Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 1

Musical Date Location Gender Age ( name NOT disclosed at the beginning of the session) background

29/01/2007 Kolkata M & F n/a n/a Sadness, emptiness, loneliness, on-set of darkness. Soulful, sensitive, sense of loss, unfilfilled. 29/01/2007 Kolkata M 68 n/a Lights fading - tired and melancholy - separation - waiting to meet someone - yearning 29/01/2007 Kolkata M n/a n/a Soulful - morning raga? Lonesome - yearning - use of komal notes… 29/01/2007 Kolkata M n/a n/a Sense of searching - mistery unfulfilled. The opening feels rather unhappy, dark rather than light. Sombre/brooding. Trained in The same feelings as before. It is needless to say that true music, i.e., classical, will always lead one to the same plane, i.e., joy, 11/02/2007 Kolkata M 76 Hindustani peace and meditation. Classical Music Feeling the absence of a loved-one. The 'Rag' depicts the mood of a lady whose child has not come back from school. As Trained in returning time is already passed by, mother starts weeping and enquiring of her child whoever is passing by. As worries increases 11/02/2007 Kolkata M 77 Hindustani she bursts into loud cry and again weeping in despair. The mood also reflects love and devotion. The song leads to some where Classical Music which is very difficult to express in words. This appears to be refreshing after hard days work and inspiring that one should not feel tired. This will help in rejuvination of 11/02/2007 Kolkata M 64 n/a energy for future work. It is a joy of satisfaction. As if it is before dawn. The singer is trying to express her joy at the event of sunrise the inexpressable is going to be expressed 11/02/2007 Kolkata M 64+ n/a and the utmost emotion is manifested to simple joy. Bengali text: This music helps me to understand myself. Helping me from heart. English text: This music helps me to [?!?!?!] 11/02/2007 Kolkata F 60 n/a myself - it comes from my heary - a super joy. A resonance coming out from the depht/core of the heart & flowing on, as if you can say, a river is rolling on, gliding soothly on the peebles, in a secluded place. An estatic joy & the perfect peace of mind prevail everywhere. At evening or at dan birds are 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 37 n/a returning to their nests. If I were a bird, I could glide smoothly in the sky with the flowing of the river as well as the resonance & echo of the world. Sitting beside a river, I vision in mind that a boat is moving on the river smoothly. The place is secluded. This song is coming out perhaps from the water, from the sky, or from a far away land. What a joy! I think that the sun is rising, but I have no idea about of music: just I am writing this from my inner filling. In an open and vast area - 15/02/2007 Raniganj n/a 56 n/a wherever maybe. Professional 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 48 Standing on a peak, lonely, looking everything beautiful is around me sitarist Standing on the deep gentle sea shore.. Some pain that touches the mind. Some lost music is coming. Sorrow but joy. Open 15/02/2007 Raniganj F 28 Vocal classical space, ruins, orange light everywhere. The sky is light red. It seems we are welcoming a beautiful morning. Through this raga a peace is coming by which we can forget all our sorrow. 15/02/2007 Raniganj F 23 n/a Finishing all the unpeaceful events of this world, we are waiting for a bright morning. This raga is based. It seems I have reached by the side of a river in the morning. Mouth organ "I came to say something./But could not say,/only I am looking at you." –Tagore. I love loneliness. I am seated by side of a lonely 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 35 player river side, The sun is setting. The lights in the distant cottages are slowly visible. Birds are coming back to their nests 15/02/2007 Raniganj F 53 Learning sitar Midnight is gone. Quiet. After sometime dawn is coming slowly. A boat is going for infinity with the red sunlight of morning. My heart wants to be free and it seems that it is lively. High mountains 15/02/2007 Raniganj F 20 Vocal are looking at the sad sky. It seems I am seated by the side of a river Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 2

Musical Date Location Gender Age Shree (raga name NOT disclosed at the beginning of the session) - ctd background

Bengali text: Work is done/The evening star is visible in the sky/The boat of light/Has completed its journey/Through seven ocean" 15/02/2007 Raniganj F 19 Vocal English text:I think this is a soothing music. Music is worship to me. It reminds me the emage of sun-set when the cattles are returning to their stable and the sky is red, with birds returning to their nests. A mother is waiting for her child. I feel the moment when

