Bengali Folk Song\nThis section consists of different genres of folk music which includes Baul Fakiri, Bhatiyali, Bhawaiya, Jhumur and Puratani Geet. The Bhawaiya, Bhatiyali, Jhumur and Baul Fakiri songs have been introduced in the previous section. The following is the brief introduction to Puratani songs.\n? Puratani Geet:The thousand years old history of Bengal’s music has no special mention of any particular school of music called Puratani Bangla Gaan; yet the word Puratani Gaan is quite popular among the music lovers of Bengal. Actually the songs that we hear as Puratani Gaan are the ones that were popular during the period of Company Rule or were in vogue in the Darbars or drawing rooms of the kings, landlords or the gentry of Kolkata. Many people call the songs of old Kolkata and those belonging to an earlier period as Puratani Gaan. During the Middle Ages Bengal’s music witnessed an amalgamation of Hindu and Muslim tunes, lyrics, ragas, stylization and presentation. There is no denying the fact that it has enriched the repertoire of Bangla Music.

Bengali Folk Song\nThis section consists of different genres of folk music which includes Baul Fakiri, Bhatiyali, Bhawaiya, Jhumur and Puratani Geet. The Bhawaiya, Bhatiyali, Jhumur and Baul Fakiri songs have been introduced in the previous section. The following is the brief introduction to Puratani songs.\n? Puratani Geet:The thousand years old history of Bengal’s music has no special mention of any particular school of music called Puratani Bangla Gaan; yet the word Puratani Gaan is quite popular among the music lovers of Bengal. Actually the songs that we hear as Puratani Gaan are the ones that were popular during the period of Company Rule or were in vogue in the Darbars or drawing rooms of the kings, landlords or the gentry of Kolkata. Many people call the songs of old Kolkata and those belonging to an earlier period as Puratani Gaan. During the Middle Ages Bengal’s music witnessed an amalgamation of Hindu and Muslim tunes, lyrics, ragas, stylization and presentation. There is no denying the fact that it has enriched the repertoire of Bangla Music.

Bengali Folk Song\nThis section consists of different genres of folk music which includes Baul Fakiri, Bhatiyali, Bhawaiya, Jhumur and Puratani Geet. The Bhawaiya, Bhatiyali, Jhumur and Baul Fakiri songs have been introduced in the previous section. The following is the brief introduction to Puratani songs.\n? Puratani Geet:The thousand years old history of Bengal’s music has no special mention of any particular school of music called Puratani Bangla Gaan; yet the word Puratani Gaan is quite popular among the music lovers of Bengal. Actually the songs that we hear as Puratani Gaan are the ones that were popular during the period of Company Rule or were in vogue in the Darbars or drawing rooms of the kings, landlords or the gentry of Kolkata. Many people call the songs of old Kolkata and those belonging to an earlier period as Puratani Gaan. During the Middle Ages Bengal’s music witnessed an amalgamation of Hindu and Muslim tunes, lyrics, ragas, stylization and presentation. There is no denying the fact that it has enriched the repertoire of Bangla Music.

CD2_JAATRAAS OF NEPAL\n\nA jaatraa is usually an annual festival associated with a particular god or goddess. A ritual is performed in a temple dedicated to the deity. People of all ages, ethnicities, and religions come together to celebrate a local jaatraa. It is believed that a god may join in the festival by possessing one of the participants. The possessed person is usually taller than others and often wears a turban. Other participants may also entera trance state, and they are also believed to be possessed by a god. This is considered a sign that the god is happy with the jaatraa. A jaatraa typically includes a procession in which the image of the god or goddess is mounted on a chariot accompanied by musicians and other worshippers.

Hát Xoan (Xoan singing) or cửa đình singing (singing at the village communal house) starts in spring during singing and dancing performances to worship the god in the village communal house. According to legend Hát Xoan appeared in the time of Kings Hùng, in the ancestral land of Hùng Vương—Phú Thọ, a province in the midland area of Vietnam. Gathering of Xoan singers who worship in spring called Xoan guild or families of Xoan. In a Xoan guild, there are between six and eighteen members. Men, called kép (instrumentalist), have to know how to beat a drum and sing the lead. Women are called đào (female singer). Female singers must not only be beautiful but also be able sing and dance well. The leader, called ông trùm, is an expert in art and master in all Xoan singing customs . He is also responsible for organizing and training instrumentalists and singers. Nowadays, in Phú Thọ province, there are four original Xoan guilds, in Kim Đới, Phù Đức, Thét, and An Thái villages. The Xoan guilds start their two-month spring itinerary 6 Jan (lunar calendar).\n\nXoan singing for worship is structured into three singing stages: Stage one is a ritual opening that includes songs such as Giáo trống, Giáo pháo, Thơ nhang, and Đóng đám. The Xoan guild of An Thái village opens with the song Chào vua while Xoan guild of Kim Đới village opens with Mời vua. Stage two is the performance of fourteen songs (known as quả cách) such as Kiều Giang cách, Nhàn ngâm cách, Tràng mai cách, Ngư tiều canh mục cách, Đối dẫy cách, Hồi liên cách, Tứ mùa cách, Quả cách is an ancient term. Quả means a long song while cách is a method of singing a specific song. Cách is the way ancient Confusion scholars expressed their feelings and conceptions of society and nature. The content of these fourteen songs is about wishing the four classes of people— scholars, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants—prosperity and fame. Stage three is a love-exchange song, including songs such as Bợm gái, Bỏ bộ, Xin hoa đố chữ, Gài hoa, Hát đúm, and Giã cá. The content reflects the desire of a couple’s love. Therefore, the items in this stage are usually performed by Xoan singers with local male villagers. The cultural exchange between Xoan guild and local male villagers make the singing session more attractive. However, Xoan singing was under the threat of being lost over time. On 24 November 2011, Xoan singing of Phú Thọ province was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage In Need of Urgent Safeguarding of Humanity. In this CD, we selected and arranged some Xoan singing songs recorded and kept at Vietnamese Institute for Musicology in 1959.

CD7_CA HUẾ (THE HUẾ SINGING) IN CENTRAL VIETNAM\n\nCa Huế (the Huế singing) was a special traditional chamber music in Huế, a central city of Vietnam. Ca Huế originated from royal music. “There was the chamber music, serving the Nguyễn Kings and their mothers”. At first, Ca Huế was the chamber music performed in the palaces of royal families, mandarins, and wealthy people. After that, it spread to common communities. Ca Huế has been gradually influenced by many Huế folk musical types. During its development, Ca Huế affected royal music; for example, ten bản Tàu musical pieces (or it can be called ten bản Ngự or Thập thủ liên hoàn) were played in sacrifice ceremonies or some occasions in the court by royal instrumentalists. Ca Huế is the essence mixture of folk music and royal music, which creates the special nuance satisfying the artistic demand of the elite intellectual class and the common class. As a result, in the past, during happy occasions such as New Year ceremonies, parties for celebrating promotions, or parties for opening new businesses, Ca Huế was organised at the private houses of mandarins, the elite class, and Huế common people.\n\nIn the past, participants of Ca Huế included only the elite class, mandarins, and the people with erudite literary knowledge and with the ability to compose beautiful and profound lyrics. They played instruments together and shared their thoughts through instrumental music and singing. The singing and the instrumental music of one person was the inspiration for the singing and the musical composition of another. Group members were also the audiences. They enjoyed their mutual talents respectfully. In recent years, Ca Huế has been performed on stage to also serve the common people. In this musical type, there is a clear classification between composers, performers, and audiences like professional music. The interactive relation among group members of Ca Huế chamber music can be presently only found in Ca Huế in private houses.