Top Ten South Asian Pieces of Music

Has anyone heard recordings of Gaan Tapaswini Anjanibai Malpekar. She is from the Bhendi Bazar Gharana and was the Guru if noted singer Kishori Amonkar (Her mother Moghubai Kurdikar was her guru too). Here is the profile of Anjanibai Malpekar.

Gaan Tapaswini Anjanibai Malpekar

Background

Anjanibai Malpekar was born on April 22,1883. She started learning under the strict guidance of Ustad Nazir Khan of Moradabad Uttar Pradesh, since the young age of eight. Her Ustad, along with his brothers Haji Vilayat Hussain Khan and Khadim Hussain Khan shifted to the Bhendi Bazar area of Mumbai and consequently, their style came to be known after this area.

Style

Anjanibai Malpekar represented the Bhendi Bazar Gharana, which stressed on Khayal singing. The basic feature of this style was its dance oriented structure and singing of the sargam as part of the Khayal. The representatives of this Gharana also borrowed rare and beautiful Ragas such as Hamsdhwani and others, from the Carnatic repertoire. The Khayal rendition, in Madhyalaya or Drut Madhyalaya in this Gharana was aesthetic and marked by delicacy. Besides Khayal, Anjanibai also mastered light classical and light music.

Achievements

Anjanibai’s first performance was at Muzaffarabad Hall, in Central Bombay in 1899. This was followed by performances all over the country. She won a number of awards and her fame spread far and wide. It is said that Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande took her help in writing sargams for complicated taans.

Anjanibai had to face a number of difficult situations in the course of her musical career. She lost her voice quite suddenly, which she regained through the blessings of a saint. No sooner had she recovered, that she lost her Ustad, her husband, mother and her spiritual guru in quick succession. This series of personal tragedies made Anjanibai give up performing altogether. However, she continued to guide students and musicians till the end of her days. Anjanibai died on 7th August 1974.

http://www.dhadkan.com/cgi-bin/dhadkan/profiles.cgi?artistID=1157&jnd=C

More on BHENDI BAZAR GHARANA

The founders of this Gharana (School of Hindustani Classical Music) were the three brothers viz. Ustad Chhaju Khan, Najir Khan and Khadim Hussain Khan, all of whom were trained by their father, Ustad Dilawar Khan. All three brothers settled in Mumbai in the area known as Bhendi Bazar and hence the name of this Gharana. The three stalwarts of this school of music were Gana – tapasvini Smt. Anjanibai Malpekar (teacher of Kishori Amonkar) , Shri Pandurang Amberkar Amanali Khan (son of Ustad Chhaju Khan) and Amir Khan. Shri Pandurang Amberkar was a disciple of Ustad Aman Ali Khan Saheb.

The Bhendi Bazar Gharana is known for its special compositions called Bandish. Ustad Chhaju Khan Saheb composed many exquisite ‘Bandish’ under the pseudo-name ‘Amar’. Following the footsteps of his father, Aman Ali Khan Saheb also composed a number of ‘Bandish’ under the same pseudo-name. The name ‘Amar’ therefore, has become the hallmark of the ‘Gharana’. One finds a delightful mixture of ‘Shabda’, ‘Sur’ and ‘Laya’ (Words, Notes & Tempo) in these compositions.

The prominent characteristics of this school is ‘Alapi’ enriched with Ghamak, Soot, and Meend. This requires a tremendous breath control, a systematic presentation of the ‘Bandish’ and its embellished improvisation according to structure of of the ‘Raga’. The entire rendering of the ‘Raga’ is based on the system called ‘Merukhanda’. ‘Merakhanda Gayaki’ is a system of various permutation and combinations of a given set of notes. This style brings out brings out the beauty and melody of the ‘Raga’ in an elaborate and aesthetically rich manner.

Another feature of this school is the blending of the Karnataka Music with the Hindustani Music. Amanali Khan Saheb had made a special study of the Karnataki Music and introduced some of the Karnataka ‘Ragas’ like Hansdhwani and ‘Pratap Warali’ in the Hindustani Music. He also made a very clever use of beautiful ‘Sargama’ of the Karnataka Music.

AJ Nabi:

This was a really enjoyable piece. I will definately grab some of the selections you selected in the list.

