Hi:
I was looking for some advice on accompanying a singer singing Bajan. I know the basic Bajan rythym and how to play Keharwa, and I know that you are supposed to play Bajan during the verse and something like Keharwa during the chorus at double speed. While I know all this, not understanding hindi I'm not sure when I'm supposed to break into double speed. How do you know?
Also, it seems there is generally a little piece played when changing between the normal speed and the double speed. Can this just be any mukhra you see fit?
Also, I understand that you can play rela during bajan. Is there any rule as to when you play this in bajan i.e. should you introduce it later in the performance.
Ultimately when I reconnect with my teacher I think I need to go over these things, but any help now would be appreciated.
See my response to a question from Warren around Jan/feb this year on this forum. My guru was an outstanding vocal accompanist (not a classical soloist) and taught me Marathi Baj (the kind of tabla that Pandit Bhimsen Joshi uses in Bhajans).
I have written the basic phrases for bhajani theka, prelude to laggi, common lagi and toda.
Hi,
I was also interested in the same. I found it here:
http://66.139.254.145/cgi-bin/UltraBoard/UltraBoard.cgi?action=Read&BID=1&TID=1961&SID=93618
Here's the transcript:
bhagwan.
==============================
I have learnt bhajani theka from my guru Uday Kangutkar.
In the typical Marathi style of playing bhajani theka (listen to Bhimsen's Bhajan CD's as a classic example), the following tradition is used:
dhi - na dhi - dhi na- dhi - na tin -tin na - (traditional)
tite tata tite tata tite tata -ta ta- single speed (prelude to singer coming back to main line)
dha tin ta da ta tin dha da (repeat) in double speed (laggi) (singer on main line)
dhin - - na ti te dhin - na ti te dhin - na ti te dhin (sam) (tihai)
back to bhajani theka
Simple as the above appears, to play this pattern with good sound and clarity and rhythm has been a struggle for a beginner like me !!! Have been practicing this for the past 2 years !
Finally, dadra in bhajans is relatively rare but you can play the following:
dha tin tin ta dhin dhin (prakar)
dha tik dhin gin na na dha tik tin ki na na (repeat laggi)
Thanks Bhagwan:
Are you talking about Bhimsen Joshi? I was looking on Allmusic.com but the CDs are saw there were mainly ragas. What are some good CDs with Bajan (and part of being good is being able to hear the tabla :-)? Where can I find those CDs online?
