Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Home concert with Jimi-san and Kathak friends

ヴァラナシは大変暑くなっています。この間、時々40℃になった。疲れている!!!
It's really starting to get hot in Varanasi. A few days have been around 40, and it's hard to get much energy going for practice.

金曜日の夜に、ムンナハウスでコンサートをオルガナイズした。皆様は楽しかったらしい。最小はカタックダンスのトモミちゃんとカズミちゃん。伴奏者はタブラのナオトくん、シタールの鈴木さん、サラーンギのアツシくん、私。総出50分だった。私はカタックの伴奏やったことがあるけど、その長い演奏は始めてだった。時々間違ったけど、笑ったらいつもよくなるね。
On Friday night I organised a concert here in Munna House, which was well received by all. First item was Kathak dance - Tomomi and Kazumi, who I've been practising with for the last couple of months, accompanied by myself, another tabla player Naoto, and lehera on sitar by Mr. Suzuki and sarangi by Atsushi-kun. It was my first performance with a full-length Kathak show, around 50 minutes all-up. Everyone said it was very enjoyable. We made a few mistakes, but a smile always fixes that.

二回目はサンツーアのいつもワンダフルな宮下節夫「ジミー」さん。今度も二人のタブラがあった - ナオトくんと私。 ジミーさんもナオトくんもとても心がいいで、自分のグルジーも楽器も音楽ものための純情があって、一緒に演奏でたらいいと思った。「変な日本語、ごめん!」 私は紹介者でしょう。。。セッションはとてもラブリーだった。ミュージシャンとお客様は皆、一緒になった。音楽を弾くと、心がはっきり見えるようになる。だから、ジミーさんとナオトくんみたいに誠心誠意がある方と一緒に音楽を弾くと、当たり前いい感じになる。それはインド古典音楽の心髄です。
Second item was the always-wonderful Setsuo "Jimi" Miyashita on santoor. I played with Jimi-san in last year's Ashu Babu Concert, and he released a CD this year featuring myself on tabla. I also invited Naoto-kun to accompany on tabla as well as myself. Both Jimi-san and Naoto-kun have such clear hearts and so much devotion to their Gurus, instruments and music, that I thought they should play together. Introducing people is an important role for me... It was a really lovely session; I think we created a very beautiful energy which everyone naturally tuned in on. When one plays music, it is like opening one's heart for all to see. So playing with such loving and devoted people as Jimi-san and Naoto-kun naturally created a very special atmosphere. That is the essence of Indian classical music.

30日から、ナヴァラトリーという祭りです。ナヴァラトリーの意味は「九日の夜」。ヅールガという女真のためです。私はムンナハウスの一階の暗い部屋で、夜9時から、黎明まで、始終に練習する。大変でしょう。。。エネルギーを送ってくださいませんか?
Goddess-worshippers will like to know that Navaratri - the nine nights of the Goddess - begins on March 30th. I will be locking myself in a dark room in the basement of Munna House and practising non-stop from 9pm til dawn in front of pictures of Durga-maa and Guru-ji. It's going to be hard... Please send me some energy.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Concert report


グルジーコンサートは大成功でした! たくさんの人は「雰囲気はとてもすてきで、純情可憐だ」と言いました。シュジャートフセーンカーンさんはとても輝かしくて、本当にシタールマスターなの事が見えました。マヅップムヅガールさんもすごく妙技でした。とても純情可憐で、声がピュアです。そういう方の前演奏できる事なので、南沢さんと私はとてもうんがよかったでしょう。新聞でいい言葉が書いてありました。一番いいコメントはサンマールグという新聞にあった:
The second annual Ashu Babu Memorial Concert was a great success. There were many comments that the overall atmosphere was really nice, devotional and music-focused (as opposed to spectacle-focused). Shujaat Husein Khan was absolutely brilliant and showed himself to be a complete master of sitar. Padma Shri (like "Sir") Madhup Mudgal was likewise wonderful - so devotional, such a pure voice. And my friend Hiro Minamizawa and I were privileged enough to play before both of them! Lots of positive feedback, and good press too. Here is the nicest quote, from Sanmarg newspaper:

Japanese artist Yasuhiro Minamizawa astounded everyone with his rendition of Raag Puriya Kalyan on sitar. In this raag, he firstly played alap, jor, jhala, and then with compositions (gatkaari) in Teentaal completed a successful programme. The purity of the notes was praiseworthy in his performance. With him, Australian artist Shen Flindell, giving close accompaniment (saath-sangat) on tabla with complete maturity, made the programme attractive to the ear.

