Happy New Year

Dear visitors of this blog, I wish you all a very happy new year with good health, lots of good music and, most important, lots of love and peace in a world which gets crazier every day. It is a pleasure to share so much music dear to my heart with you. I have the intention and hope to be able to continue for a while. There is still so much beautiful and rare music I wish to share with you.

The next projects will be, God willing, first a series of Dhrupad recordings, then an introduction to some almost forgotten masters of the Delhi Gharana. Afterwards some recordings by other singers like Rajab Ali Khan etc. Then there will be a bigger project about LPs obtained from India, with some remarks on their shortcomings due to the climate in India, mostly by less known instrumental masters.

I would also like to share some interesting and astonishing points about the statistics of this blog:

First the 10 most visited posts of my blog: 

1. Older Masters of Rudra Veena (Been) - Part III - Ustad Abid Hussain Khan (1907-1978), posted 16 Nov 2012, 5 comments - visits: 3515

2. Shashmaqam of Bukhara - Box of 16 LPs, published by Melodiya on the occasion of the 3rd International Symposium of Eastern Music, Samarkand 1987, posted 3 Apr 2012, 23 comments - visits: 3053

3. Mohamed Tahar Fergani - Ya Dalma - LP published in Algeria, posted 26 Sep 2013, 4 comments - visits: 2416

4. Nikhil Banerjee (1931-1986) at WDR, Cologne, Germany - Broadcasts recorded 1971, 1975 and 1984, posted 2 Nov 2014, 24 comments - visits: 2341

5. Music of Afghanistan - A gorgeous Box of 5 LPs published in Japan in 1975, posted 26 Dec 2017, 17 comments - visits: 1896

6. Vilayat Khan - Sitar - A Treasure from Solomon's Mines SME 1/2 - Very rare Indian LP from 1956, posted 8 Jul 2012, 23 comments- visits: 1861

7. Pandit Pran Nath (1918-1996) - At WDR in Cologne on 8.12.1984, posted 16 Nov 2016, 12 comments  - visits: 1715

8. Annapurna Devi & Ravi Shankar - Some rare Surbahar recordings from the 1950s, posted 26 Aug 2014, 15 comments - visits: 1661

9. Dagar Brothers: Nasir Zahiruddin Dagar & Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar - Dhrupad - Double LP Loft 1006/7 (Germany 1983), posted 23 Dec 2011, 18 comments - visits: 1560

10. 2ème Festival Algérien de la Musique Andalouse 1969 - Vol. 7, posted 13 May 2012, 1 comment - visits: 1381

Some I understand, some I find extremely astonishing, especially the Shashmaqam on position 2 and the very recent post of a box of 5 LPs of Music of Afghanistan already on position 5 (in only 10 days). That there is an almost forgotten master of Dhrupad and Rudra Veena on position one is also quite unexpected. Positions 3 and 10 are probably due to the extreme popularity of these albums or musicians in their home country. 

The highest numbers of visitors come from these countries:

1. United States: 436954

2. India: 256288

3. Germany: 175788

4. France: 125747

5. Russia: 89438

6. United Kingdom: 66447

7. Canada: 19480

8. Italy: 18538

9. Spain: 12155

10. Japan: 11943

No big surprises here, though I hadn't expected such a big public from India and a bigger one from the United Kingdom.

The number of comments is quite low, if one takes into account the total number of visitors: just 2309.

Here I owe an excuse to the commentators. In most cases I don't respond to the comments, mostly because of lack of time, except when there are valuable contributions or questions or problems. But be sure: I appreciate them all and are often quite touched by their warmth and find them extremely encouraging. Thank you so much.

Music of Afghanistan - A gorgeous Box of 5 LPs published in Japan in 1975

Here we present a rare gorgeous, luxurious box of 5 LPs of fieldrecordings from Afghanistan, published in 1975 in Japan. The box contains also a gorgeous booklet in the size of an LP of 56 pages with photos, texts and detailed track information. Unfortunately it is only in Japanese. Here we just present the double page giving the tracklist for the 5 LPs. It would be great if someone would be so kind to translate this into English. As the booklet is quite difficult to scan and it is a lot of work I will scan the remaining pages only step by step.

hk dutorchi came already up with a translation of the track details for the first LP (see below) and the subjects of the remaining 4 LPs: Tajik musicians (LPs 3 & 4), The Art of the Tanbur (from Mazar-i Sharif) (LP 5), Mazar-i Sharif musicians (LPs 6 & 7), Hazara music (LP 8), "Echoes of Alexandria" (Music from Kandahar and Herat) (LPs 9 & 10), Music from the Northeastern City of Fayzabad (LP 10). Many thanks, dutorchi. Very appreciated.

