V.A. “Indian Street Music”

Vairous Artists
Indian Street Music - The Bauls of Bengal
Nonesuch Explorer Series (US) 1973
H-72035 (LP)
sleeve : EX(IN SHRINK, slightly color-fade.)
media : EX-/EX-(some slightly surface noises, some slightly wear that does not affect to sounds.)

This is an album of local music from Bengal, India, released in 1973 on Nonesuch's Explorer Series label, which has produced a number of classic folk music and field recordings. It was probably recorded in a studio, not in the field, and features singers Purana Chandra Das, Kakshman Das, Shuddhanada Das, Hare Krishna Das and a tabla player named Jiban Das. The singers ring bells called kartals and bell-shaped footstools called nupur, while the sounds of dhotara and zither, kamak and ektara, stringed instruments typical of Bengal and surrounding areas, and percussion can be heard. As the title suggests, this is street music, the kind of music that Baul sings and plays at people's doorsteps after his enlightenment, and for which he receives offerings. All the singers have beautiful, extended voices.