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 Ranjan
Sharma
(ranjan@swarsystems.com)
My Musical Journey...
Though music has been my passion ever-since my childhood
but I actually started learning Indian Music when I was around 20
years old. 5 years of training in Indian Classical Music exposed me
to the mystique depths, ins and outs of Indian Music. In fact my musical
journey started when I was in school. Whenever there used to be a
free period, I would run towards musicroom and try my hands on the
Harmonium and other instruments.
Unlike most of the musicians, I started my career
as an accounts assistant in 1995. After graduating as a Bachelor of
Commerce while simultaneously doing Masters Diploma in Software Engineering,
I soon began working as a software programmer. Soon, I realised that
all this time I was actually drifting away from my first priority
which was Music. I always wanted to be into something creative. I
wanted to be in a field where i could utilize my technical knowledge
as a software developer and my creativity as a Musician. That was
the time when I joined an IT company as a Multimedia Producer. That
was the place where I learnt a lot about Audio / Video production
and always kept myself updated with the latest happening in the field
of electronic music. While being engaged in work and studies I always
made it a point to attend my Indian Classical Music classes.
During my job as a Multimedia Producer I got chance
to compose music for several CD-ROM's(including THE MAHABHARATA, which
is quite famous), corporate presentations etc. I also composed background
music for a few high-profile companies like ABN-AMRO Bank, corporate
song for VanFlon Pro. In my free time i worked on some of my own compositions
with my keyboard and computer. I have a great desire to release these
in the form of an album.
Quite recently I did a ghazal album with Sanjay and
Sadhana Sargam which was released on HMV. Out of many jingles a few
that are being aired on some TV channels are Mughal Mahal Chai, Mt.Kailash
Mineral Water, Harsingar Chai.
So, what I am doing now ?
On March 2000, I have joined Swar Systems as a Multimedia Producer
and then became very much involved in the development of all their
products, from SwarShala 3.0 onwards. To be frank, I feel quite proud
about this. These days with electronic music production at its peak,
one can find various excellent software programs that are very good
tools for composing western, pop, electronic kind of music, but its
difficult to find products like Swar Systems's which are specially
dedicated to Indian instruments and Indian music.
You can listen here to some of my compositions posted at SwarCafe
section, for which I have used various Swar Systems products.
Best wishes !!
Ranjan
My Compositions
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22.04.04
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Chunavi Chaat (Folk)
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (0.2 Mb)
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Notes
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This small clip was initially created
for a humorous TV show broadcasted in India last February
for the elections (Chunav means elections).
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Instruments used
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Harmonium 2, Tudd, Duff, Gunghroo
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07.01.04
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Punjabi Masti (Bhangra)
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (1.2 Mb)
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Notes
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Let's start the new year 2004 in a festive
mood! This Bhangra remix should get you moving! Raise
your arms, open your hands and shake your shoulders up
and down : yes, just like a real Punjabi!
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Instruments used
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Tumbi, Dhol, Tudd
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18.12.03
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Padharo Mare Des (Mand)
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (2.2 Mb)
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Notes
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Mand is a very famous musical form from
Rajasthan, very much appreciated for its melodious nature.
Ranjan's beautiful voice adds to the enchantment of this
remix.
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Instruments used
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Duggis, Duff, Tambourines, Gunghroo, Tabla, Sitar, Bansuri,
Sarangi, Santoor
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25.11.03
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Volume North 2 Demo (Fusion)
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (2.0 Mb)
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Notes
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This composition features
a large array of the instruments included in the new Volume
North 2 that was just released today. We hope these
will open new horizons for your creativity!
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Instruments used
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Duggis, Tambourines, Dimdi, Tumbak Nari,
Duff, Harmonium, Gunghroo, Bansuri
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11.11.03
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Mundian To Bach Ke (Bhangra)
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (0.4 Mb)
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Notes
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And here, friends, a glimpse of our coming
new volume of instruments! Let's groove to the Bhangra
beat with Punjabi MC's world famous hit Mundian to
Bach Ke.