For the remaining 4 LPs Kyo from Japan translated the track details. See below and comments. Regarding the names of the instruments I made some minor correction. A very big thank you for the translation to Kyo. Very much appreciated.

LP 1

Side 1 – Sounds of the Mosques (Adhan chanting and Qur’an recitation)

1. Adhan (Sunni/Kabul) - Pul-e Khishti Mosque

2. Adhan (Sunni/Kabul) - Pul-e Khishti Mosque

3. Adhan (Sunni/Kabul) - Sherpur Mosque

4. Adhan (Shiite/Kabul) – Mohammadia Mosque

5. Adhan (Shiite/Kabul) – Karte Sakhi Mosque

6. Qur’an (Kabul) - Pul-e Khishti Mosque

7. Qur’an (Kabul) - Pul-e Khishti Mosque

Side 2 – Pashtun Musicians (from the capital Kabul and Jalalabad)

1. Kabul – Rubab solo

2. Kabul – Paktian folk song

3. Kabul – Sarinda & dhol

4. Kabul – Chang & zerbaghali

5. Kabul – solo tula and instrumental ensemble

6. Jalalabad – Folksong from Jalalabad (from the epic Layla & Majnun; accompanied by rubab, tablas, and two harmoniums)

7. Jalalabad – Folksong from Jalalabad (from the epic Layla & Majnun; accompanied by rubab, tablas, and two harmoniums)

LP 1 - flac

LP 1 - mp3

LP 2 - Tajik musicians (from Kunduz)

Side 3

1. Fakhar - Charbait from Badakhshan (accompanied by Ghichak, Zerbaghali and Tal)

2. "Baccha Mosi Mosi" - Charbait (accompanied by Dambura, Zerbaghali and Tal)

3. Charbait of Tajik (accompanied by Ghichak, Zerbaghali and Tal)

4. Folk Song from Badakhashan (Ghichak solo)

5. "Mondanabosi" - Charbait (accompanied by Ghichak, Zerbaghali and Tal)

6. Shamali Charbait (accompanied by Ghichak, Zerbaghali and Harmonium)

Side 4

1. Charbait of Tajik (accompanied by Tanbur and Zerbaghali)

2. Hazara-like Folk Song and "Mondanabosi" - Charbait (accompanied by Tanbur and Zerbaghali)

3. Folk Song from Herat (Tanbur and Zerbaghali)

4. Zerbaghali Solo

5. Uzbek Folk Song (accompanied by Tanbur and Zerbaghali)

6. "Mullah Mohammad Jan"

7. "Shak-kujan"

8. Lullaby

LP 2 - flac

LP 2 - mp3

LP 3

Side 5 - The Art of the Tanbur (from Mazar-i Sharif)

1. Uzbek Folk Song ~ Folk Song from Shebargan

2. Folk Songs from Herat and Kabul

3. Pashto Folk Song

Side 6 - Mazar-i Sharif musicians

1. Uzbek Folk Song ~ Folk Song from Mazar-i Sharif

2. Folk Song from Mazar-i Sharif (accompanied by Tanbur, Dilruba, Rubab, Dhol and Harmonium)

3. Dance tune from Logar Province (Tanbur, Dilruba, Rubab, Dhol and Harmonium)

4. Dilruba Solo

5. Pashto Folk Song (Rubab and Dhol) 

LP 3 - flac

LP 3 - mp3

LP 4

Side 7 - Mazar-i Sharif musicians

1. Folk Song from Mazar-i Sharif (accompanied by Tanbur and Zerbaghali)

2. Uzbek Folk Song (accompanied by Tanbur and Zerbaghali)

3. Uzbek Folk Song (Tula)

4. Folk Song from Mazar-i Sharif (Tula and Zerbaghali)

5. Folk Song from Mazar-i Sharif (Tula and Zerbaghali)

6. Folk Song from Mazar-i Sharif (accompanied by Tanbur and Zerbaghali)

7. Uzbek Folk Song and "Mondanabosi" (Tanbur and Zerbaghali)

Side 8 - Hazara music ~ In the lineage of Mongol

1. Folk Song from Bamyan (Dambra and Zerbaghali)

2. Charbait of Hazara

3. Charbait of Hazara

4. Pashto Folk Song (Nay Solo)

5. Charbait of Hazara

6. Charbait from Jaghuri

7. Folk Song from Hazarajat

LP 4 - flac

LP 4 - mp3

LP 5

Side 9 - "Echoes of Alexandria" (Music from Kandahar and Herat)

