Al-Haj Abd ar-Rahman ben Moussa (1908-1997) - Al-Qur'an al-Karim - TCK 680 - Cassette from Morocco

We post here one more cassette by Haj Abd er-Rahman ben Moussa with beautiful Quran recitations, based on so-called "Andalusian" melodies, a style which has almost completely disappeared.

Before we had already posted three preceding volumes from this series (TCK 676, TCK 677 and TCK 679)  and Vol. 1 and Vol. 60 of a complete Qur'an on 60 cassettes.

Side 1:

Surat 20: Ta Ha

Side 2:

Surat 19: Maryam

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A complete Qur'an by this outstanding Qari (Qur'an reciter) can be downloaded here:

http://archive.org/details/A.Errahman.Ben.Moussa_by_www.Morocco-Islamic.com

This seems to be a recording different from the one of which we had posted the first and last volumes.

Damodarlal Kabra (Sarod) & Jyotish C. Choudhury (Surbahar & Surashringar) - Ragas - Sunrise and Sunset - LP published in US in 1968

Damodarlal Kabra, older brother of the famous slide guitar player Brij Bhushan Kabra, was a well-known Sarod player in the 1960s and 1970s. He was one of the early students of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

Jyotish C. Choudhury was a Surbahar and Surashringar (Surshringar) player from Benares.

Recorded in India by Deben Bhattacharya.

Side 1:

Damodarlal Kabra (Sarod) - Raga Natabhairava (20:36)

Side 2:

Jyotish C. Choudhury 

1. Surbahar - Raga Yaman-Kalyan (13:18)

2. Surashringar - Raga Bhimpalashri (7:05) 

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Folk Music from Khorramabad, Lorestan, Iran - Cassette published in Iran end of 1980s or beginning of 1990s

Chaharomin Djashnvareh Mousiqi Fajr 

(4. Fajr Music Festival)

Khorramabad - Mahali (regional or folk music)

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Beautiful recording of regional music from Lorestan. The folk music of Lorestan is mainly played on Kemencheh and Tombak. Both instruments are played here very differently from their use in classical Iranian music. On the second side one hears also an 'Ud (or Barbat). Good singer, good musicians. American edition of a cassette originally published in Iran.

"Khorramabad (Persian: خرم آباد‎ - Khorram Abād, Luri: خورمووه - Xormuve; also Romanized as Khorramābād, Khoramabad, Khurramabad, Khorram Abad and Khur Ramābād) is a city in and capital of Lorestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 328,544, in 75,945 families. Khorramabad is situated in the Zagros Mountains. The city population is predominantly Lur and Lak, although the two groups are closely related."

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khorramabad

Jalal Mohammadian & Ensemble Tanburnavazan Shams - Regional Music from Bakhtaran (Kermanshah) - Cassette published in Iran end of 1980s or beginning of 1990s

Chaharomin Djashnvareh Mousiqi Fajr 

(4. Fajr Music Festival)

Bakhtaran - Mahali (regional or folk music)
Grouhe (ensemble) Tanburnavazan Shams
Khanandeh (singer): Jalal Mohammadian

Another beautiful recording by Seyed Jalaleddin Mohammadian, named here Jalal Mohammadian.  Accompanied by Tanburnavazan Shams, an ensemble of Tanbur and Daf players. A while ago we had posted another cassette by the same singer accomapnied by the same ensemble. See here. American edition of a cassette originally published in Iran.

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"Kermanshah Province (Persian: استان كرمانشاه‎, Ostān-e Kermānshāh ) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. The province was known from 1969 to 1986 as Kermanshahan and from 1986 to 1995 as Bakhtaran."

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermanshah_Province

Folk Music from Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran - Cassette published in Iran end of 1980s or beginning of 1990s

Chaharomin Djashnvareh Mousiqi Fajr 

(4. Fajr Music Festival) - Vol. 4

Zahedan - Mahali (Regional or Folk Music)

Beautiful recordings from Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran.

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"Zahedan (Persian: زاهدان‎, also Romanized as Zāhedān, Zahidan, and Zaidān; also known as Zāhedān-e Yek; formerly known as Dowzdāb, Duzdāb, and Duzdāp) is a city in and the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 552,706, in 109,488 families. "Zahedan" is the plural of the Arabic word zahed meaning 'pious'.

