GRAM CHARA by Gryphon Records published on 2012-06-23T14:41:34Z GRAM CHARA {Rabindranath Tagore/ Kaczor/ Hardern} Featuring Susmita Bhattacharya - Bishi's mum - this well known poem by Bengali poet and novelist Rabindranath Tagore has been set for voice and strings by Neil Kaczor. Susmita is a highly respected classical singer who studied the Tagore tradition. Rabindranath Tagore, regarded by many as the greatest writer in modern Indian literature, reshaped his region's literature and music and became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. He established a whole new dance form called Rabindra Nritya, and was an accomplished artist, an educationist who founded the International University, Visva-Bharati, an environmentalist, a rural reconstructionist, a political thinker and philosopher. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: the Republic of India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla. Tagore had strong links with Scotland after establishing a close friendship with Patrick Geddes, the pioneering Scottish town planner. Both shared similar ideas on issues such as education, international universities, the environment and rural reconstruction. Tagore's grandfather Dwarkanath Tagore was honoured with the Freedom of the City award by Edinburgh in 1845. The string arrangement echoes with Scottish themes that pay respect to this historic International communion of art, literature and humanity. Bengali Gram chara oi ranga matir poth Amar mono bhulay re Ore kar pane mon hath bariye Lutiye jay dhulaye re amar mono bhulay re Gram chara oi ranga matir poth Amar mono bhulay re Oje amay ghorer bahir kore Paye paye paye dhore Mori hay hay re Oje kere amay niye jay re Jay re kon chulay re amar mono bhulay re English Beguiles my mind the earthly road Beyond the village it does spread I know not for whom my mind thrusts With arms languishing in those dusts Pulling at my feet the road drags me out To an obscure end I know nothing about In which turning in the road Will I find the mother lode? Where some new person I will befriend I can’t fathom where it will end Susmita Bhattacharya – vocals Bishi – vocals Liam Byrne – viola da gamba The Ligeti Quartet Mandhira De Saram – violin Patrick Dawkins – violin Richard Jones – viola Valerie Welbanks – Cello Produced by Matthew Hardern/ Neil Kaczor Engineered by Neil Kaczor/ Raz Olsher Mixed by Hardern/ Peters String arrangement by Neil Kaczor Genre Alternative