他のコメントはここで読めます。イギリス人のシタールのニックさんの批評はここです。
It took me a few hours with my Hindi-English dictionary just to translate the parts about us, so unfortunately I can't share the whole reports with you, but anyway you can read the press about Hiro-san and I here. Also, English sitar player Nick posted a review on the chandrakantha.com Indian music forum here.


私のタブラについていいコメントが多かって、もちろん私は嬉しいですけど、一番満足していることはこれです。グルジーの家族は南沢さんのシタールがすごく好きでした。それと、南沢さんは「これは自分の生活の一番すごい経験だった!」と言いました。
Of course I'm very pleased with all the positive feedback on my playing, but most of all I'm happy that Guru-ji's family were so happy with Hiro-san's sitar playing, and that Hiro-san himself said "This was the greatest experience of my life!"

次は、ナヴァラトリーというプージャー。九日間の夜で練習するつもりです。30日からだと思います。
Next big event for me is Navaratri - 9 nights' non-stop practice in honour of Goddess Durga-maa. I think it starts on March 30.

Post-concert press comments

Here are the comments in the Varanasi Hindi press about Minamizawa-san & my performance at the Ashu-Babu Memorial Concert. It took me a few hours with a Hindi-English dictionary just to do this... If any Hindi speakers can improve my translation, please help!

There is also a review by English sitar player Nick on the chandrakantha.com sitar forum.

SANMAARG
Japan ke kalaakaar Yasuhiro Minamizawa ne sitaar par Raag Puriya Kalyan ki avataaranaa kar sabko achamti kar diyaa. Inhone is raag men sarwapratham aalaap, jod, jhaalaa ke pashchaat teen taal nibaddh gatkaari se kaaryakram kaa saphal samaapan kiyaa. Aapke vaadan men swaron ki shuddhataa kaabile taarif rahi. Aapke saath Australia ke kalaakaar Shen Flindell ne table par poorna paripakvataa se saath sangat kar kaaryakram ko karn-priya banaaya.
Japanese artist Yasuhiro Minamizawa astounded everyone with his rendition of Raag Puriya Kalyan on sitar. In this raag, he firstly played alap, jor, jhala, and then with compositions (gatkaari) in Teentaal completed a successful programme. The purity of the notes was praiseworthy in his performance. With him, Australian artist Shen Flindell, giving close accompaniment (saath-sangat) on tabla with complete maturity, made the programme attractive to the ear.
AMAR UJAALAA
Dhrupad Tirth par sthaaniya srotaaon ki khachaakhach upasthiti ke bich kaaryakram ki shuruaat deshii kalaa ke videshii saadhakon ki shaastriya prastuti se hue. Japan ke Yasuhiro Minamizawa ne sitaar ke taar par anguliyaan pherin to tablaa par anguliyaan thirakaane ke lie Australia ke Shen Flindell unke saath the. Donon videshii kalaakaaron ki deshii kalaa men siddhahastaa dekh kuchh achraj kar rahe the to kucch aanand le rahe the.
At Dhrupad Tirth, amidst the burbling of local listeners taking their places, the programme began with a classical opening by foreign (videshi) devotees of Indian (desi) arts. Japan's Yasuhiro Minamizawa's fingers bent his sitar's strings and then Australia's Shen Flindell's fingers beat upon the tabla with him. Seeing both of the foreign (videshi) artists' great skill in Indian (desi) arts, we were quite astounded and received quite some enjoyment/bliss.
HINDUSTAN
Kaaryakram ki shuruaat Japan ke kalaakaar Yasuhiro Minamizawa ke sitaar vaadan se huaa. Unhone Raag Puriya Kalyan men sitaar ke taaron ko jhankrit kar sabhi ko bhaavavibhor kar diyaa. Unke saath table par Australia ke Shen Flindell sangat kar rahe the.
The programme began with the sitar playing of Japanese artist Yasuhiro Minamizawa. With his sitar's strings resounding in Raag Puriya Kalyan, he gave inspired emotions (?) to everyone. He was accompanied on tabla by Shen Flindell from Australia.
DAINIK JAAGRAN
Kaviraj Ashutosh Bhattacharya ("Ashu Babu") ki dwiteeya punyatithi par aayojit sangeet sandhyaa ka aagaaj Jaapaani kalaakaar Yasuhiro Minamizawa ke sitaar baadan se hua. Unhone Raag Puriya Dhanaashree ko sadhe andaaj men pesh kar logon ki jamkar vaahavaahee lootee. Iske baad Raag Puriya Kalyan ke saath guru vandanaa ki. Unke saath table par Australia ke kalaakaar Shen Flindell ne sandhe andaaj men sangat ki.
The second musical evening in the memory of Kaviraj Ashutosh Bhattacharya ("Ashu Babu") opened with a sitar performance by Japanese artist Yasuhiro Minamizawa. He presented Raag Puriya Dhanashree in perfected style (sadhe andaaj) as the gathering assembly delighted (in the music). After that he gave homage to the guru (guru vandaana) with Raag Puriya Kalyan. With him on tabla, Australian artist Shen Flindell gave accompaniment in united style (sandhe andaaj).
AAJ
Kaaryakramkaa sriganesh Japan se padhare Yasuhiro Minamizawa ke sitaar baadanse huaa. Unhone Raag Puriya Kalyan men sitaarke taanonko chhedaa. Unke saath tablepar Australia ke Shen Flindell sangat ki.
The programme was "opened in the name of Sri Ganesh" with the sitar playing of Yasuhiro Minamizawa from Japan. He tuned his sitar's strings in Raag Puriya Kalyan. He was accompanied on tabla by Shen Flindell from Australia.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