A mother is feeding her child and is visualizing her/him grow. (2) One has achieved self-accualization after a long and ahrd 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 42 n/a endeavours and is recalling everythjing he did to achieve it. Effect: Undesired happenings causes a number of peoople killed (affect [non leggibile] desctruction) in some unwanted situation. An aged lady ([non leggibile] loosing everything) trying to convey to the society with the feeling that this could not have been [non 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 55 n/a leggibile] to mainatin peace and not to happen in future and went to send message to all the people to come [non leggibile] to protect this [non leggibile] situation. Time- midnight. "Unite to-gether to form a new world". Evening is approaching. A hazy female image is visible in the low light. The end part of her ‘Shari’ is flying. Open space in the 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 34 Tabla player front. Reaction is mixed in mind. Search for something. Life means a burden. Is it possible to get the main search for the life? Easy or punishment. (doubt). 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 45+ Sitar student Coming back home through the mountain road in the evening. Professional 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 48 On top of the pick, no self existance, but everything is beautiful, with the sunsetting colour all over. sitarist Old memory is coming. Noon time, enough sunlight. Old memories are rolling like dry leaves. Motion of life is taking a new 15/02/2007 Raniganj F 53 Learning sitar direction. Learning music In the morning , during sunrise a singer is singing and that is creating a deep feeling in my heart. In my whole body a sense of 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 64 (tabla player) awakening is coming. Same awakening is in the nature also. Flowers are blooming in the trees 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 42 n/a A lover is recalling his sweet past memory, with his painful heart, in the silence of a mountain It was as if I was sitting on a hill top at very late night, or a hour before the day-break (morning), when the last set of starts gradually leaning towards western horizon from the easter side. The long stretch of mountains are gradually becominng visible, the darkness gradually getting faded; the beautiful insense of morning flowers slowing kissing my nose, my mind; birds are about to come out of their nest; dew drops gradually becoming shinnering. When I opened my eyes, looking towards eart, I saw the 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 48 n/a beatiful light-orange coloured sun unfolding its veil, the speed of unfolding he veil in very close harmony with the speed of music. Then, when the music was at its sweet high level, the full range of snow-peak mountains are clearly visible to me. I saw myself sitting on a bed of white flowers, falling on a showered from the blue, drenched with dews. At the third stage, when it was again at a bit higher level, it was as inspiring me to get up from my meditation, to go out for work: the pace of muisc, its strenght of sun- shine giving me the energy, some short of rejuvenation. The time is around 4 A.M. I do feel myself standing on the ghats, the river ganga flowing beside me. The Sadhus performing their 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 35 n/a first rituals of the day. It's a devotional piece and an early morning melody - so while listening to it in a banquet hall in the evening - you need to close 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 41 n/a your eyes to "see" the sun rising! The reverse glides (meends) were beautifully done by the performer. The music [parti cancellate]. I felt, its morning, the sun is rising, birds are flying over the sky, gentle wind is blowing and is 18/02/2007 Durgapur F 25 n/a refreshing our mind, body and soul. 18/02/2007 Durgapur F 34 n/a A feeling of peace in my mind. A sense relaxation after a hard day's work. Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 3

Musical Date Location Gender Age Shree (raga name NOT disclosed at the beginning of the session) - ctd background

Quite, calm and darkness of night has set in. feels as if I am meditating and walking alone on a path on which light is falling and rest of sorroundings is dark. I am walking towards a light to catch the source of music. There is a single track from mysel to that 18/02/2007 Durgapur F 40 n/a source of light or music. I am walking towards it, but never reaching it. it seems lot of patience, endurance & perseverance are needed to reach there. In this song, I am feeling a sense of peace. It seems I am lost some where. Darkness everywhere, surrounding me. Seems there 18/02/2007 Durgapur F 34 n/a is some hint of light, but I will never be able to reach there. Quietness and holiness of dew wetted dawn, with the song of the priest of a marble temple, whose floor is cold. Slowly the sun is 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 31 n/a rising. Extract of some ‘Bhairav’. Walking through the light darkness, rapped with a white “shawal”. Slowly sun light is coming through the gaps of the leaves of the trees. Professional I think this Raga can reduce problems of High pressure and Insomnia patients. I feel, this music is a food of all personal life. This 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 39 musician music touch my mind, [non leggibile] a cool air. I think I am standing near a temple. (synthesizer) The performer is praying to God for something. I do not know what the thing is. It seems to me that the appropriate time for such 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 56 n/a "raga" is dawn or midnight. The initial part is a prayer. The subsequent part is a protest. This note is very melancholic to me. It seems as if a [non leggibile - forse "country"] war is just now finished and all are crying. Not actually crying but they are facing problems. No peace all around. All the persons who are weak are trying to revolt against the 18/02/2007 Durgapur F 16 Sitar student strong persons. But they are helpless and I also feel helpless for them. it's painfully obviously but it can be solved thou the idea is not coming in my mind to solv it. A long waiting and the wait is not finished. But waiting for what is not at all clear. A very desperate waiting for years. but it seems that this waiting will be finished very soon. Hindustani At the time of the listening I remember the famous vocalist Pt. Kumar Gandhabya performing his song at the presents of a group 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 46 classical of his music lover at a 'jalsaghar' [Bengali word: jalsaghar] vocalist Suppose I am watching a movie, and the power went out in a very important time or I am reading something but due to some 18/02/2007 Durgapur F 32 n/a reason I could not read that and the whole thing remained incomplete. Listening to this it seems, some difficult situation is becoming easy. That means, an inexpressible sadness of mind is becoming 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 39 n/a lighter. Seems Komal Re is hitting its head on the floor. Seems it want to go to the search for the infinity, but for some pull by a invisible thread, again is coming back to the komal Re. “All birds come back home— All rivers go to the ocean”--- But when all the Professional 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 50 calculation of profit and loss is over,--- Perhaps any Banalata Sen waits---- and Ma Re---Pa ---Re---Like this go to the Sa. At that sitarist time there is no tiredness, only comfort and comfort.