Zahedan is located near Pakistan and Afghanistan, only about 41 km south of the tripoint of the borders of the three countries, at an altitude of 1,352 meters above sea level and at a distance of 1,605 km from the Iranian capital of Tehran. The most famous tribes in Zahedan include the Keikha, Shahraki, Mir, and Birjandi.

The Demographics of Zahedan's inhabitants are largely ethnic Baluchi who speak the Baluchi language and Sistanis who speak Persian sistani and yazdi, khorasani. There are also smaller numbers of Brahuis and Pashtuns.

Zahedan lies east of the Kavir-e Loot desert. The city was part of the historic region of Sistan (Persian: سیستان), situated today on the borders of southeastern Iran and southwestern Afghanistan. One portion is part of the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan. The other portion is part of the Nimruz Province of Afghanistan."

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zahedan

Folk Music from Bojnoord, North Khorasan, Iran - Cassette published in Iran end 1980s or beginning of 1990s

Chaharomin Djashnvareh Mousiqi Fajr 

(4. Fajr Music Festival)
Folk Song - Bojnoord
(Bojnoord Mahali)

Beautiful recordings of music from Bojnoord in North Khorasan. Mostly bards (Bakhshis) accompanying themselves on the Dotar. American edition of a cassette originally published in Iran. See here a cassette of Turkmen music from the same festival we posted recently.

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"Bojnurd (Persian: بجنورد) is the capital city of North Khorasan province, Iran. It is about 701 km from Tehran. At the 2006 census, its population was 172,772, in 44,217 families. It is also spelled Bojnūrd, Bujnūrd, Bojnoord or Bujnurd.

The city is quite famous for its multicultural background. Many people speak at least 2 different languages including Persian, Tati, Khorasani Turkic, Kurmanci Kurdish, and Turkmen. Intermarriage between said ethnic groups is common.

The city is famous for its Turkmen horses and professional horse training centers. People from all over the world often come over to visit these highlights." 

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bojnord

S. Balachander (1927-1990) - Marvellous Melakarta Melodies - Album 1 - LP published in India in 1970

Side 1:

Extempore Melodic Improvisation of "Shuddha Madhyama" (F Natural)

Melakarta Ragas

1st Melakarta - Kanakaangi (From Chakra I)

9th Melakarta - Dhenuka (From Chakra II)

17th Melakarta - Sooryakaantam (From Chakra III)

Side 2:

Extempore Melodic Improvisation of "Shuddha Madhyama" (F Natural)

Melakarta Ragas

20th Melakarta - Nathabhairavi (From Chakra IV)

30th Melakarta - Naagaanandini (From Chakra V)

34th Melakarta - Vaagadheesvari (From Chakra VI)

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Torkaman - Music from Iranian Turkmenistan - Cassette published in Iran (early 1990s)

Chaharomin Djashnvareh Mousiqi Fajr 
(4. Fajr Music Festival) - Vol. 12

Torkaman

performed by:

Grouhe (ensemble) Azad Mahali

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Turkmen music from the Iranian part of Turkmenistan. This cassette contains music of Bakhshis (bards) accompanying themselves on Dutar and accompanied on Gidjak, a spike fiddle called in Iran and Azerbaijan Kamancheh.

"Turkmen in Iran and Afghanistan:

Turkmen in Iran and Afghanistan remain very conservative in comparison to their brethren in Turkmenistan. Islam plays a much more prominent role in Iran and Afghanistan where Turkmen follow many traditional Islamic practices that many Turkmen in Turkmenistan have abandoned as a result of decades of Soviet rule. In addition, many Turkmen in Iran and Afghanistan have remained at least semi-nomadic and traditionally work in agriculture/animal husbandry and the production of carpets In Iran about 2 000,000 Turkmen are primarily concentrated in the provinces of Golestan and North Khorasan."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmen_people

"The Turkmens reside in the north of the (Iranian) province Golestan, a plain called Turkmen Sahra. This former nomadic people live in this area from 15th century, main cities of which are Gonbad-e Kavus and Bandar Torkaman." 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golestan_Province