After the bombs, pre-Holi

Hi folks,
 
ヴァラナシの生活は普通に行っています。先週のテロから、イスラムの方はたくさん手伝っています。U. Bismillah Khanのような有名な演奏者とコミュニティーリーダーはアタックを責めました。ヒンズーリーダーは「一緒に静かにいよう」と言っています。
Varanasi life goes on as normal. Since the bomb blasts last week, I've read so many stories of Muslim kids giving blood and helping victims in the hospital, famous musicians like Ustad Bismillah Khan and other community leaders condemning the attacks, and Hindu leaders calling for continuing communal harmony in this ancient spiritual city.

今夜ホーリカという祭りです。明日はホーリーという「色の祭り」です。皆はお酒とバーングを飲んで、中にいるゴリラがフリーします。でも私は静かに自分の部屋で練習すると思う。。。明日のお昼から、皆は新しい洋服を着て、親戚知己に会いに行きます。
Tonight is the Hindu festival of Holika. In the middle of every crossing, large and small, there is a small tree and goddess image. Tonight lots of people will be drinking alcohol and bhang and compared to the light-heartedness of Shivaratri there's a much more menacing tone. Tomorrow morning is Holi, festival of colours, and the city (and the whole country) will become a battle zone. Everyone will be letting their inner gorilla out and throwing coloured water with water pistols and water bombs. Personally, I prefer to stay quietly in my room... From the afternoon, everyone gets polished up, puts on new clothes and goes to visit all their family and friends.

遂に、金曜日と土曜日は私の今年の一番大切なイベントです。グルジーのMemorial Concert。最近毎日7-8時間の練習していて、タブラが大好きになって、とてもゲンキです。京都のシタールの南沢
さんと一緒によく練習していて、いい関係になりました。私たちのために祈ってくださいませんか?!
And of course on Friday and Saturday is the biggest event of my year - my Guru-ji's Memorial Concert. I'm fully psyched and full of energy, been practising about 7-8 hours a day for the last week or so and loving my tabla. My sitar buddy Hiro Minamizawa and I have been practising together lots too, and making a really good connection. Please pray for us!