A dissatisfaction in my mind. Seems something was about to say, but ended in the middle. But the dissatisfaction sustained in my 18/02/2007 Durgapur F 40 n/a mind. Like the sun light was about to come but a cloud covered up right at that moment. Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 4

Musical Date Location Gender Age Shree (raga name NOT disclosed at the beginning of the session) - ctd background

It seemed that the day passed very hastily, and with many failures. I am tired, and also gloomy since the fall of sunlight. It was deep night. May be late night. I could not sleep. I woke up - went to the terrace - lit a cigarette - stood looking to the sky. It was starry and calm, and from the quietness some deep, resonant and sad melody was coming up. My sese of tedium was gone - I felt calm and composed - but at the same time felt something like a chest-pain. Tears did not roll down my cheeks, but they made my eyes heavy. I found the day's din and bustle meaningless, and that life was full of great, unforgettable moments - deep sensaes, 22/02/2007 Purulia M 49 n/a and living memories. I recalled the two closest deaths in my family - the bereavements that hit me badly in my adolescence. i felt I ough to have learned music technically. then I could have expressed my pain, tears, anguish more movingly, and more aesthetically. Had I been a musician, I could have had some solace away from my hard-working schedule during the day. When I heard the music, it seemed that the tune had been ringing since he gloomy evening against the deep-red, darkening sky. But with the progress of the tune, the gloom gradually began to fade away - and I found myself calmer, finding more meaning in life. Vocal classical As I know about the and swaras of music I was feeling it’s the (Brahbha Muhurt) that means the time is near about 4 am in 22/02/2007 Purulia F 38 music teacher indian time when the meature is calm and quiet and it’s the proper time for prayer. I wa also feeling that I am doing meditation (MMusc) slowly sun is rising and the nature is with full at peace. The dawn. Sitting by the shore of an ocean the new sun rises from the horizon as the gentle morning breeze blows. Breathing silence of the night through the chirping of the birds. The new sun is the harbinger of new life, new possibilities and new hope. Through the song we are sinding the clarion call for waking up to the spirit of rejuvenation. slowly as the sun rises, music s[reads 22/02/2007 Purulia M 40+ n/a in its expanse, adopts new tone - symbolising the change of colour of the sun as it rises higher up. The life slowly gets into action. But still filled with the charm of the freshness of the new sun. The spirit of life, of an individual somewhere merges and gets in ahrmony with the spirit f nature - the feeling of the uniqueness of divinity of nature. 22/02/2007 Purulia M 31 Tabla player Fleeing the picture of different rays of light in the sky, during a sunset, standing on the peak of a mountain, just before the evening. Waking up slowly from my whole night's sleep. Coming back to conciousness. A little uneasiness. Perhaps i was good earlier. (in sleep) Vocalist/classic 22/02/2007 Purulia M 72 A change in my mind is happening, as the melody is proceeding. The whole body which was loose, is coming back to the stage of al conciousness. The feeling is becoming brighter slowly. But right at this moment i will not be able to open the main door of my room, I will not be able to be busy with my daily work. If this melody continues, shall I be going to sleep again? I am not a student of Classical Music, but still I feel the attraction. I really liked the vocal music that I have just listened. Seems it is 22/02/2007 Purulia M 57 n/a a sunrise. While listening this music I felt that I am going to a different world. That is why Classical Music is so beautiful. A heavenly feeling covers my mind. The music I am hearing is the heart of music—Drupad . From Drupad, Khayal and other music have come. Khayal was created so 22/02/2007 Purulia F 64 n/a that everybody could understand that. Pain for something is not achieved. The happy memory of staying together with the [nearest], which is very painful today because 28/04/2007 Seuri F 19 Music student of separation Last hour of night. Peaceful everywhere. Seems the birds will awake. The morning light will come out now removing unexplainable 28/04/2007 Seuri M 22 Learner disturbed time. Joy is coming from a deep pain. Seems I am very tired. 28/04/2007 Seuri M 73 n/a Open space. It is a foggy dawn. The sun is rising. Seems someone is praying. Ex-learner, now I am seated on the sea beach. It will take some time to get te morning light. It seems a big red sphere is coming out of the ocean. 28/04/2007 Seuri F 36 lover of music, Gentle ocean, and the surrounding is peaceful. Slowly the morning light is coming out. One or two birds are flying. vocal. Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 5

