MUSIC OF THE MYSTICS
BAULS Of Bengal and Rajasthani Folk Feat. MIRA BHAJANS
7 - 11 October 2003

This tour features rarely heard traditional music of the highest calibre from Bengal and Rajasthan in India.

BAULS are from West Bengal and parts of Eastern India and Bangladesh and are wandering minstrels promoting a mystical tradition known as "SAHAJIYA". Influences on the music of the BAULS go back to the ancient Vedic period in India's history, and also include Buddhism, Sufism, the Vashnav movement led by Chaitanya, and the more esoteric mystical cults of the 15th century as well as the visions expressed by medieval saints like KABIR and RAMDAS. The BAUL constantly aspires to reach within himself his supreme essence. The BAUL feels that he alone is responsible to God and to himself and seeks to promote a view of society that is without barriers and in which man is free to explore his own essential powers.

The word BAUL means "frenzied", " in a state of trance" or " wild ". The Bauls are characterised by their cloths of multi-coloured patchwork, a scarf around the waist and a lungi or dhoti - all of which distinguish themselves from the rest of society. They live off charity and alms and go from village to village. The female member of the group is known to eek out a living by entertaining passengers on trains only! The typical instruments include the wonderful "gupgubi". The group consist of singers and tabla and Dhol players. While the performance may begin sitting down, the performers soon get up and "dance". The whole performance elevates one from an intellectual plane to an esoteric trance-like state.

It is said that the flame of viraha - the pain of love in separation burns within every soul seeking ultimate union with God. In perhaps no other soul has such a flame burned so intensely as in MIRA BAI as she pleads for her love for her beloved KRISHNA to merge his flames with hers. MIRA BAI is the ideal devotee, single mindeed and uncompromising; her poems radiate intense longing for her beloved, the persecution she suffered by the society of the day. It is for this reason that people - especially women identified with MIRA - she is the personification of the courage they seek in society still dominated by the male. The poetry is beautifully sung by specialist singers from the most wonderful, colourful and romantic state of RAJASTHAN in India - whose music has now become so renowned all over the world. The artists with their colourful turbans, the vibrant drumming and khartal (castanets) playing; the beautiful and soulful sound of the bowed sarangi and kamaicha and last but not least the fantastic singers, all provide an excellent insight into a world that we can but dream about.

The artists have been specially chosen for this tour and for some of them, it their first time abroad. It is the first time that a group of professional MIRA Bhajan singers from Rajasthan are visiting the UK.

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