You should put this selection outside your home so when you run out during the earthquake, you could rattle yourself with beautiful music as you wait for the aftershocks to recede. Plus your surviving neighbors can be acquainted with the beauty of South Asian music.

Good idea for a change. Your selection is pretty good though I must admit that I have never heard of Kishore Kumar`s, Tamil one and first Bhajan. Is there any website one can listen to these rare songs?

Your choice seems mostly of fatalistic songs. Try some folk songs about union and not the sad songs about seperation.

My choice will always include Noor Jehan`s Awaz de kahaN hey and Malika Pukhraj`s Abhi to maiN jawan huN. What I really dislike is the the short 3-4 minute duration of movie songs. A good melody or tune must last for about 10 minutes to really enjoy it. That is why, a good non-movie song, ghazal or classical rendition is much better than a good movie song. Whenever I hear Awaz de kahaN hey, I always felt that Tanveer Naqvi or whoever wrote that song and the director of the movie should have added couple of more stanza to the song. I enjoy long songs like mere mahboob tujhe meri mohabbat kee kasam or akhyoN key jharokey se maiN ney dekha jo sanwrey, tum dur nazar aaye etc.

I look forward to a good exchange of opinion about music and songs on this thread.

adaab!

great choices on the whole--but what?! no Mehdi Hassan or Ghulam Ali in what is predominantly a ghazal collection?

And to the list of great film sound-tracks (Pakeezah and Umrao Jaan are my favourites alongside)--what? no Mughal-e-Azam?! :-)

And I cannot help and notice the absence of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sahib (Allah Bakhshay)!

But apart from these slips--a very nice choice!

Oh! And though I dont know that piece of classical music you picked--how can you omit Ustad Nikhil Bannerjee`s awesome and moving rendition of Raag Bhimpalasi on the sitar?

My all-time favourite piece of classical music!

:-)

Of course if I had to pick another album I would pick one of naats by Syed FaseeHuddin Suharvardi too--probably his rendition in his amazing voice of Ala Hazrat`s kalam.

(If I was making a choice of albums this would be my first one)

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Ok sorry i dont know too many of the good songs from the 90`s and this year but i will tell you what kind of cd i would make or buy with all the hits

Love songs- Amitabh ji`s

Kabhi kabhi

o sathi re- from muqadar ka siqandar

are janey kaise kab kahan- from shakti

Dance songs- Amitabh ji`s

Rang Barse- Silsila

Mach gaya shor- Khud Daar

other ones i cant remember at this time

Marriage- Amitabh ji`s

Khabhi khabhi

the one he sings for his sister in Aaj ka arjun

Sadness- Amitabh ji`s

Dekh saktha houn- Majboor *a really good one

Manzilen apni jagah hain- sharabi

Meet na milan re man ka- abhiman

Tum bhi chalo hum bhi chaleyn-Zanjeer

Funny- Amitabh ji`s

eer bir phatte-Aby baby

Padosan apni murghi ko rakhna sambhal-jadugar

Mere angene mein- laawaris

hehehe

There is a song from Amitabh ji`s movies for every emotion

i know this wasn`t quite what you had asked for but this is what came in my head for the best of the best cd all of His work

`90-`00:

1) Jab kisi ki taraf dil jukhney lagay

2) Gali may aaj chand nikla--Zakhm

3) Ek din aap youn ham ko mil jain gay--Yes Boss

4) Meri sanson may basa hai tera hi ek naam--Aur pyar ho gaya

5) Chitti na koi sandes, janey woh kon sa des--DUSHMAN

6) Chanda re, chanda re, kabhi to zamin par a-SAPNAY

7) Tadap tadap kay is dil sey aah nikal ti rahi-HDDCS

8) Mast--Mast

9) Aye ho meri zindagi may tum--Raja Hindustani

OLDIES:

Khilona jan kar tum to mera dil tor jatey ho

*Zindagi deney waley sun, teri duniya say dil bhar gaya *

Koi jab tumhara ridey tor day, tarapta hua jab tumhey chor day

Dushman na karey dost nay woh kaam kiya hai

Honthon say choolo tum , mera geet amar kardo

O sathi re, terey bina bhi kya jeena

the list goes on...to part 2 (which i`ll prob. post later)....phew......