Musical Date Location Gender Age Shree (raga name NOT disclosed at the beginning of the session) - ctd background

28/04/2007 Seuri F 20 Learning vocal The time is of the sun set. This is being sang on the roof of an old palace. Some wind is blowing gently. Beginning of a beautiful day. It is quiet everwhere. Sunrise is happening. Sweet sound of the birds is coming. Our busy life will 28/04/2007 Seuri F 30 Learning vocal start. Now the phase of day will start. At last the evening has come. Then the darkness of the night has come. It is the end of a day. Approaching dawn, when the horizon is red. The sun is rising in the east, Prayer for the god, Shiva. (raga- Mishra Bhairav) The 28/04/2007 Seuri F 40 n/a place is by the side of the ocean. Music throws new light to our mind. Music creates love between man and nature. And brings inspiration for love, and kindness and creation. Only music can remove the bad situation of the existing society. This 'raga' reminds me an autumn morning. It draws me to dawn of light and dark. I don't know how to sing but I love, but this song 28/04/2007 Seuri F 29 n/a has shaken me up. It seems to me listening to this music, that it is a deep night. Lots of stars in the sky. I am listening to this music, sitting in the 28/04/2007 Seuri F 15 n/a balcony. The stars are visible clearly in the dark Morning in the summer. It is quiet everywhere and wind is blowing gently. I am listening to this music, sitting in the embpy balcony. 28/04/2007 Seuri F 30 n/a Then the morning is coming very slowly. It is a beginning of a beautiful day. Learner of Evening. Expelling out the tiredness of a whole day by music. It is lonely place on the roof of my house. Remembering an old 28/04/2007 Seuri F 21 music (vocal) memory. Peaceful mind. Learner of vocal 28/04/2007 Seuri F 19 To do something new forgetting the passed time. music Performer In the language of Tagore, "You are standing on the opposite side of my song. My meodies are getting the feet, but I do not get 28/04/2007 Seuri M 49 (flute) you". Again Tagore, "A river of tear, the place of landing is visible but distant. ----." 28/04/2007 Seuri F 19 Learning music Loneliness. It is a cry of suffering of loneliness of a person, who really wants a friend The sun is rising. The morning is coming slowly. The sound [unclear term] is coming from the temple. The girls are going to the 28/04/2007 Seuri F 9 n/a temple to pray. The bells are sounding from temple to temple. The birds are coming out of their nests making chattering sound. Last hour of the night. It is a very cool and quiet atmosphere. The morning light is about to come. New the birds will start 28/04/2007 Seuri M 22 Student (vocal) chattering. Though a deep pain is coming our but this melody says about the new days and to forget the past. It also seems that in the era of very fast life, a very busy town is still quiet. that will be busy, as soon as they will awake. 28/04/2007 Seuri M 38 n/a The utold pain of mind is coming out. The evening will come soon. The sound of the river is shaking my mind deeply. The atnosphere is quiet and speechless. The evening will come soon. The sound of the ripple of the river and the chattering sound 28/04/2007 Seuri F 24 Learner (music) of the birds are coming. The rpeparation of the evening prayer is going on in the nearest temple. The feeling of mind becomes very intimate with music at this time. I have been walking alone throught a road. I found an old house by the side of the road. It seems, it is an old house of a 28/04/2007 Seuri F 31 n/a professional female singer and dancer [who] perhaps has devoted all her life in acclomplishment of music. I am really good in my mind. And also I am feeling an unknown sadness. It is beautifully lighted everywhere because of the moonlight of a full moon night. I am listening to this musci at night (10 or 11 28/04/2007 Seuri M 38 n/a o'clock). I wish that this music should not come to an end. This light and this mucis is a heavenyl union. My eyes are closing because of the induction of this music, But I am not really feeling sleepy. This music should not come to an end. It is a full moon night, with moon light everywhere and very beautiful atmosphere. Right at time the song is really seems very 28/04/2007 Seuri M 35 n/a beautiful. 28/04/2007 Seuri F 18 Music student It si just like that red west at the time of sinset 28/04/2007 Seuri M 32 n/a The sun has already set. The evening has come. The birds are coming back home. Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 6