1. Kandahar - Folk Song from Kandahar (accompanied by Rubab, Tanbur, Tabla and Harmonium)

2. Kandahar - Folk Song from Kandahar (Ghazal; accompanied by Rubab, Tanbur, Tabla and Harmonium)

3. Herat - Folk Song from Herat (accompanied by Tanbur, Dotar and Zerbaghali)

4. Herat - Zerbaghali Solo

5. Herat - Charbait from Herat (Tanbur Solo)

6. Herat - "Amena" Charbait from Herat (Dotar Solo)

7. Herat - Shamali Charbait

8. Herat - Shamali Charbait (Tula Solo)

Side 10 - "Echoes of Alexandria" contd. & Music from the Northeastern City of Fayzabad

1. Herat - "Amena" Charbait from Herat (accompanied by Dotar, Zerbaghali and Tar)

2. Herat - "Ya Mustafa" (Dotar, Zerbaghali and Tar)

3. Fayzabad - Farkhar (Badakhshani Charbait; accompanied by Ghichak, Dambura, Zerbaghali and Tal)

4. Fayzabad - Badakhshani Folk Song (accompanied by Rubab, Zerbaghali and Tal)

5. Fayzabad - Falak (Song of Packhorse Driver; accompanied by Dambura and Zerbaghali)

6. Fayzabad - Badakhshani Folk Song (accompanied by Rubab, Zerbaghali, Tal and Harmonium) 

LP 5 - flac

LP 5 - mp3

Orifxon Xatamov - Vol. 2 - MP3-CD from Uzbekistan by the great Maqom master

Orifxon Xatamov was perhaps the greatest Maqom singer (and Tanbur player) of his time. He is in the line of the greatest masters of the Maqom of the Ferghana Valley, connecting his teacher Jurakhan Sultanov and his brilliant disciple Mamurjan Uzakov to his own disciple, the last complete master Fattoxxon Mamadaliyev.

In 2015 we had posted a MP3-CD by the master and in 2012 a cassette. See our post from 2015 for information on the artist. 

Now we present the second volume of his complete works. This is one of the most beautiful collections of Uzbek Maqom music, a rich testimony to an era and a world unfortunately lost. It also contains quite a number of wonderful instrumental pieces. The MP3-CD has three folders: 1. Orif Xatamov, containing 73 tracks, 2. Beknazar Do'stmurodov, containing 8 tracks & 3. Abdunabi Ibragimov, containing 2 tracks. I guess that the artists of folders 2 and 3 are disciples of Orifxon Xatamov. In order to make downloading more convenient, we split the MP3-CD into two parts: part 1 containing tracks 1 to 35 plus the cover scans and part 2 containg tracks 36 to 73 plus the two other folders.

It was again our very dear friend Danny who brought this MP3-CD years ago from a visit to Uzbekistan and shared it so generously.

Download part 1

Download part 2

Boris Namatiev (Namatiyev) - Zulfi Pareşon - LP published in Uzbekistan/Tajikistan in 1988

Here we present an LP by a well-known Jewish Shashmaqom singer from Uzbekisten, who lived apparently most of his life in Dushambe, Tajikistan. We posted in 2016 a MP3-CD with classical music from Bukhara containing 5 folders. One of these folders with 12 tracks is devoted to our artist. See here. We couldn't find much information on the singer in western languages, but there seems to be some in Russain, like here in the liner notes of the LP. Perhaps someone is so kind to translate the liner notes for us.

And here is already a translation of the liner notes by kkrka kr:

"Boris Namatiev, the Honored Artist of Tajik SSR is an actor of the A. Lakhuti State Drama Theater. During his 40 year career in the theater he has starred in numerous productions of classic plays, as well as plays by Soviet and Tajik playwrights.

