Nepal

Re-uploaded by request 4/1/2023

 

 

Nepal has a diversified music. On the one hand, raga music (an influence from India) is considered their national art, while folk music is regional & is related to the many different ethnic people of Nepal. Except for the two excerpts of raga pieces ("Basant" & "Ramkali"), this CD presents a sampling of the folk & sacred music of Nepal. In fact, religious & folk music are closely tied to the music of the Himalayas. 

 

 

There are also farming, seasonal, heroic songs, & dances, but with religious characters underlying them. Despite India's influence on their music, they have very few instruments: the Nepalese sarangi, the basuri (the Nepalese version of the Indian bansuri, a bamboo transverse flute), the bai (a straight wooden flute), & the ponga (a long copper horn), plus a good number of percussion instruments (such as drums, cymbals), which will vary, depending on the ethnic people a song or dance comes from.

These field recordings were recorded by ethnomusicologist Deben Bhattacharya between March 1973 & April 1975. It was released in 1999.

 

 Various - Folksongs & Sacred Music from Nepal, Arc Music, 1999.

Tracklist –

Basant (Music for Spring) – Indralal/Pancha Narayan

Pesnja Urozaja (Harvest Song-traditional) – Indralal/Jhalakman

Ramkali – Jhalakman

Lubovnaja Pesnja (Love Song) – Dwarikalal Joshi

Zalobnaja Pesnja (Song of Complaint) – Dwarikalal Joshi

Muzyka Posle Sbora Urozaja (Music after Harvest) – Pancha Narayan Nati

Utrenneja Molitva Bhairave (Morning Praise for Bhairava [in Temple])

Utrenneja Molitva Govinde (Morning Praise for Govinda [in Temple])

Street Singer in Praise of Krishna – Kanchha Gayen

Tanec Demona (Demon’s Dance)

Tanec Krestjanina (Farmer’s Dance)

Sijatelnaja Pesnja Zenchiny (Sowing Song by Women) – Chandra & Krishnakumari Chhetri, Asha & Deoki Rai

Lubov Iz Bambukovoi Fleity (Love from a Bamboo Flute) – Pemba Dong & Benjamin Rai

Draznachija Lubov (Teasing for Love) – Ranbahadur Gurung & Deoki Rai

Lori – Chandra Chhetri, Asha & Deoki Rai

 

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Nepathya (also spelled Nepathaya) is a popular Nepalese band that was formed by three students from Pokhara, Nepal studying in Kathmandu in the early 1990s. Nepathya is best known for its blending of folk melodies into new, youth-friendly pop & rock tune. Since its inception, Nepathya has gained consistent popularity & recognition. They are one of the most talented bands in Nepal. Their songs portray life in contemporary Nepal. They will be the first Nepali band to ever perform in Wembley Arena in the U.K at a show this August 3^rd.

 

 

 

The moving force behind this band is the singer Amrit Gurung. He is the only member who has been with Nepathya from the start. Traveling throughout Nepal is one of Gurung’s favorite pastimes. He has been to more than 70 of the 75 districts of Nepal, most of them on foot. 

 

 

Aaina Jhyal is only Nepathya's 9th release in 20 years. Nepathya's usual style is Nepali folk tunes. From their 1st album Nepathya to their 6th Bhedako Oon Jasto, the band had pioneered the sound of Nepali Folk-Rock. On Ghatana & Mero Desh, their 7th & 8th albums respectively, their music focused more on social themes; a reflection of conflict & transition Nepal was going through at the time. With Aaina Jhyal (Glass Window) they have returned to their roots of pure Nepali Folk- Rock.

 

 Nepathya - Aaina Jhyal, Nepa-Laya Records, 2010.

Tracklist –

Palla Ghar Ka
Salaijyo
Jogele Huncha Bhet
Siran ma Photo Cha
Mero Hajur
Aglene Sur
Aaina Jhyal
Yasto Thauma
Nasai Chyanba
Ho...Ho...Baba

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Peter Andersson was born on March 20, 1973 in Boxholm, Sweden. He is a music composer within the ambient, noise, industrial, electronic, & experimental genres.

 

 

His projects are Raison D'être, Stratvm Terror, Necrophorus, Atomine Elektrine, Yantra Atmospheres, Panzar, Bocksholm, Cataclyst, Grismannen, & this project, Svasti-ayanam. This is his foray into dark, Nepalese ambience. In this incarnation, his signature Raison D'etre sound has been modified in an incredibly pronounced & effective way. Sanklesa is marked by strong tribal rhythms that draw the listener into distant, foreign, ritual soundscapes.  Beside his music activities & studies, Andersson is mostly interested in film, art, Tibetan Buddhism, & meditation.

Although this is not really Nepalese music, it follows in the footsteps of my previous Muslimgauze postings.

 

 Svasti-ayanam –Sanklesa, Crowd Control Activities CCA 008, 1998. 

Chakra-Puja

Vama-Sankara

Ugra-Karma

Zar

Yajña

Gilgamesh

Yajña-Purusa

Ggantija

Yonis-Linga

Adhyätmika

Svistasya

Bonus tracks – (from Eternal Pride 2007 re-mastered re-issue)

Chenrezig

Chenrezig (de-constructed)

Enjoy,

NØ