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World Routes

Image for Courtesan songs and music of the Bauls

Play now 60 mins

Courtesan songs and music of the Bauls

Duration:
1 hour
First broadcast:
Saturday 17 September 2005

In search of music performed for Krishna, Lucy Duran and the musician Viram Jasani find themselves in a brothel in Kolkata, India.

Squeezed into a sleazy little bed-sit, two courtesan sisters perform songs for the Hindu Deity, rarely recorded and normally reserved for their paying clients.

Plus the mad world of the Bauls – music by the tantric philosophers of rural Bengal.

Music and featured items

16 items
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Central Kolkata

    Lucy Duran and Viram Jasani in central Kolkata.

  • Music Played

    • Kanchanji Misra and Madhuriji Singh with their musicians Dadra

      BBC recording on location

    • Kanchanji Misra and Madhuriji Singh with their musicians Thumri

      BBC recording on location

  • The dying art of the classically trained courtesan.

    'The Singing House'.

  • Music Played

    • Kanchanji Misra and Madhuriji Singh with their musicians Kajeri

      BBC recording on location

  • An allegory of love.

    The meaning of the lyrics the courtesans sing

  • Music Played

    • Kanchanji Misra and Madhuriji Singh with their musicians Chaiti

      BBC recording on location

  • The music of the 'Bauls'

    On the road to hear the music of the Bauls.

  • Music Played

    • Baul musicians from rural Bengal Kalpana Dasi (Krishna song)

      BBC recording on location

  • The culture of the Bauls.

    In their remote village community.

  • Music Played

    • Baul musicians from rural Bengal Traditional Baul song

      BBC recording on location

  • The musical instruments of the Bauls.

    Some unique to their tradition.

  • Music Played

    • Baul musicians from rural Bengal Tinkari Das

      BBC recording on location

  • A Pan shop

    A local delicacy.

  • Music Played

    • Rani Dewi, Pramod Kumar Singh, Papulal Nal, Ravinder Kumar Misra Dadra song with dance (Gagare juna maro)

      BBC recording on location

  • Varanasi

    Music of Krishna and the Gopis.

Broadcasts

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