Thanks to his solid vocal skills, he was particularly celebrated as an actor in musical plays, such as "The Exam" by F. Ansori (Sharif Ismati), "Arshin mol alan" by U. Gadjibekov (Asker), "The 30 kopeks charge" by Sh. Kiyamov and Farkhad (Kamal - police sergeant), and others.

B. Namatiev has done an outstanding deed in preserving and promoting the musical treasures of the Tajik Shashmaqom. He has made recordings of the most difficult/complex parts of this true pearl of folk art. The present record is the result of a long creative labour by a wonderful Tajik artist."

The recordings were made in 1985-87. Track titles are given in Tajik (which I unfortunately do not speak), followed by bracketed words "classic melody - [poet] (e.g. Hafez, Bedil...)" and once in A4 it says "folk melody".

Many thanks for the translation. Very appreciated!

On this LP the repertoire is from Shashmaqom. The ensemble plays a little in a more contemporary style bordering on Khalq (from or of the people, folk) music.

Here what we found in the internet on the artist (more focused on his acting career):

"NAMATIYEV, BORIS-ABO DAVIDOVICH (1930, Kerki, Turkmenistan). Actor, singer, and producer. Honored Artist (1970) and People’s Artist of Tajikistan (1989). Graduated from the Artistic-Musical  College (1954). Since 1948 - soloist of the orchestra  of  folk  instruments.  Actor of A. Lakhuti  Tajik  State Dramatic Theater. Played more than 100 various roles. Soloist at the children’s Ensemble “Pamir”. Participant of the decade in Moscow in 1957. Engaged in concert production, performing fragments of shashmakom. Repatriated  to Israel in 1992. Created the М.Tolmasov and G.Mullokandov Bukharian-Jewish Theater (1993-2002), where he plays in scene and produces performances: “Yosef-Ha-Tzadik” (by  A.Shalamayev), “Arshin Mal  Alan” (1994), “Esther-ha-Malka” (“Queen Esther” by А.Shalamayev, 1996), “Sacrifice of Isaac” (by B.Namatiyev and N.Yukhananоv, 1998), “Haft Barodaron” (“Seven Brothers”, 1999); “Apa Kalmoki Kaimok” (“Aunt Kalmok”) and “Gardishi Davron” (“Whirlpool of the Times”) – on the plays of А.Shalamayev. From 2002, the theater is renamed as “Theater  of Boris Namatiyev”. His creativity is described in P. Niyazov’s book “Theater of Boris Namatiyev” (2000)."

from: http://www.asia-israel.co.il/Encyclopedia-in-English.html

flac
mp3

Mamat Karimov - Old Masters of Arts of Uzbekistan - Vol. 8 - LP published in Soviet Uzbekistan in 1980

Here another volume of the "Old Masters of Arts of Uzbekistan" series in which older LPs of great masters were reissued. I don't know anything about the singer except that he is the same singer who also goes under the name of Muhammadjon Khoji Karimov. Here the cover of a MP3-CD by him, which we might post one day: 

I guess that he belongs to the tradition of Maqom of the Ferghana Valley. The recordings seem to be well before 1980. His voice is much softer then the very powerful voices of most of the other Maqom singers of those times. Here noteworthy is also the small ensemble with its perfect balance and retained minimalism, so typical of older Uzbek Maqom music.

flac
mp3

Fattoxxon Mamadaliyev - The last great master of the Maqom of the Ferghana Valley - MP3-CD from Uzbekistan

Fattoxxon Mamadaliyev (Fatahkhon Mamadaliev, Fattohxon Mamadaliev, Fattohhon Mamadaliyev, Фаттоххон Мамадалиев) was the last great, complete master of the Maqom of the Ferghana Valley. I think he was a disciple of the great Orifxon Xatamov. See our posts from 2012 and 2015. 

In 2011 we posted already a cassette by Fattoxxon Mamadaliyev. 

On the CD "Traditions Orales d'Ouzbekistan - Oral Traditions of Uzbekistan", released 1997 by the French label Playasound, was one solo track by him and two tracks accompanying one of his students on Tanbur. On the CD accompanying the book "Musiques d'Asie Centrale - L'Esprit d'une Tradition" by Jean During is one track by him. These seem to be the only recordings published in the West. The book is an excellent introduction to the music of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. 

