tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625527.post111986006147556289..comments2024-01-18T18:26:38.410+05:30Comments on Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax: Abida, Kabir and the SufisSheetalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09510943066024076305noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625527.post-1125177053569880112005-08-28T02:40:00.000+05:302005-08-28T02:40:00.000+05:30Abida is at perhaps one of her best in Raqs a Bilm...Abida is at perhaps one of her best in Raqs a Bilmil, unlike her laboured rendering (and still more laboured listening) in Kabir and even Faiz and Bulle Shah. <BR/><BR/>You may also like to listen to the new kid on the Sufi singing block- Shafaqat Ali Khan (unless heard him already).<BR/><BR/>Regarding Kabir- I liked the imagery 'digging in his feet, refusing to be upgraded'. I didnt think of him that way :-)readerswordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05536082441634566406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625527.post-1125120717113325652005-08-27T11:01:00.000+05:302005-08-27T11:01:00.000+05:30First, Zany, sorry not to have responded before. I...First, Zany, sorry not to have responded before. I visited your site, found I couldn't read the hindi(?) on my browser, told myself to find out what plug in would allow me to read it and then forgot all about it. Thanks for stopping by, and no, I don't think I've heard Raqs-e-bismil. Good?<BR/><BR/>BS: I see what you mean. Certainly, oral/folkish traditions preserved Kabir with great charm. I was indeed talking of the more 'formal' genres, in fact of 'recordable' pieces. If you want to sing the dohe, one after the other in a tightly packed sequence with orchestration, it is challenging to do, if you're seeking any kind of interpretation at all. <BR/><BR/><I>Kabir refuses to be co-opted to the high tradition</I><BR/>Interesting observation, that. *Chuckle* Imagine Kabir digging in his feet, refusing to be upgraded.Sheetalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510943066024076305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625527.post-1125084332709022982005-08-27T00:55:00.000+05:302005-08-27T00:55:00.000+05:30Thanks for your perceptive comments. Your observat...Thanks for your perceptive comments. Your observation about Kabir not being very easy to set to music is incisive, but I may add, also somewhat paradoxical. because Kabir was always meant to be sung. There are no written records of anything that Kabir composed till the late 16th century. His 'writings' form part of a long and vibrant oral tradition that is common in illiterate or pre- literate cultures. <BR/><BR/>If one were to re- state your observation, I may suggest this one- it is difficult to 'set' Kabir to the notes of classical music. His formed part of the popular culture, the 'low' and not the 'high' tradition. That might be the reason for the discomfort between the two. It looks like Kabir refuses to be co-opted to the high tradition. The rebellious spirit is not tamed so easily. <BR/><BR/>Possibly Kabir is very hummable when less constrained by the rigours of classical, and the Amritvani cassettes may indicate that fact. <BR/><BR/>Disclaimer: My understanding of music is at best limited and my comments may be speculative...readerswordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05536082441634566406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625527.post-1123225125837459112005-08-05T12:28:00.000+05:302005-08-05T12:28:00.000+05:30:) came here while searching for kabir..and glad t...:) came here while searching for kabir..<BR/>and glad to see someone else who is a fan of abida and kabir..<BR/><BR/>have you listened to raqs e bismil?zanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07318349396792746651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625527.post-1120187738307193322005-07-01T08:45:00.000+05:302005-07-01T08:45:00.000+05:30Emma, I've found Sangeet Sagar almost always bette...Emma, I've found Sangeet Sagar almost always better stocked than the Music Worlds and Planet Ms. And I listen off the internet, of course.Sheetalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09510943066024076305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8625527.post-1120129988813281442005-06-30T16:43:00.000+05:302005-06-30T16:43:00.000+05:30Interesting... I am very fascinated by Hindi poetr...Interesting... I am very fascinated by Hindi poetry and ghazals as well, though my knowledge isn't as extensive as yours. Where do you pick up these albums? Off the shelves in music stores? I would love some pointers.Emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16996612252178277988noreply@blogger.com