Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi - Raag Multani (1957)

MUSIC TODAY-
BHIMSEN JOSHI SEVENTY FIVE YEARS

RAAG MULTANI
Vocal: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi
Harmonium: Pandit Appasahab Jalgaonkar
Tabla: Gulam Rasool
Vocal Support: Purshottam Kapila

Vilambit Ektaal:
"Tu to Saahab Jamaal..."

Druth Ektaal:
"Nainan Mein Aan Baan..."


This video is the druth excerpt of the 36:43min long Khayaal. I have added pictures to enhance the experience of this great piece.

Taken from the "Bhimsen Joshi Seventy Five Years" CD, it can be purchased at the Music-Today website: http://www.music-today.com/inside1.ph...
THIS CONCERT'S STORY (from CD inlay)
_______________________________________
This was sung at Harballah mela, the oldest musical conference of India. The conference began at 11:00am and Bhimsenji's turn came at about 3:00pm. Many stalwarts were in the audience- Roshanara Begum, Omkarnath Thakur, Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan....
Raga Multani is a specialty of the Kirana Gharana, with a classical Kirana style Aalaap. Here, so purely did Bhimsenji present the gayaki of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, that Roshanara Begum congratulated him with tears in her eyes. This has been recounted by Purshottam Kapila, who was on the tanpura and also provided vocal support.
There are also some neat Thihais here. In Bhimsen's musical philosophy, he has always insisted that Thihais should come not as a result of calculated mathematical patterns; rather they should "arise" on their own, as an indication of gracefulness. At this time in the fifties he was friends with great Tabla maestros and quite interested in the grammatical content of Tabla, and this is evident in his singing. This element was also abandoned in later years.
In the latter part of the rendition, you will hear a dazzling display of technique, resorted to as the Punjabi audience is fond of "Tayyari" and acrobatics.
Panditji's student Purushottam Kapila, who was a lad of just 17-18 at the time and blessed with a natural "Phirat", provides great vocal accompaniment. This produced what in olden times was called "Dangal ka Gana".
_______________________________________
This is a recording was from a 1957 concert in Jalandhar, Punjab.


ENJOY :)!!!

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[bodhibrikkha]

This is a doctored tape. At a few places, there is Bhimsen. And then its superimposed with Salamat-Nazakat. The tape-speed is also manipulated. The "lagao" and "taans" are NOT Bhimsen's. Notice at 5:34-6.00 its Bhimsen (speeded up). I can't believe there are fools who do this and think they can get away.

[Karandebuwa3]

This is not a doctored nor super-imposed tape. This was sung only Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and his disciple, Purushottam Kapila in 1957 at Jallandhar. Salamat-ji and Nazakat-ji are nowhere in this.

While this recording of Raag Multani is published by Music Today, I have acquired a recording of Bhimsen-ji's Bhairavi sung immediately after this Raag from a descendant of Purushottam Kapila himself.

There is nothing artificial about this recording. Only its quality does not due justice.

[Karandebuwa3]

Today, Bharat Ratna Swarabhaskar Swaradhiraj Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi passed away.

We wish him a peaceful and blissful rest and thank him for his service to music. Truly among the greatest of musicians who ever lived.

This recording, I believe is one of the greatest creations by Pandit-ji.

I hope all enjoy this and share my love and thanks for his great genius.

Thank you, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

[ribandarcho]

Not much can be said about Panditjis performance. It is extraordinary and almost beyond human vocal range. Interestingly, the other person is not shy and providing excellent support as well. It is hard to believe that such a performance can be repeated now, which makes it one of the rarest of the gems in Indian classical music. Thanks for sharing.

[saifu778]

Ustad Salamat Ali Khan Sahib, Begum Roshan Aara, Ustad Bade Fateh Ali Khan Sahib, Ustad Nazakat Ali Khan Sahib, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj Ji and finally the grand maestro Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Sahib - these people are the foundation of probably the last serious generation of classical subcontinental music. They will exist anymore. Pay respect to all of them equally as all of them were equally talented and characteristic.

[saifu778]

I believe it. It reminds me of legendary raag basant sung by salamat ali and nazakat ali. What a quality pt. joshi had in voice. Amazing.

[sing n.]

I confess ! you are absolutly right , thats the original voice , i have goosepimple each time again from dearest Pt, Bhimsen Joshi.

thanks for your kind information and respected respond!

[Abhijit Banerjee]

I do not believe this tape has been doctored in any shape or form; I have heard some of Panditji's performance at ages around 40, and they all look this terrific in his taans; hear the puriya dhanashree (aba to rut mana & payeliya jhanakar tori), hear those taans & compare to this; they are similar & terrific; he remains to be the lone hindustani vocalist with bharat ratna; not for nothing

[Abhijit Banerjee]

panditji at that time (ages 30-40) mostly sang in E or F scale; given Multani is sang best at lower octaves (mandra & madhya saptak mostly), it is not surprising to hear him singing in F; it is only later, ages 60 & later, that he shifted down to D & C#, which we have mostly heard

[sing n.]

i agree 99.9% but i hope you know that this recording has a tipical speed problem which had to many of old records - slightly high speed.

although that fact -as you said, dont think anyone can repeat that these days - my pary to god to be surprized ;-)

[Revati Katkar]

Panditji and Multani!!! Amazing!!! speechless! Thanks for uploading!

[RAMACHANDRA HEGDE]

Sir,

Thanks for uploading this eternal voice. Panditiji will remain for ever.