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Mar 17/18 Varanasi - Ashu Babu Memorial Concert

Please note the following concert in Varanasi featuring yours truly...

Late Pt. Kaviraj Ashutosh Bhattacharya "Ashu Babu" Memorial Concert
Memorial Classical Music Evening - FREE CONCERT
Fri/Sat March 17/18, 6.30pm
Dhrupad Tirth, Tulsi Ghat, Varanasi
Fri March 17:
1. Dr. Debabrata Bhattacharya - Tabla Solo - Varanasi
2. Sri Yasuhiro Minamizawa - Sitar - Japan
3. Smt. Shubhra Guha - Vocal - Kolkata
4. Pt. Deepak Choudhury - Sitar - Delhi
Sat March 18:
1. Pt. Deepak Maharaj - Kathak Dance - Delhi
2. Padma Shri Pt. Madhup Mudgal - Vocal - Delhi
3. U. Shujaat Husein Khan - Sitar - Delhi
Accompanying Artists:
Sri Parimal Bhattacharya - Tabla - Kolkata
Sri Govinda Chakraborty - Tabla - Delhi
Sri Pundlik Krishna Bhagwat - Tabla - Varanasi
Sri Vinod Lele - Tabla - Varanasi
Sri Arunanshu Choudhury - Tabla - Delhi
Sri Shankar Devanath - Tabla - Delhi
Sri Shen Flindell - Tabla - Australia
Sri Santosh Mishra - Sarangi - Varanasi
Sri Vinaya Mishra - Harmonium - Varanasi
Sri Jai Kishan Maharaj - Parhant & Pakhawaj - Delhi
Sri Indu Prakash - Vocal - Delhi
This event is dedicated to the memory of Late Pandit Kaviraj Ashutosh Bhattacharya ("Ashu Babu") and is organised by his sons, students, friends and relatives.

Monday, March 06, 2006

Book Release: Hindustani vocal compositions (Devashish Dey)

Posted on behalf of Devashish Dey...

SWATAH-SFURT SWARACHIT
Author Devashish Dey
Language: Hindi
Hardcover, 84 pages with two accompanying CDs
Copyright: Devashish Dey
Published by: Adinath Publication, Varanasi

Description:
A collection of khayal, tarana, thumri, Kajri, and
dadra compositions by Varanasi based vocalist
Devashish Dey, this volume is divided into four main
segments. The first segment contains khayal, tarana,
chaturang and ragamala compositions in traditional
ragas, while the second segment is devoted to
"swaraarth prabandh" or special and innovative
compositions where the song text is constructed from
the notes used in the composition. The third section
of the book focuses on thumri, dadra, jhoola and kajri
compositions, while the fourth and last segment of the
book features compositions in ragas created by the
author.

Ragas featured in the book range from Yaman,
Vachaspati, Shuddh Kalyan, Bihag, Hemant, Malkauns,
Kirvani, Kalavati, Bilaskhani Todi and Puriya, to the
author's creations such as Renuka, Natwar Malhar.
Nandini and Rajat Jayanti.

The two CDs that accompany this collection contain
renditions of the compositions by the author Devashish
Dey.
Book+2CDs
Indian Rupees: 450
US Dollars: 15

Subject: Newsletter - Underscore Records - February
08, 2006
Namaskar,
We would like to introduce you to young but
accomplished performer-composers whose work is now
available on www.UnderscoreRecords.com.
Hindustani vocalist Devashish Dey has added his book
of compositions titled "Swatah-Sfurt Swarachit" to the
print catalogue distributed by Underscore Records. Two
companion CDs with the author singing his compositions
complement the book, which offers khayal, tarana,
chaturang, ragamala, thumri, dadra, kajri and jhoola
compositions in several raags.
For more information on the artistes and their work,
visit www.UnderscoreRecords.com.
Greetings and regards from
Shubha Mudgal, Aneesh Pradhan and the team at
Underscore Records.

Devashish Dey
D31/46 Madanpura
Varanasi (U.P.) India 221001

Tel: 0091-542-2-450915, 450916
Mobile: 9839097503
Log on to www.underscorerecords.com