
Talking of which song, I loved Kishori Amonkar's creative interpretation of this ageless composition. It is unique. It is outstanding. I have never heard such depth in "eri aali.." before.
I remember going to a Kumar Gandharva concert where he sang "mukh tero karo". While listening to it on the net, I could picture his face, peace shining through it, his complete immersion in the bhaav of a composition, his relish of every nuance in a composition. He would actually become the "rasa" of his music.
Mallikarjun Mansur's playful mood "mukuta para vara", "romp" to use the author's elegant expression, is well mirrored in his dashingly handsome, laughing photograph. His "pata tore kaaran", included here, is an all time favorite of mine. However, my absolute favorite this time around is a lovely ten minute rendition of Yaman by Sarangi Nawaz Ustad Bundu Khan. Folks, don't miss that one. His sarangi sings with abandon, it truly reigns supreme in this series on "Kalyan".
There are many old friends here. "Sughara sundarava baalamua", "main vari, vari jaaongi" and "sukhdata saban ke shankar" are some old time favorites. By the same token, many well known and well loved friends are missing. "Mori gagari na bharan de" (Mogubai or Kesarbai?), Kumar Gandharva's "piharava", "avaguna na keejiye guni sana" (I don't even know if there is a professional recording) are just some that come to mind rightaway.
There are many instrumental recordings of Yaman not included in this compendium that, I feel, are better than the ones included here. To name a few, Amjad Ali Khan's sarod recordings, Bismillah Khan's solo, and so on. I must also mention here that I like Veena Sahastrabuddhe's "deho daan mohe" (included in a CD named "Celestial") although it doesn't come close to her brother Pandit Kashi Nath Bodas Ji's same. Neither is included here.
Thanks for your efforts in putting together this magnamous feature. I have enjoyed reading each word and listening to each link. I am getting so emotional writing that I can't express myself fully!
One can just get lost in the beauty of this melodious raga.
Is there a possibility to hear any Arab renditions under Kalyan?
Wa, Thanks a lot Rajan for magnificent articles on Hindustani music. I enjoy every article reading/listening. This is a real Internet treasure and pleasure.
Hope we continue to read/listen like this....
-Harish
Kaushik Choudhury comments : One of the best compilations (and very unique, of course) I have come across in the net. It attracts both flavors of listeners alike (classical or light music).
Thanks once again for sharing this prized collection.
Delightful indeed ! Regards, __kaushik
Pranav Acharya comments : Stoned...completely stoned. Thanks 2 the author for presenting Yaman in it's almost-complete incarnation.
I must say "If I had to die, I'd die amidst these compositions"
Cheers Pranav.
Vasu comments : Wonderful compilation!! Mr.Rajan, Thank you so much for your efforts and will to share this 'khazana' with all. Can we expect more on other ragas too?? With heartfelt thanks, Vasu
Chandrashekhar Patel comments : What a treat! This is a unique site that dishes out magnificent "tukdas" of rare gems. JUG JUG JIYO
Gajanan Thorat comments : namasto rajanajaI Aaplyaa saMgaIt lao#amaalaOba_la AaplaO hadI-k AaBaar f@t ek ivanaMtI Aaho AapNa malaa raga yamana cao svaralaap AaiNa ragaivastar do} Sakta ka
Anirudha Bhattacharjee comments : It is a shame how the author has commented on Manna Dey. Apart from inflicting derogatory comments on his singing ability, the author's comment on the Bengali community is in very very bad taste indeed.
Kiran Kulkarni comments : One of the best site. Thank you very much!! Please extend it to all other ragas.. with warm regards, Kiran
Mrs Veena Kedar Sawale comments : Vah Rajanji, You have done a excellent job of comparitive study of ragas. Student like us will have a great guideline notes. Really this article proves that Yaman is Ye Maan Chaahe Wo Raag. Yaman. Yaman, Yaman Kalyan concepts are clear. if u will explain about Kalyan as such we will be very greatful to you Once again thanks and best wishes for your great work. thank you.
You are the real USTAD who shares his knowledge with others and that too make it so easy to understand. Other so called USTAD just keep to themselves. real greatest collection on Indian Classical Music. Thanks again and best wishes
Vineet Kulkarni comments : Brilliant. And funny too. Thats rare.
I read and enjoy your compilations thoroughly - you are a true connoisseur of classical music, par excellence. The only thing that escapes me is your occasional "bong" bashing, poor Manna Dey gets pucked up but why Bengalis in general - in the same breath, you seem to have the highest regard for Kishore Kumar (you call him a Pandit!!), Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar, Pannalal Ghosh, Salil Chowdhury, RD Burman, SD Burman, Anil Biswas and many others. Anyways, I enjoy your comments about Bengalis in good humor, others may find it offensive, racial and self-contradictory. I also wonder why you never include Pandit Jasraj's work or clips - any particular reason?
Thanks and regards..
The author responds: Thank you for your remarks. There are several clips of Jasraj included in these features. Right off I can recall Adana, Gunji Kanada, Nagadhwani Kanada, Shankara, Shuddha Nat and so on. Warm regards, Rajan P. Parrikar
Chittaranjan Joshi comments : I am just begining to learn sitar and ragas and have been searching to find a source for explaination to undertand ragas.Explaination Clips sung by (respected) Jha are really helping me a lot. I cannot thank in words how much it is helping me. I have been listening to these day and night since I found the site. Thank you again.
