Pandit Jasraj - 70s music documentary

[Applause] in the Indian tradition music follows the voice the voice is the prime expressive instrument of music [Music] the student learns from the master by copying and repeating the master is their father Pandit justr an accomplished singer of Bombay [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] m am my God [Applause] [Music] in a room on the roof the senior pupils of Pandit justr meet for daily practice the students meet together at The Master's Call it may be morning evening or very late at night the mood and concentration for practice are all important [Music] [Music] [Music] I'm ah [Music] [Applause] the D Ruba is an ancient instrument akin to the sitar and the sarangi IT accompanies or Echoes the phrases of the singer the human voice is the quintessence of all musical instruments the instruments themselves do not seek any pitch or quality beyond the reach of the human voice rather they echo or evoke the range and emotion of a singer the students are singing abstract phrases naming the notes music derived from the classical rager the phrases progress in complexity and [Music] difficulty this music is not r the music of araga is not performed so much as discovered there is a set of notes or rules and conditions and Within These the singer recreates the music AR fresh each time [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] in his discovery of the music his awareness and inwardness are heightened his whole body becomes an expressive instrument his whole being becomes an extension of the music [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] a [Applause] d [Applause] la [Applause] and [Applause] [Applause] for [Music] from their involvement in a world of Music Jr and his pupils move out into the sounds and swirling currents of the [Music] city just re sings for big public concerts Broad and recordings a few decades ago such music was largely reserved to the courts of princes the temples and the rich nowadays a leading singer will meet big public audiences all over India North and South [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] m m do my m [Music] [Music] the rugger unfolds opens out as the mood deepens the current of response between the singer and his musicians grows [Music] [Music] [Applause] stronger until he comes on stage just rajj may not yet have decided which ragger he will sing improvisation is a basic element the pattern of the Raga is set TAA holds firm its rhythmic structure but within these rules the rugger will grow and flower in a different way with each presentation [Music] [Music] so got the [Music] [Music] oh my [Music] [Music] at its height come the Tans pure abstraction from the basic notes and pattern of the Raga a virtuoso impromptu outpouring by a master musician [Laughter] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Laughter] la [Laughter] [Laughter] [Music] [Music] 300 miles to the north justr comes to the small town of [Music] sanand in this tranquil country setting he visits from time to time a household that has played a major part in his life of music so [Applause] [Music] [Music] in this place abide many of the elements which give strength and continuity to the tradition of India's classical music the pace and pressure of the city is far away [Laughter] the takur sa of sanand was formerly a princely ruler and landowner today an independent India he is a private citizen philosopher musician and Scholar his Holdings are mostly gone he lives still in the ancient house once a fortress that his family has held for 400 years [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Music] go to this calm and quiet place J Raj and his wife make frequent visits he is sung just now in the city of ahmadabad 30 m away he will visit his sponsor and teacher stay in the household for a day or two and sing again here for his host and a few [Music] friends some years ago the takur Sab became a sponsor and spiritual guide for Jess rudj and his elder brother since that time a close and warm relation links Jess rudge to this household okay in the living room friends and colleagues musicians the sons and their families come and go the Tucker sub with his tobacco pipe his friends his books of philosophy the business of his remaining Farms leads a full and Serene life the Tucker sub was himself an accomplished musician and composer just Raj tells him the rugger which he proposes to sing one which the tuab has composed in honor of the Goddess C whose devotee he is means mother Divine goddess mahik mahakal Maharani she is the sh or the power of Lord God mahakal what is the meaning of mahakal mahakal form of God himself who is beyond the three tenses past present and future one hand she has got a naked sword newly severed head might take the blood of demons she's the protector of the universe and making Universe free from the fear of evil spirits and demons he merciful and gracious uh daily the Brahman priest performs a ceremony of worship before the goddess the small Temple is in the main house beside the concert hall tu has devoted himself to religious philosophy and worship of the Goddess this worship is the foundation of his belief he meditates upon the power creative force and goodness of the Divine mother goddess embodies Shakti the principle of vibrant Creative Energy this female principle is one aspect of God and the goddess who embodies this principle is the consort of God one of his many forms [Music] [Music] ritual prayers in the ancient Sanskrit language do reverence to her powers not only as a protecting mother goddess but in her terrific aspect the bringer of Retribution the awesome conqueror of evil the ritual makes use of many tantric symbols forms and mystical designs which denote the special attributes and powers of goddess Khali the friends have come for an evening of Music the style of life has changed but the pleasure and companionship in music abide something more than pleasure the music will do honor to the goddess whose worshipper and devotee is host in this house this is the home of a man who embodies a tradition the intimate bond between art and religion in Indian life his love of music and his belief in God are woven together in a single pattern music for him is an offering to God an act of worship [Music] the tempura provides the Drone the basic note of the Ruger always present throughout the entire music it creates a kind of dream hallucination and from it the solo artist drifts deeper and deeper into the music of his own creating [Music] the Tucker Sab in his youth A Gifted musician has given the form of the rager to be played this [Music] evening each Raga has an inner and an outer face the outer is its form the notes pattern and rules of its structure the inner is the mood the meaning the profundity and depth discovered within the pattern each time it is sung or played in the outer face are the techniques for carrying out a search in the inner face is the search itself for the core the meaning at the heart of the [Music] music h [Music] [Music] on am yeah [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] Mahal [Music] M my God my God my [Music] [Music] in this room are gathered generations of singers and ancestors listeners and worshippers the presence of God is acknowledged embodied in many different forms the goddess is here the female creative principle the past is here not a oppressive but welcome and familiar [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] har the har [Music] the fierce Avenger who protects all mankind the terrible source of power and creative energy to her this music this occasion is dedicated and while such music lives the tradition which gave it birth continues strong despite The Changing Times [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] near [Music] har [Music] [Applause] go [Laughter] [Applause] [Music] d [Music] [Music]