A.J.

What happened to the rest of your novel?

Anyway for a quick input here:


1) ``Mujh Say Pehli Si Mohabbat``: Madam Noor Jahan

2) ``Allah Hoo``: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

3) ``Hum Dekhain Gay``: Iqbal Bano

4) ``Chalte Chalte``: Lata

5) ``Tum Na Janay Kis Jahan mein Kho Gayay``: Lata

6) ``Chandni Raatain``: Madam Noor Jahan

7) ``Ranjish hi Sahi``: Mehdi Hassan

8) ``Chupkay Chupkay`` or ``Awaargi`` Ghulam Ali

9) ``Jub Say Tu Nay``: Abida Parveen.

10) ``Mirza Ghalib`` soundtrack songs: Jagjit Singh

Ras

HOW ABOUT TOP TEN BREAK UP VILAYTI SONGS

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



http://aolsvc.aol.music.getmusic.com/features/breakupclips

1. ``All or Nothing`` by O-Town

2. ``Unbreak My Heart`` by Toni Braxton

3. ``Gone`` by *NSYNC

4. ``I Will Survive`` by Gloria Gaynor

5. ``Don`t Speak`` by No Doubt

6. ``Fallin``` by Alicia Keys

7. ``Survivor`` by Destiny`s Child

8. ``Bye Bye Bye`` by *NSYNC

9. ``All Cried Out`` by Allure

10. ``Hit `Em Up Style (Oops!)`` by Blu Cantrell

How can you NOT have Ustad Bismillah Khan`s shehnai recitals on this list?

1. KL Sehgal-- Dil julta hai to julne dey

2. Punkuj Malik-–yeh raaten yeh muasum yeh huNsna hasana

3. Kishore Kumar--Jug mug jug mug karta nikla chand gagun ka piyara

4. Talat Mahmood--yeh hawa yeh raat yeh chandnee teri ek ada pey nisaar hai

5. Mohammad Rafi-–zindagi bhur nahi bhule gee ye barsaat ki raat

6. Noor Jahan--Mujh se pahli si muhabbat mere



7. Bade Ghulam Ali--Ka karoon sajni aye na baalum

8. Jagjeet Singh--Sarakti jai hai sur se niqaab ahista ahista

9. Mehdi Hasan-- Gulon mein rung bharey

10. Nusrut Fateh Ali Khan--Must qalandar must must

I do not understand why Mr. KumarGandharva is called `bad boy`of Indian classical music. Can anybody explain the remark of writer. I have heard his music on musicindialine.com and one of the most spiritual music and very touching. Sure he is not a singer travelling on beaten path. He is unique in his interpretation of notes and mastery of vocal cords. He is one of few singers of Indian classical who can be sweet without all support of background music.

Due to Internet I am able to listen to many new very good classical musicians. I do enjoy Rashid Khan and Ulhas Kashalkar of young Indian Musicians. In Pakistan Indian classical music (Hindustani) is dead practically. I feel good that Indians have kept alive classical music and progressing. I was told indian classical music was on `oxygen` for some times after freedom of 47. (Due to loss of support from princely states). I tried to get CDs -Mr. K Gandharva`s songs on cd or casset but could not. (In Karachi we have all hindi film music ,here I think mostly old well to do people of old India enjoy classical music- vanishing tribe, not consumer base for pirating) .

I will be grateful if somebody can give E-address to buy Mr. K.Gandharva`s music CD. My children in USA can send me.

Lastly how old is above singer, his picture appears to be in early 50s. Does he sings `filmy` music?

Good day everybody.

The write up is so cute.. I agree with most of your choice, except that my list would *have * to include Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. What are your thoughts on him?

hmmm where I live we dont have earthquakes but constant annoying fire-alarms. So next time I am instructed to ``head to the nearest exit, donot use elevators ...`` and walk down X # of floors will listen to these !! Well someone`s attempting to cook(??) AGAIN so got to go ! thks -

Top Ten South Asian pieces of music - that`s just top ten in Hindi/Urdu guys. There are at least twenty other South Asian languages from which to pick the top ten.

Its a bit like Don Bradman picking seven Aussies in his dream team.