Musical Date Location Gender Age Shree (raga name NOT disclosed at the beginning of the session) - ctd background

I feel like sitting in study ina concentrated mind. Makes my ind relaxed and neautraized. I feel like listening more. My mind in not 28/04/2007 Seuri M 60 n/a full in this short period of time. It is indicating some kind of "Karun Rasa". In this music also we understand that it indicates a time when the day and the night join 28/04/2007 Seuri F 34 n/a together. It is either a dawn or an evening. Brings back the old memory. Some are sweet and some of separation. 28/04/2007 Seuri M 43 Performer vocal It is calm and quiet everywhere. But some pain, some suffering is there some where. Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 7

Musical Date Location Gender Age Shree (raga name disclosed at the beginning of the session) background

It appeared to me that I am seated on the bank of the river Ganga, at Haridwar, in the evening. The river Ganga is flowing. The 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 40 n/a woods are burning in the nearby burning station. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 20 n/a A woman is praying to her love to give value for her love. He should not ditch her in the middle.

23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 19 n/a I am feeling a pain in my mind after listening to this raga. Remembering those who are no more with us. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 32 n/a A woman is practicing in the early morning and singing Khayal. I am searching for water, standing on a desert, like a thirsty person. Although I am getting it, but it is impractical like a mirage 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 28 n/a (optical illusion). It appeared to me that I am in a boat, water everywhere, no bank. The sun is setting, the sky is red. Shutting my eyes I can hear 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 23 n/a the sound of water and the tune of rag shree is audible with that. It is quiet everywhere. It seems that it is an expression of a sad heart, which is some times delivered towards god. There is sometimes manifestation of 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 54 n/a devotional feeling. Listening to the beginning of this raga it seemed to me that I am worshiping god sitting in front of him and trying to please him in 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 18 n/a any way. The end part of this raga reminded me of a house of a professional singer and dancer which I have seen in TV. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 39 n/a A saint is in meditation on an ice covered mountain. Surrounding is quiet. It seems somebody is calling me, saying –I am in some trouble. I have been passing days with a lot of troubles. But today I have 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 33 n/a fallen in trouble which is bigger than all the troubles of this world and I am feeling really lonely. This raga is performed in the early morning. That means at the time of sunrise. This raga is being performed by the side of a 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 20 n/a window. And some birds are flying on the blue sky. It seems that somebody is worshiping in front of any deity. The person's singing has a kind of deep deprivation and demands 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 45 n/a something in a very polite way.

23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 50 n/a The sky is becoming clear in the early morning. The bids are chattering. It is quiet everywhere.

Day light is coming in the morning. It seems that I am sited in front of an ocean. The sun is rubbing the darkness and lighting up 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 40 n/a the earth with light. A completely empty village, some clay huts, some dry leaves are on the ground, no one on the road, only a few birds are flying 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 25 n/a here and there. Sometimes some dust is raised by the wind. It is becoming lighted slowly removing the darkness. But it is not yet morning. The surrounding is serious and quiet. Perhaps this is 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 59 n/a the time of prayer. And that is why the sun is in prayer, removing the darkness and collecting all energies, before the world gets busy. And human mind is happy, inquisitive and pray able, seeing his light ray. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 39 n/a It is a kind of serious rag. It is sung in the morning. In this raga 'ma' is mostly used. Listening to this rag it seemed ------. It seems to me that I am singing in my own mind sitting y the side of a pond after finishing my day work. Right at that time some 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 14 n/a one is confiding me about his sadness and pain of his life. He has come to me loosing everything of his life. It seems that it is the end of darkness of a night and beginning of a new morning. The birds have started chattering. The stars are 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 14 n/a vanishing into the sky slowly. The morning light is coming after ending the darkness of a night. The birds are chattering. The bright stars of the nights are 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 17 n/a vanishing into the sky. Listening to this raga it seems, a prayer is happening in front of any god. My neighbor sings like this. It seems it is a kind of a 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 11 n/a devotional music. Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 8

Musical Date Location Gender Age Shree (raga name disclosed at the beginning of the session) - ctd background

