The All-India Sufi & Mystic Music Festival takes place in multiple cities across India each year.  November & December 2011 will see 3 weekends of performances at Purana Qila, Delhi, the Horniman Circle Gardens , Mumbai  and Tollygunge Club, Kolkata featuring a broad spectrum of International musicians.

Official Website

www.ruhaniyat.com

We’ll be posting a review of the Mumbai shows later this month, but here is something to whet your mystic appetite in the form of the complete list of performances featured :-

NEW DELHI

19th November 2011, Purana Quila, Delhi
Zikr-e-Rifayi – Fakirs (Andhra Pradesh)
Jikir-Jari – Hafiza Begum Choudhury & Group (Assam)
Baul Songs – Parvathy Baul (West Bengal)
Sema – Whirling Dervishes (Turkey)
Kabirbani – Mukhtiyar Ali & Group (Rajasthan)
Sufi Qawwali – Fareed Ayaz & Group (Pakistan)

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Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan presents Swami Haridas-Tansen Sangeet

The old masters of the arts are so called for good reason. Their ability to demonstrate their skill or craft is undoubtable so in the case of musicians this leaves us with one option; to be enchanted, enthralled and enraptured as they weave their dazzling tapestries of song and musical joy.  In Delhi, the 3 day program Swami Haridas-Tansen Sangeet took place at the Sri Sathya Sai international centre (Sai Auditorium).  The program featured eminent Vocalists and Instrumentalists of India’s main proponent of the Indian Classical Music traditions. Artists such as Zakir Hussain, Channulal Mishra, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Ashwini Bhide Deshpande & Shujaat Hussain Khan graced the event to weave a tapestry of magical music.

Channulal Mishra

To hear the magical tones of Channulal Mishra in the performance space, was a dream come true, as it was the first time I had the chance to enjoy this legendary singer although I had already been blessed enough to take a few music lessons with him in 2008.  To hear some of my favourite pieces performed live, in the magical spell of Sai Auditorium, with about 1500 other devoted attendees was such total magic.  He sang a variety of well known classics from his repertoire including a Mira bhai poem and a Hanuman Bhajan.  At the end everyone was crying for a the title track from the “Holi Ke Rang” album. This beautiful album was released by DEVI FOUNDATION which is a  not for profit organization was set up in New Delhi in 2003.   The Foundation’s leading objectives are the preservation and enhancement of the arts, and support to under privileged woman and children.

The unique level of sweetness that Channulal exhudes is beyond belief.  He has a unique tone in his voice that is so mellow, so purifying and so lively all at once. Soothing and energising in unison, a true celestial ceremony of Song.  Long may His musical magic continue to resound so beautifully.

Ashwini Bhide

Another legendary proponent of Indian Classical Music came to the stage the following day.  Her effortless perfection created a fluidity of space that opened up sonic vistas.  Time and space seemed to yield to her command as the complexities of sound were unravelled before our very ears!  We were all blissed beyond belief and the cares of the world seemed to melted away as the Taans opened up like a lotus blossom, revealing the very essence of Indian Classical Music.

Programme :
17th December 2010 :
Vinay Bharat-Ram – Vocal
Aashish Khan – Sarod
(S/o Ustad Ali Akbar Khan)
Zakir Hussain Khan – Tabla

18th December 2010:
Uma Sharma – Kathak
Channulal Mishra – Vocal
Mehmood Dholpuri – Harmonium
Vishwa Mohan Bhatt – Mohan Veena

19th December 2010:
Alam Khan – Sarod
(S/o Ustad Ali Akbar Khan)
Ashwini Bhide Deshpande – Vocal
Shujaat Hussain Khan – Sitar

Bharitiya Sangeet, the arts & dance school which organises this event.

http://www.uma-sharma.com/bhartiya_sangeet_sadan.asp

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Hazrat Inyat Khan (July 5, 1882 – February 5, 1927) was a Sufi Mystic from India who travelled to the West to share his message of Universal Love.  He was a great musician who played the Vina but eventually gave up playing music in order to become the Instrument of God.  His gentle spirit and truthful notions and philosophy have been a great influence on many Sangita Sounds musicians and producers.  His wise words and compassionate thoughts echo through eternity his spirit of peace and harmony echo through time.

In particular, for all music lovers and musicians, we reccomend his excellent Book :- The Mysticism of Sound and Music.

It has played an important part in the essential develpment of Sangita Sounds and our core spiritual philosophy.

The source of truth is within man; he himself is the object of his realization.

Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:

In point of fact truth is simple; it is man who makes it difficult for himself. For all other aspects of knowledge he has to get from outside, but truth is something which is within man himself. It is something which is nearest to us though we imagine it to be farthest; it is something which is within, though we imagine it to be outside; it is knowledge itself we want to acquire. Thus the seeker is engaged in a continual struggle: struggle with himself, struggle with others, and struggle with life. And at the end of the journey he always finds that he has traveled because it was his destiny to travel, and he discovers that his starting-point is the same as his final goal.

from  http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/VIIIa/VIIIa_4_12.htm

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Our pre-launch party is coming!  This coming friday will see a cosmic ensemble of musicians, producers, friends and family gather together in the mystic melting pot of Inspiral Lounge.

SANGITA SOUNDS
Present

ASHIRVAD
(album launch)

LIVE
Ashirvad, E.S.P, Noodreem

DJ
Jaya Jay , Darren Sangita

VENUE : Inspiral Lounge, 250 Camden High Street, London

DATES : Friday 9th October 2009. 8pm – 1am.

ADMISSION : Free

Sangita Sounds present Ashirvad, a kaleidoscopic musical mandala of sonic nectar. Join us for a celebration in sound fusing and innovating in the traditions of Bengali dub, indian devotional & classical music, ambient raga and psychedelic electronica. The extended soundtrack to our journey will be provided by our hand picked selection of sonic sorcerers and musical magicians.

Ashirvad