Here some more Turkmen music from the former Soviet Union:

http://zhuzhulingo.blogspot.de/search/label/Turkmenistan

S. Balachander (1927-1990) - Veena - Dedicated to Dikshitar, Proffered by Balachander - LP published in India in 1975

S. Balachander - Veena

Tanjore Upendran - Mridangam

Side 1:

"Kalaavati Kamalaasana Yuvati"

Raagam: Yaagapriya, Thaalam: Aadgi

Side 2:

"Himagiri Kumaari Iswari"

Raagam: Raghupriya, Thaalam: Aadhi

Download wave

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About the artist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundaram_Balachander

Imrat Hussain Khan - Raga Sree - Surbahar & Sitar - LP published in India in 1974

Beautiful LP by Imrat Khan, accompanied by the great Keramatullah Khan on Tabla.

Side 1:

Raga Sree (Shri) - Alap on Surbahar

Side 2:

Raga Sree (Shri) - Vilambit Gat, Drut Gat and Jhala in Trital on Sitar

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Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar passes away on May 8, 2013 - In his memory two recordings from AIR

Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar was born in Udaipur, Rajasthan on the 15 June 1932. His father was Ustad Ziauddin Khan Dagar, court musician of the state of Udaipur. He was taught Dhrupad by his father and elder brother, the Veena maestro, Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar.

Ustad represented the 19th generation of the Dagarbani musical tradition and has dedicated his life to the propagation of this art form. He was known for his remarkable command over microtones (swar-bheda), gamak and other alankarans and lakshans.

He has been the recipient of many awards a few of which include the Tansen Samman from the Madhya Pradesh government (1993), the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (year) as well as the Padma Shri (2012). In 2005, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the North American Dhrupad Association. He was the first director of the Dhrupad Kendra, Bhopal and taught there since 1981 for many years.

A large number of well known Dhrupad performers came from this institute under his guidance and tutelage, including the Gundecha Brothers, Uday Bhawalkar, Ritwik Sanyal and Nirmalya Dey. He also taught at Dhrupad Sansar at IIT Mumbai for 5 years. He lived and continued to teach near Panvel at a Gurukul built by his elder brother. He performed widely in India and abroad.

with some modifications from: http://dhrupaduday.com/gurus/

More about the artist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zia_Fariduddin_Dagar

We were very fortunate to have seen him perform still this year in February at the Dhrupad Festival in Rasa, Utrecht, Holland.

See: http://www.dhrupadfestival.nl/

Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and Nirmalya Dey on stage at the Dhrupadfestival.

Here a video of his performnace at the Dhrupad Festival in Utrecht, Holland, in February 2013

And here in his memory two recordings broadcast by All India Radio:

1. Raga Bhairav (29:10)

2. Raga Suha (29:29)

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Available recordings 

(they can be obtained from: info@raga-maqam-dastgah.com):

Z. Fariduddin Dagar (Vocal), Nirmalya Dey & Yvan Trunzler (Vocal Support) & Shrikant Mishra (Pakhawaj) - The lyrical tradition of dhrupad 9 - Dagarvani: Raga Chalnat: Alap (29:14), Jor (12:27), Jhala (7:12) & Tevra (17:52), MAKAR, MAKCD 039, EUR 8,00

Ustad Fariduddin Dagar is the senior singer of the Ziauddin Dagar style of Dhrupad. As a master performer, he has won over miriads of listeners, as a master teacher, he has trained almost all of the new generation's elite of Dhrupad singers and instrumentalists. Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar, born in 1933 in Udaipur (Rajasthan) has been trained by his father Ustad Ziauddin Khan, court musician of the Maharajah of Udaipur. From him he learnt vocal Dhrupad of the Dagarvani style but also sitar, bin and surshringar, and after his demise he learnt with his elder brother, late Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. As one of the greatest performers of Dhrupad, he has performed in numerous concerts in India and around the world. He is the recipient of the famous Tansen Award, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and many more. Ustad Fariduddin Dagar is one of the most prolific teachers of Hindustani classical music: he has trained more than a dozen of Indian and Western dhrupad singers of the new generation like Uday Bhawalkar (MAKCD 008, MAKCD 031), the Gundecha Brothers, Yvan Trunzler, Nirmalya Dey or Monica Lacombe. He is teaching in India: Mumbai (Dhrupad Gurukul, founded by his brother), Bhopal (his own school), Baroda (Madhya Pradesh government's Dhrupad Institute), Bangalore; but also in the West: Conservatory of Rotterdam, and leads numerous workshops around Europe and America. 

Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (Rudra Veena) & Zia Fariduddin Dagar (Vocal), K. Shridhar (Tanpura) – Ragini Miyan Ki Todi – Bombay 1968 - A Rudra Veena & Vocal Duet by Z.M. Dagar & Z.F. Dagar – Miyan Ki Todi – A Morning Raga in the Dhrupad Tradition: Ragini Miyan Ki Todi – Alap, Jod, Jhala (54:11), COUNTRY & EASTERN, CE 19

“The first release with the rudra veena-vocal duet in raga Malkauns was recorded in Ustad Zia Mohiudding Dagar's house in Chembur on the evening of february 4, 1968. On the very next morning he and his younger brother Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar recorded the raga that is the female counterpart of raga Malkauns, Ragini Miyan Ki Todi. The name means Miyan's Todi and it is said to have been created by the famous Miyan Tansen, one of the 9 jewels of emperor Akbar's court in the 16th century, as his version of the Todi raga.”

Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (Rudra Veena) & Zia Fariduddin Dagar (Vocal), Ritwik Sanyal (Tanpura & supporting vocals) – A Rudra Veena & Vocal Duet – Raag Malkauns – Bombay 1968 – A Rudra Veena & Vocal Duet by Z.M. Dagar & Z.F. Dagar – An evening Raga in the Dhrupad Tradition: Raag Malkauns: Alap, Jor & Jhala (69:16), COUNTRY & EASTERN, CE 02

Talib Hussain (Tabla & Pakhawaj) and other Tablaiyas - Cassette from Pakistan

Ustad Talib Hussain was one of the major two or three Tabla players in Pakistan from the 1960s to the 1990s and one of the last remaining Pakhawaj players of Pakistan. He was well versed in both Tabla and Pakhawaj playing. He learned from his uncle Baba Malang Khan of Talwandi. Later on he further studied with Ustad Gami Khan of Dehli Gharana. In addition, he was the last recognized practitioner of the Punjab style of Pakhawaj playing (from which the tabla gharana has its roots). Unfortunately, at a relatively young age, Ustad Sahib was murdered in a mosque by militants in Lahore in 1993. 

We present here a cassette published in Peshawar, Pakistan. We don't remember from whom we obtained this cassette and unfortunately we didn't scan the original cover. These recordings are different from the ones published in 1974 on LP by EMI Pakistan and now available for download on many download platforms like Amazon, Musicload, emusic etc.

Bosmart just posted on his blog "La Logique interne" apparently the original version of this cassette:

http://lalogiqueinterne.blogspot.de/2013/05/tablaiyas-du-pakistan.html

The correct track info according to the cover below - posted by Bosmart - is, if we read it correctly:

Side A:

1. Savari Panch Tal by Ustad Talib Hussain

2. Tintal (Vilambit & Drut) by Abdul Sattar Tari (Tari Khan)

Side B:

1. Rupak Tal by Ustad Akhtar Hussain

2. Pakhawaj Jhaptal by Ustad Talib Hussain

The version which we copied many many years ago was from a cassette published by Ariana Recording in Peshawar. Unfortunately we didn't copy the cover and in the deciphering of the names of musicians we made either mistakes or the information given on this cassette was not correct. Anyway, the Ariana cassette seems to be a later copy of the original Lok Virsa cassette. We are very grateful to Bosmart to have posted the original version.

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About Abdul Sattar Tari (Tari Khan) (born 1953):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tari_Khan

There were two Tabla masters by the name of Akhtar Hussain, one of them being the last Khalifa of the Punjab Gharana. I guess here we have this Akhtar Hussain.

On the Punjab Gharana see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab_gharana