A lady singing holding her Tanpura straight in front of a black Curtain. Sun rising, clouds coming. A green field covered with 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 43 n/a morning clouds. Light and shadow playing on the ground. My mind is flying in the sky. Seems some one is calling me. My god is sited above and I am looking at her face sitting in front of 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F n/a n/a her. It seems I am discovering myself within her. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 11 n/a A priest is praying by the side of the river, Ganga. The sky was red. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 10 n/a It seems I am practicing in the morning It seemed to be a raga of morning. There is a importance in the 'Sa'. The raga is somewhat like . There is shadow of a 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 13 n/a sorrow. Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 9

Musical Date Location Gender Age (raga name NOT disclosed at the beginning of the session) background

29/01/2007 Kolkata M & F n/a n/a Joyousness with an undercurrent of sadness - as in the case of a daughter's wedding.

29/01/2007 Kolkata M n/a n/a Sweet and melodious - romantic 29/01/2007 Kolkata M n/a n/a Yellow? Shimmering? Calm, detached, [non leggibile], english summer da by a riverbank. It's raining - first slowly & its speed gradually becomes fast. I am standing on the terrace of any historically important stony temple, perhaps thousand years old. The waves of the sounds are echoing from the wall of that vast temple. The beautiful sculpture of the 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 37 n/a temple on the wall arrest my attention. I am spell-bound & also absorbed in some deep toughts. The light is dazzling, bright. Light is reflecting from the marbles of white, brown and ash colours. Perhaps many many years back any reputed artist had performed her dance or musical performance here. An optimistic feeling everywhere. 15/02/2007 Raniganj n/a 56 n/a Trying to find something: object is not known. Professional 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 48 Lonelyness from my beloved and surrending myself to my beloved with love. sitarist A few drops of rain, on the leaves. Gentle light( light visible after the cloud is gone). Very gentle wave on the water of a pond.. 15/02/2007 Raniganj F 28 Vocal classical Breeze in the afternoon. Village road. Me and the nature is fully mixed together. Joy 15/02/2007 Raniganj F 23 n/a Listening to this raga , it seems I am seated somewhere in the evening, alone. A pain in heart for some desire is not fulfilled. Mouth organ 15/02/2007 Raniganj M 35 My mind is feeling a little upset/ I don't know why" --- Tagore player Dark night. The sky is full of stars. I am standing under the sky over a roof top—no one is there---only the music and me---and 15/02/2007 Raniganj F 53 Learning sitar some untold sadness-----I don't know the reason of that sadness. The honeybees are taking honey from flower to flower, in a garden, and wind is blowing gently. A passionate feeling is created in my mind. Not me but my mind is flying over the green. Vibration of the wings of a peacock. I am deeply involved with the nature 15/02/2007 Raniganj F 20 Vocal and a dormant feeling is coming into me. Someone is calling me towards him. Perhaps it is nothing but the music from the sitar is my “someone”. I feel some kind of tention. I don't know anything about this instrument. But it creates an emage of a calm night when the sun is not 15/02/2007 Raniganj F 19 Vocal in the sky it is full of stars. It reminds me a dark undeveloped village covered with dark curtain of the nightsky. I could not realize the inner meaning of this [non leggibile - sembra "note"]. But this is a sweet-melody, pleasant to my ears. I 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 56 prefer only a very limited number of "ragas". It seems that the present note does not fit any one of those "ragas". I may be wrong because I am not trained in music. This music represent some sad event. It seems that the earth is overflowing with beauty. Rivers are flowing and trees are on their side, evergreen. Flowers are fulbloomed in the gardens. Two swands are playing in the pond as if they are talking to each other. All the stress and strain of mind 18/02/2007 Durgapur F 16 Sitar student are removed in a moment. This music is taking me to somewhere I had never visited. I wish to run with the enviroment, hunt over the grasses and roll and roll over the soft petals of rose, which I think are only spread over for me. I think this sitar is played only for me. Only for making me happy. All my emotions and passions are lost only just happpiness all over. Human beings are emotional creature. They are gided by the emotion and passion. At this moment I realised that I am performing Hindustani the instrument "sitar" because, that I know the Rag sangeet. Repeatedly I expalined that I am not a audience, I am performer at 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 46 classical this moment. That resonance react to my mind in only one and one in the worlds, there is no other. and also remember the fact of vocalist the renown SAROD player Ustad Aliakbar Khan. He was questione do you believe god? he answered that at the time of performing, I become audience and I am the performer, there is no other, whether there is god or not. Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 10

Musical Date Location Gender Age Jhinjhoti (raga name NOT disclosed at the beginning of the session) background

