For Inner Calm and Contentment. 3CDs of Relaxing Meditative Music.
3CDs performed by some of India’s greatest musicians and designed to aid meditation.
Ravindra Sathe’s rich, baritone voice has been similarly in demand for his talents as a playback singer. As the standard way of setting music to films then ‘playback singers’ are unique to India. Perhaps the most famous is Lata Mangeshkar, whose Guinness Book Of Records entry as the most recorded artist in the world only hints at her fame. A small and humble lady with a career that spans many decades, her voice has launched a thousand faces as the glamorous film stars mime their way through songs performed by her distinctive voice.
Ravindra would not pretend to raise himself to the fame of Lataji but, now in his third decade as professional singer, his credits include A. R. Rahman’s first Bollywood movie, Roja. It was the music for this film that, in 1992 and almost overnight, became a nationwide success to make Rahman a household name.
An exciting time for Ravindra whose more recent film, Shakti (Peace) is perhaps more in keeping with the calming benefits of a meditative discipline.
Sadhna Sargam is the daughter of the renowned classical singer Neela Ghanekar. She began her training at the age of four and, when she was 10, received a Central Government scholarship. This in turn led to a seven-year apprenticeship to Pandit Jasraj, known and loved the world over for both his classical and devotional singing.
Beyond the world of devotional or meditative singing, Sadhna has become known for her work in the incredibly demanding position as playback singer within the Indian film industry. Her first film song was in 1985 and since then she was worked for music directors such as Anu Malik and, more recently, A. R. Rahman - one of the most important and talented music directors of our times.
On these recordings Sadhna’s skill and artistry allow her to get beneath the skin of the music and into its heart as a vehicle for meditation.
It is not an exaggeration to say that Jagjit Singh is the most famous ghazal singer India has produced. The art of the ghazal – a courtly, poetic tradition with its roots in ancient Persia – was dragged into the modern world with the phenomenal success of “The Unforgettables”. In this album Jagjit, along with his wife Chitra, presented the sensitive, complex words of Urdu poetry in a manner that opened the door for many.
That was back in 1976 and a string, 35 at last count, of successful albums – and more than a few artists to imitate their style – followed as the music provided a welcome alternative to the formulaic mediocrity Indian film music had then become.
Tragedy struck with the accidental death of their son and the duo stopped performing. Chitra has never since performed and it’s only comparatively recently that Jagjit returned to both the public stage and recording studio, his repertoire broadened to include devotional and meditative songs.
It is two of the most beautiful and compassionate that we include here.
TRACKLISTING
CD1 - Sadhna Sargam, Ravindra Sathe & Chorus
1 Meditation In The Morning (Raga Bairagi)
2 Meditation At Night (Raga Darbari)
CD2 - Sadhna Sargam, Ravindra Sathe & Chorus
1 Om
CD3 - Jadjit Singh
1 Om – Meditation with Jagjit Singh
2 Shree Ram Dhun
