Ram Tori Maya – 2-part treble choir

Program Notes

I love writing music for young people. This vibrant Hindustani bhajan is a beautiful portrait of Krishna dancing. My arrangement is designed with young musicians from both cultures in mind, with the aim to draw them towards one another, one step at a time.

Recording

Please note: this recording is the original string quartet version with two Hindustani singers — this version will be posted as soon as it is available. The music is the same.

Special Performance Requirements

I originally wrote this arrangement for two Hindustani singers and string quartet. It is an arrangement of a bhajan by Ninu Mazumdar — in the original version, one singer sings the bhajan and the other gets to experiment with harmonies, all supported by the quartet.

However, over the years, Western-trained singers, and especially young choirs have taken an interest in the work. It makes sense: this is a bhajan that many young students of Hindustani music would learn in their formative years, and it has a beautiful message embedded in a beautiful melody that might resonate with young people from any culture.

The challenges for a young choir are different than the original, so I’ve redistributed the parts and added very specific pronunciation guides (audio guide forthcoming) to help with the words. I know that young people will pick up the language quickly.

Please note that this version can also be performed with a string quartet, as easily as it can with a piano. The music is exactly the same, and the string parts from this version may be used.

Text

Ram tori maya, nach nachave
Nis din mera manva vyakul
Sumiran sudhi nahi ave

Jorat tori, neha sut mera
Nirvarat arujhave
Kehi bhidi bhajan karu more sahib
Barbas mohe satave

Ram tori maya, nach nachave

Premiere/Performances

This piece was written for the Shastra Summer Collaborative 2019. It was recorded on August 11, 2019 at Calvary Presbyterian Church, in Pasadena CA.