Mind seems heavy because of pain originated from the lose of someone very near to my heart. Some old happy memory is 18/02/2007 Durgapur F 32 n/a coming. Though I want to vanish those memories with the end of the sunset, but I that is not happening. Like me there are many a persons who have lost their relatives This is representing a very serious situation. After listening for sometime mind is becoming very heavy. It seems, it is a very sad 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 39 n/a feeling, after a very sad incidence. Who are you , who has thrown me on the naked sword of time. I am thoroughly wounded by this very big naked sword. My head is Professional down today in front of time. O time, be kind, throw the clock of day and night, over the pick of patience. Only promise me, promise, 18/02/2007 Durgapur M 50 sitarist O the magician of the world. I don’t want anything, only I want to take. Your silent intoxicative ‘meend’ and passionate magic of ‘murchanna’. Everything else seems void. I don’t want anything else. 18/02/2007 Durgapur F 40 n/a A search in my mind to get something. Something is lost and I am searching. But I am not getting it.

The evening falls. It's silent all around. I am by the side of a river. The day droops, and the evening wakes, and I recall the day. I am reminded of one of Jibavananda's poems, "Bavalata Sen", in which there is a description of the evening which tells us how the 22/02/2007 Purulia M 49 n/a evening falls at the end of a busy day as silently as a dew-drop; and how the kit shakes off the smell of sun from its heavy wings; and how in the evening sky the stars appear; and how the birds and the rivers return towards home after the day's business. A lazy afternoon. Sitting in the balcony of 2nd floor, staring towards the vast open space (field) in the front - on a clean sunlit day. 22/02/2007 Purulia M 40+ n/a The field ends with a river. Wondering about [non leggibile - forse "the"] vast creative process involved with nature. What signal does this melody of notes carry within itself? Certain feelings of stock taking about life's achievements and failures! Afternoon (the day has passed and I am approaching the night). It brings to me pangs of something and a bit of romantic 22/02/2007 Purulia M 65 Esraj player memories of past life. It also takes me back to my old service life. How were those days! I feel with my heavy heart! Never will come those days! Vocal classical This music made a feeling of bright light in nature but pleasant atmosphere in which the river is floting joyfully and the river is 22/02/2007 Purulia F 38 music teacher coming down from hill or from the top of rocks. I was feeling the sense of life and joyfull moving of people but not any musch more (MMusc) sound in that atmosphere. Everything is as usual. 22/02/2007 Purulia M 31 Tabla player Being hurt, from a good friend or lover, I am thinking of her /him, sitting in a dark room. Seems the Music is making my life beautiful. I am getting back the rhythm of my work-life. And making the path beautiful. My life is 22/02/2007 Purulia M 57 n/a getting the motion slowly. Seems that the whole world will become busy with work soon. The domestic animals are going to the field. The farmers are going to the field also. 22/02/2007 Purulia F 64 n/a Morning has come, so wake up. Pray to god and get involved to work. My feeling says , god is for everybody, for this whole world. The music has taken the shape of a real human being with sorrow and . joy. This is a female image. She is expressing her feeling Vocalist/ 22/02/2007 Purulia M 72 through the Komal nishad and Dhaibat. It is a kind of Pathos. It seems that the heroin wants to express fully, her sorrow and classical sadness of separation, with her eyes full of tears The birds are flying slowly towards the sky flapping their wings. Slowly the sun is spreading on the sky. The shyness of love of a 28/04/2007 Seuri F 19 Music student young girl, red face, heart full of emotion Seems I have entered into a joyful moment. Because I remember some old memory. But in the next moment I became sad because there was some sadness in those memories. Though I remember the happy memory, but coming back to present 28/04/2007 Seuri M 22 Learner suddently, it seems that those days are gone. That relation in not there anymore. The relation is not there with someone special. That means, though there was some swing in my mind in the beginning, this melody is now sad, brings sorrow in mind. Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 11

Musical Date Location Gender Age Jhinjhoti (raga name NOT disclosed at the beginning of the session) background

