Album Notes

The melodies in this album are based on Bengali songs.The songs are played in the sitar in it's original melodic form. They are based on Indian Classical raags. The four songs that I have chosen are based on four different raags. After playing the tune of each song I have improvised and expressed my emotions of the raag keeping the theme-melody true to the original song. The melodic interplay of the songs and the elaboration of the raag create an exciting and romantic journey throughout the album.

Liner notes from the album: "The melodies and the emotions of the songs linger in the air and stir the heart. Like the monsoon with its surging rivers, fragrance of flowers and fruits, your body and soul is immersed in them. The delicately woven tapestry of the songs and the raags has created an everlasting relection of life and nature. The emotion of each raag dances with the mood of the songs that Tagore, Nazrul and many other poets and composers have written and composed.
As children we sang along with playful happiness with much joy and energy, however, our budding minds were only able
to skim the surface o the rich lyrics and compositions. My introduction and training in Indian Classical music opened up a new dimension in understanding these great compositions. The bonding and the attachment became stronger, the respect and admiration grew. They are a constant source of joy."

The first song is Nazrul Geeti (songs composed by the great poet/composer Kazi nazrul Islam of Bengal) is composed in raag Hameer.
The first line : "Ajo Kade Kanone": the Koel (a black song-bird that has a melosious call) is singing a melancholy song in the garden today". It describes the feeling os a sad lover anticipating to unite with the beloved in the garden.

The second song is a Tagore (Nobel Laurreate/ composer) song, which is more popularly known as "Rabindra Sangeet ".
The first line : " Esho Shyamolo Shundoro": "Come, the Dark and the beautiful", is composed in Raag Desh. The poet welcomes the magnificant beauty of the dark clouds, the sounds and the rhythmof the Monsoon, which is the rainy season in Bengal.

The third song is a Nazrul Geeti.
The first line: "Chilo Chand Meghero Paare": "The Moon was amongst the clouds", is composed on Raag Jog.This song tells the story of how the Jasmine Flower falls in love with the moon and ultimately unites with her lover in death.

The fourth track has two songs in "Rabindra Sangeet".
The first line of the first song : " Gram Chara Oi Ranga Mateer Poth": "The long and winding red-earth path that leads away from he village".
the first line of the second song: "Amar Shonar Horin Chai": "I want the golden deer". The words compare the prancing golden deer to the fantasies of life.