Album Notes

Raga Kalyan, an evening raga, conveys calmness of mind and self-realization, and is played in four parts: Alaap – Playing of the Raga without the accompaniment of the table. Slow Gat – Slow composition in Teentaal (16 beats). Fast Gat – Fast composition in Teentaal (16 beats). Jhala – Fast rhythmic movements with a combination of chichkari (high pitch string) and main playing string.

The Raga Mishra Bhairavi (composite raga) played in Taal Chacha (14 beats) is a composition Kinnar Seen recorded with his brother Manu Seen for world peace. Their mother has just passed away, and their love of her became the sweetness and the bliss of this composition.

Born into a musical lineage, Kinnar Kumar Seen is the eldest son and disciple of the well-known musical authority, Acharya Lachman Singh Seen of the Punjab Gharana, from whom he learned tabla and sitar from an early age. He earned a Master's degree in sitar as well as the prestigious Sangeet Visharad in both tabla and vocal music. He has accompanied many great artists and received numerous accolades and awards internationally.

After moving to New York in 1984, Kinnar has persevered in spreading the love and appreciation for Indian music and culture. He has given numerous performances, lectures, and demonstrations at universities, colleges, and museums. These have included Princeton University, Harvard University, American Museum of Natural History, The Julliard School, University of Central Florida, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Brown University, Pennsylvania State University and many others.

In New York, together with his wife Payal Seen, he opened a branch of the Sangeet Vilas, an institution founded by his father in Jalandhar in 1950. Following in his father's footsteps, he teaches according to the ancient guru-shishya system of learning. He lectures regularly in schools and universities and performs in concerts and music festivals throughout Europe and North America.