Here we present a MP3-CD by the great master. The CD contains two folders: one by Fattoxxon Mamadaliyev with 39 tracks and another one by Inomjon Mamadaliyev, probably a son of Fattoxxon Mamadaliyev, with 16 tracks. One can see here very clearly the difference between the old generation and the new one. Only very few musicians keep today the traditional music, especially the small traditional ensemble with its perfect balance and very retained minimalism (a perfect example is the exceptional Munajat Yulchieva). The old singers had a great and very subtle art to build up culmination points. Their music was like an unlimited ocean alternating constantly between high tide and low tide, constantly building up new culminations. That is the reason why this format of MP3-CDs of many hours length is the perfect format for this music: the longer one listens to this music the more one gets into it and the more difficult it becomes to leave this universe of beauty and depth. 

I include here the folder by the son just for comparison. It is still good music, but compared to Fattoxxon Mamadaliyev it completely fades and lacks the fathers greatness.

My dear friend Danny brought this CD years ago from a trip to Uzbekistan. Many thanks to him for sharing so generously.

Fattoxxon Mamadaliyev

Inomjon Mamadaliyev

Munojot Yolchieva - MP3 To'plam - MP3 Collection - MP3-CD from Uzbekistan

Here a wonderful MP3-CD by the great Munajat Yulchieva, today the greatest voice of Uzbekistan. Unfortunately 2 or 3 tracks have some minor defects. Such great intense music! Earlier this year we posted an LP by her. See here. Our dear friend Danny brought this CD from a trip to Uzbekistan. Many thanks to him for sharing so generously.

download

Wahid Hussain - Sarangi - Great Masters Great Instruments - LP published in the US in 1978

Here we post another LP from the "mysterious" Pakistani label Oscar Records/Asghar Records, based in New York. For more details and other releases from this label see our post of an LP by Salamat Hussain.

About the musician I don't know anything. There are some additional recordings on the excellent Sarangi site: https://sarangi.info//?s=Wahid+Hussain&search=Go.

Addition on 9th of december 2017:

As already a couple of times, Dr. Kashyap, the Sarangi expert and player, student of Ustad Sultan Khan, helped us out for some very valuable pieces of information on the musician and also a photo:

"Here is info about U. Wahid Hussain with kind permission of my friend Mr. Ali Zafar from Lahore. His photo is also there. 

Wahid Hussain born in 1927 in Moradabad, became the disciple of sarangi player Ustad Tajammul Hussain Khan. Following Partition, he settled in Karachi where he worked at Radio Karachi as a staff artiste. Radio Pakistan provided the maestro with ample opportunities to perform with vocalists of the stature of Roshan Ara Begum, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan - Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Ustad Nazakat Ali Khan - Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Farida Khanum, Taj Multani and Mehdi Hassan. He was in particular the regular accompanist to Farida Khanum during her performances in Karachi. Wahid Hussain Khan also made his mark as a composer and poet. Ghazal singer Azra Riaz is amongst his most prominent disciples. Wahid Hussain Khan passed away in Karachi in 2004. (Received his profile from Mr Riaz Burney in October 2007. Interview of his son Zaheer Hussain by Ali Zafar, October 2009, Karachi.)"

flac
mp3

Ram Narayan plays Sarangi - A Treasure from Solomon's Mines - A very rare 10" LP published in India in 1957

I never came across another copy of this very rare LP except for the one I was able to buy recently. A couple of years ago I even never had heard that this LP exists. In july 2012 we posted another 10" LP by the same label, their very first one, by the great Vilayat Khan. These were the first LPs ever published in India.

See: http://oriental-traditional-music.blogspot.de/2012/07/vilayat-khan-treasure-from-solomons.html

flac

mp3

Chaturlal (1925-1965) & Ramnarain (Ram Narayan) - Beat and Bow - LP published in India in 1967

flac
mp3

Imrat Khan - Surbahar & Sitar - Music from India Series 10 - LP published in Great Britain in 1969

Here another LP from the Music from India Series, in which between 1965 and 1969 a number of beautiful recordings were released, which were at the time amongst the most easily available recordings of classical Indian music in Europe. Earlier EMI - His Master's Voice had already released a number of other LPs. We had posted recently two by Vilayat Khan from 1962 and 1963.

See here a complete discography of the Indian releases in the British ASD series: 

http://discog.piezoelektric.org/hmvindia/index.php?prefix=ASD

This our 7th LP by Imrat Khan.

flac
mp3