28/04/2007 Seuri M 73 n/a Waiting for a long time. I have many things to say which I want to say in speachless words. Ex-learner, now 28/04/2007 Seuri F 36 lover of music, The person whom I love most is gone. That is why I broke in tear and became stone in sorrow. vocal. 28/04/2007 Seuri F 20 Learning vocal A river is flowing. It is early in the morning. The surrounding place is full of river sand and a green forest is waving by gentle wind. 28/04/2007 Seuri F 30 Learning vocal A peaceful evening. Slowly the evening has come. Slowly the night has come. And finally a dawn has come. Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni - from these seven notes all the notes are created. From these nots different 'ragas' are reated,. Like 28/04/2007 Seuri F 40 n/a yeaman, Bhairav, bageshree, malkuns. Different 'ragas' have different time to eprform. The 'raga' which has been played is an evening 'raga'. Is it a song or a sound of life? I am very near to understand you but not really. Still I feel like singing like famous Manna Dey. "Why 28/04/2007 Seuri F 29 n/a my heart can not love more?". I am feeling that the second music represents the morinng. Sunlight is outside in the morning. I am listening to this music ina 28/04/2007 Seuri F 15 n/a bright sunlight. I am inside the house and listening to this music. I am feeling good while listening to this music in the sunlight. It is beginning of an evening from the hour of cow-dust. The sun is setting slowly. It is quiet everywhere. The tired birds are coming 28/04/2007 Seuri F 30 n/a back to their home. Slowsly the darkness came all over. A little comfort on the summer day. Feeling good by the cold wind. Pigeons are chattering. Remembering the old memories. Water 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 40 n/a in the corner of my eyes. It is like a dance of a peacock on the day of rain of the rainy season, after hot summer day. Or it is like joy person after meeting 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 20 n/a his/her god. Some sweet memories are also coming. After listening to this raga it seems that somebody is giving me a sweet spark of light in me in the dark. And that drop of light is 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 19 n/a fulfilling some of my desires. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 32 n/a The sunlight is walking by the side of the paddy field in the early morning, in a village. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 28 n/a Looking outside towards the sky, through the window, in a rainy night, I am continuously thinking of my love. Listening to this second rag it seemed that I am alone in my room. It is quiet everywhere, but not sad, rather joyous. I don't feel like 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 23 n/a making joyous expression, rather I feel like enjoying the joyous mood quietly. I feel like---let this tune be continuous. It is a romantic rag where touch of feeling of separation of loves is also very prominent. Again some times sweet sound of 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 54 n/a courtship is also present. Though there is apparent difference between these two but both the feelings are present here. Listening to the second raga it seems that I have entered to the inner most part of a royal palace to which I was connected years 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 18 n/a back and I am feeling happy seeing and feeling my connection with the things kept in there. Listening to this second rag it seemed that some beautiful woman are taking bath in a fountain and their chattering and the 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 39 n/a chattering of the birds are mixing with the sound of the fountain. Unknown raga. The sitar itself is floating with some tune. Floating in different parts of the world and seems it is trying to say 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 33 n/a something or to make understand something to every body. This raga is performed in the evening. That means after sunset when the birds come back home and the rivers and the roads 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 20 n/a become quiet. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 45 n/a It looks like the expression of joy after getting the desired things. Experience and Meaning in Music Performance - Chapter 8 - Leante - Listerners' responses 12

Musical Date Location Gender Age Jhinjhoti (raga name NOT disclosed at the beginning of the session) background

23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 50 n/a Night. Shadow of sadness everywhere. Mind is becoming indifferent. There is cloud on the sky. It seems it will rain soon.

A lot of pain in my mind. It seems that I have left behind many days of my life but did not do anything and that is why I am praying 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 40 n/a to take shelter to my god and want to get him. It is about to dusk. Every body is busy in my home. My mother in the kitchen, my father is reading a newspaper, my sister is busy 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 25 n/a with her study, and I am thinking something standing on the door. I am waiting for some one, looking at the road. Perhaps midnight. Perhaps there is cloud on the sky. Loneliness is too much. But still a poet, or an artist or a devotee is busy in 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 59 n/a creation. I don't know whether it will rain or not. Because even my mind is indifferent of worldly interests. This raga is very sweet. Listening to this rag it seemed that some one is going to bring water from the river, who is decorated with 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 39 n/a ornaments. Again it seemed that a lady is carrying a brass plate on her hand with four brass bowl and a glass. It seems that I am not very much touched by this raga. What I felt is that the world is not in rhythm. It wants to something to 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 14 n/a mankind but they do not understand that. Some farmers are coming back home as usually after finishing their work The birds are going back to their nest. The rivers are 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 14 n/a flowing genteelly. The farmers are coming back home with the golden afternoon light after their hard labor. The birds are going back home. The 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 17 n/a rivers are flowing slowly and the sun is setting. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 11 n/a It seems the music like what is taught in a hermitage. Water dripping in a small pond surrounded by green small shrubs, waves forming. Morning sunlight reflecting on wet plant leaves. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj M 43 n/a Scene is getting wider. Hollowness in the mind. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 11 n/a Listening to this raga it seems that there was nobody on a wide field but a dead cow. 23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 10 n/a The sun light has fallen on the ground.

23/01/2008 Ranigunj F 13 n/a Raga: Bairagi