Program Guide | Tihāī Ensemble @ Vancouver Public Library

Program information: https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/677e9e5fa26aad5d2e40db84

What's Hindustani music?

Hindustani music is one of two major forms of classical or art music found in India today, typically finding its representation across the North of India as well as Pakistan and Bangladesh, with the other major form Carnatic music being represented across the South and Sri Lanka. Khayal is one of the primary subgenres of Hindustani vocal music. It represents a confluence of older musical traditions such as Prabandha, Dhrupada, and Qawwali. It developed an identity of its own in the royal courts of India, beginning with the Delhi Sultanate, and culminating at the courts of the Gaekwad kings of Baroda. It is primarily an improvised form, with the song-text providing a basis for spontaneous musical creation within the grammar of the raga (melodic form) and tala (rhythmic cycle). In modern times, Khayal has continued to evolve as one of the many living Indian performing art traditions practiced today.

What will be presented today?

Khayal | Raga Brindavani Sarang

Raga Brindavani Sarang is said to have been created by Swami Haridas, an ardent devotee of the god of love, flora and fauna, and caretaker of the land of Brindavan - Krishna. It is a raga often used in musical offerings in the temples of its namesake. The first composition, which has been composed by Swami Haridas' famous disciple Miyan Tansen, beautifully interweaves language found in both Muslim and Hindu traditions to describe the divine. The second composition is a joyous celebration of the earth and music.

Song-Text #1: Tuma Raba Tuma Saheba | Vilambit Jhaptala (slow-paced 10-beat rhythmic cycle) | Composed by Miyan Tansen

You are God, You are the Master, You alone are the Creator.

You dwell in every heart, fully present, filling water and land alike.

You are the Merciful, You are the Compassionate.

The virtuous sing Your praises — celestial beings, gods, humans, and divine men.

You are the eternal Brahman, the unchanging one.

You are the Guru of the universe, the Supreme Lord.

Says Miyan Tansen: You alone are everything.

You are the one who delivers the whole world across the ocean of existence.

Song-Text #2: Dharati Pyasi Jagi | Drut Tintala (fast-paced 16-beat rhythmic cycle) | Composed by Pt. Arijit Mahalanabis

The thirsty earth has awakened from slumber,

Freed from the bonds of heat and burning,

All living beings stir and celebrate with joy.

A million drops are falling, O beloved,

Quenching the thirst in your yearning eyes.

The one whose complexion is like the evening's sky plays the flute,

And listening to it, the enchanted peacock dances.

Dadra | Raga Bhairavi

A well-loved raga, Bhairavi has become associated with the finale of a concert. Therefore it makes sense this is being sung last! It is prevalent across all the subgenres of Hindustani classical music and is a raga that people often take liberties in. I will present a Dadra which is a category of composition that falls under the subgenre of Thumri. With Khayal and Dhrupad keeping the exploration of raga and tala as their primary focus, Thumri seeks to bend the raga to express the poetry.

Song-Text #1: Banao Batiyan | Madhyalaya Dadra (medium-paced 6-beat rhythmic cycle) | Composed by Ust. Faiyaz Khan

Why weave false words and walk away with lies?

Go instead to the place where you spend your nights.

You sneak away, going to another —

No, no! Your sweet talk no longer touches my heart.