Bauls of Bengal Mystic Songs from India

by The Bauls of Bengal

Overview

Part of the extraordinarily extensive catalog of recordings from the travels of Deben Bhattacharya, this album of Baul music was recorded shortly before the death of the ethnomusicologist in 2001. The music ranges from sparse vocal runs to fuller instrumental arrangements. The vocal style of the Bauls is almost always a heartfelt, almost shouting form. It suits the music well in general, but can become a bit monotonous after long stretches. The instrumentation is the standard stuff for the area: gichaks, tombaks, etc. There are some hidden treats buried within the album as various street musicians and the like get their chance to show off their chops. Almost all of the tracks are actually the work of three singers: Robi Das Baul, Nikhil Das Baul, and Jaganath Hajra. Robi is probably the standout here, effective and ethereal with only a bit of accompaniment. That said, there's also a single track from Narottam Fakir with some exceptional dhrupad-like vocals. Worth a shot if one is generally curious about the music of the Bauls, though there are more notable figures on the scene here and there already. ~ Adam Greenberg

Product Details

Release Date:	05/03/2005
Label:	Arc Music
UPC:	0743037192323
Rank:	162142

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Bauls of Bengal   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Diz Heller   Liner Notes,Mastering
Barbara Papadopoulos   Layout Design,Typesetting
Deben Bhattacharya   Field Recording,Photography