VA - Music from South India (Not On Label, LP, 2004)

I didn't encode this with the intention of putting here because it's still available, but I've played it now on three successive nights, and enjoyed it so much I felt the need to share.  The images aren't mine either, so there you go, two rules broken in one post.  Too bad.

This is a magical collection of recordings by the mysterious sounding 'Dr. Temiz' in India during 2004.

The discogs entry notes it isn't on a label.  My hazy recollection from the description when I purchased was that it was released via an independent European label - could have been Sub Rosa (not to be incriminating), but certainly one of those 'grey area' releases, stick on cover art and the like.

Wonderful recordings that capture the intimacy of the performances with hearty impromptu clapping!

Snap up the last very reasonably priced copies while you can.  

[From the cover notes:]

Music from South India

From the land of a thousand Gods and Godesses

From the land of raga and talas...

ancient mystical music, 

to jump start the spirit, to hot wire the soul [heh, moving on..]

Side 1

1. Varnum - Raga Intha

 A varnum is an opening piece in praise of the half human half elephant god, Ganesh, asking him to remove all obstacles.

Peformed by Mandolin viruoso, U Srinivas.

2. Thyagaranja Kriti Kalavati.   

A piece composed by 17th century Saint Thyagaraja. performed by the brother/sister duo of Krishnan and Vijaylakshmi Lagudi.

3. Jaya Jaya - Padmabha Nabha

Performed by one [of] the great vocalists, Sanjay Subramanium

Side 2

1. Vapati - Hamsa Dhvani (Song of the Swan)

Performed by the elder statesman of flute Dr. Ramani

2. Saraswati Namasthuthe composed by G.N. Balasubramaniam.

A song in praise of the Goddess Saraswati (goddess of learning and music) Nadaswaram is a large oboe like instrument used in wedding celebrations.

recorded in India 2004 by Dr. Temiz

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