Peter Bonde comments : I humbly ask if the jugalbandi between Vilayat and Ali Akbar has been release on cd or is it an old 78 rmp.
Rashmi Rekha comments : Dear Rajan ji, I lthoroughly enjoy every bit of your music columns. I feel like surrounded by so many highest level of artists and these articles with Jha saheb's comments have helped me learning & in improving my singing real fast. I am looking for a rare recording of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan's raag Yaman - Kinare Kinare'. Is it by any chance available ?
With best regards, Rashmi-Rekha
Ashok Narayan comments : I am an amateur and have dabbled a bit in the mathematical aspect of Svaras and Shrutis in Hindustani classical music, having done a Ph.D theses on it from MS, Univesity Vadodara, alonwith my totally unreatated profession. But, I have been more or less ignorant of the practical aspects of Ragas. I have gone through all your articles so far and I must say that I have been immesely benefitted from them. It has really been divine, going through your technical discussions and then listening to the rare audio clips. Thereare afew Ragas which havenot been discussed: Megh, Mand, Gara, Shivranjini for instance. I am waiting anxiously for more articles on Ragas. My warmest compliments and regards to you
A breathtaking journey through the notes of Yaman indeed!
I cannot thank you enough for making all those compositions available in one single "unit".
May I suggest few additions:
1. kahi ye wo to naheen..(from Haqeeqat) 2.Deva gharache dnyaat kunala(Matsyagandha)
Ashok Phadke
Shekhar Patil comments : Rajan ji I like yaman Raga [many like it] But your article was as much enjoyable as listening to the raga itself. Your Collection and educative explanation is very good
Thanks
Shekhar Patil
JV comments : Jal Balaporia of Gwalior has a beautiful rendition of ”langarvA turaka jina chhuvo” on CD (but it’s on a French label, Makar Records, and ordering from them is hard work). It’s great to contrast his old-man’s walk-through with Paluskar’s fireworks. Balaporia follows it up with a superb tarana ... Rashid Khan tried to sing the same tarana on a Music Today disc called ROMANTIC RAGAS but gave up before he reached antara. He completely manages to hide the fact that it’s actually a good song.
Also, Vilayat's Yaman on EVERGREEN RAGAS is a classic! Is the duet with Bismillah featured here from LIVE AT THE BARBICAN?
Mohammad Aslam comments : your comment about amir khusro was very low class it did not suit you, and why we dont hear a clip of munawaer ali khan, in general you are doing a great service , thank you.
Tanuja Sane comments : this is the best site for understanding a raag completely..I thank Mr parrikar for developing such a site it is especially useful for people like me who live abroad, teach music but dont have access to all the books. And especially what is unique about the site is the rare compositions which r included in the lessons. i especially liked the tarana by kishori tai .Thank you!
A Reader comments : sir, why the attack on Mr. Khusro? Can you disprove that he did not invent the raag? Or are you also just stating without proving otherwise? The author responds: Usually we delete anonymous entries containing fake email addresses. But we shall keep this one for now. You have to first show conclusive evidence that Khusrau developed this raga even in its elemental form let alone the sophisticated melodic framework it is today. You don't ask someone to prove a negative. Rajan P. Parrikar
The reader responds: Quite honored to hear from you. I haven't seen the evidence presented on behalf of Mr. Khusro so I cannot comment on its strengths or weaknesses, but I take your word for it. I was only responding to your comments and the unmusical manner in which you dismissed the arguments without offering any counter-evidence, with what seemed like a touch of contempt towards the great man. As a fan of both ICM and Mr. Khusro's poetry and music, I was offended. Perhaps you could cover the history of this raag in a future article to enlighten the debate. That is something I would look forward to. Thanks for reply. NB: I have added my email to honor the rules of this forum.
Anirvan DuttaGupta comments : A magnificent article, with a single discordant note, as damaging to its spirit as a Nyasa on the Dhaivat to that of Yaman.
... It hurts to see an adult man whipped so badly by a girl but the pain is instantly diminished by the realization that the male in question is a Bong. Those Manna Dey tAns are indistinguishable from the first cries of a freshly baked baby as it tries to cope ... blah blah blah ...
Is this supposed to be joke? If it is, with all due respect, there's something certainly wrong with the author's sense of humor. And if it isn't, I should think the there's something wrong with his perception of manhood. I think any high-school student of history can vouch for the fact that there are and have been innumerable "Bong"s with more manhood in them than the author, at least. I don't mean to be abusive, but if you think so, you're most welcome.
I don't like Manna Dey either. But why dig at the "Bong"s? I am sure much of your reputation as a musicologist owes to informed readers from a province with probably as rich a tradition in classical music as your own.
Somesh Jha comments : I really liked the article. Kudos to Rajan.
BTW, I really enjoyed the "P-R-S" uchharana demonstration by Pt. Ramashreya Jha. I particularly like hist last name. The "P-R-S" uchharana comes very nicely in the first line of a famous song by Mukesh ("Chandan sa Badan").
Beautiful article.
Bhagyashree Damle comments : a wonderful collection...many rare things which I had never heard before.....thanks a lot
N P Bhat comments : Hi , You have done a great work in spreading my Guru "Pt Ramashray Jha's" knowledge music to whole world . I learnt from him between 1986-1990 . I have 15-20 cassets of him teaching me . In case you plan to visit Mumbai , please let me know . I would love to share it with you for the benifit of the music loving community .