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Instruments used
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Tumbi, Dhol
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06.10.03
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Mumbai Dawn (Fusion)
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (1.1 Mb)
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Notes
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Early morning in India's
business capital. Sitar and sarangi express the calmness
of dawning sky, while tabla depicts the turbulent croud
of workers on their way to their jobs.
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Instruments used
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Sitar, Sarangi, Tabla
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25.05.03
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VST Days Demo
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (5.4 Mb)
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Notes
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This new fusion composition has been
created using both SwarPlug plugins and voices from a
Karma keyboard mixed in Nuendo. It will be used as a demo
of our plugins at the German
VST days.
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Instruments used
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Sarod, Sitar, Sarangi, Pakhawaj
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26.04.03
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Fusion
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Download
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (4.84 Mb)
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Notes
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Fusion composition loosely
based on Raga Charukeshi. It starts with a very sentimental,
serene and emotional feel, then gradually builds up the
energy with vigorous taans (melodical fills) on
sitar.
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Instruments used
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Sitar, Sarod, Santoor, Tabla
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22.01.03
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More Piya Base Kaun Des
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (3.18 Mb)
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Notes
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After most instrumental pieces, we are
including here a full vocal item, beautifully performed
by Delhi-based singer Pooja Goswami. This devotional song
written by saint poet Kabir describes the longing of a
woman for her beloved, as an image to the aspiration of
a devoted soul for the Divine.
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Instruments used
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Tanpura, Sarangi, Santoor, Tabla, Pakhawaj and Dholak
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07.01.03
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Vande Mataram
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (1.69 Mb)
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Notes
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Instrumental version of the national
song Vande Mataram, written by B. C. Chatterjee.
Vande Mataram is a prayer to the Mother Land that
was sung by freedom fighters all over India. It was then
denied the status of national anthem in favour of a more
consensual Jana Gana Mana. It still remains the
dearest song in the heart of most Indians.
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Instruments used
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Santoor, Sarod, Tabla, Pakhawaj and Tanpura
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12.12.02
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Silent Indian Night
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Download
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (1.53 Mb)
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Notes
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An Indian version of the famous Christmas
Carroll "Silent Night"!.. This song was created
out of a standard MIDI file of the original, where the
lead track was routed to the Sitar instrument in the Swar
Sampler, while pitch bend and chikari strokes were added.
Tabla tracks composed through SwarShala replaced the original
Drums.
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Instruments used
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Sitar, Tablas (high and low pitch)
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18.11.02
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Ab Lagan Lagi Kya Kariye (Remix)
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (1.05 Mb)
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Notes
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"Now that I am in love with you,
what can I do?..". This beautiful song can be
understood in a romantic sense, but it can also have a
deeper meaning as the prayer from a devotee to God. It
was composed in CakeWalk, by combining tracks exported
from SwarShala and others played directly through the
keyboard.
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Instruments used
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Santoor, Tabla, Pakhawaj
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07.11.02
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Garba
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (1.02 Mb)
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Notes
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Garba is a famous dance form from Gujrat.
Traditionally a religious dance performed in honour of
Mother Earth, it is nonetheless also fun and interactive.
Garba is performed by a group of women who dance in a
circular pattern and clap their hands. Sometimes sticks
replace claps, in which case it is called as Dandiya.
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Instruments used
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Santoor, Sitar, Bansuri, Tabla, Nagara
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28.10.02
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Kashmiri Fusion
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Download
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (1.10 Mb)
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Notes
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Fusion piece mixing synthesizer voices
(Korg Karma) and Indian tracks. The Santoor and Bansuri
(flute) tunes were played directly from the keyboard,
using Swar Sampler. These instruments give an overall
impression of a mountain tune, hence the title.
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Instruments used
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Santoor, Bansuri, Tabla, Pakhawaj
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16.10.02
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Poocho Na Kaise Maine
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Download
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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SSC (15 Kb)
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Notes
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Famous song from film Meri Aankhen
Teri Surat, sung by Manna Dey. Based on Raga Ahir
Bhairav, it is one of the famous classical numbers from
film music.
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Audio (654 Kb)
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Instruments used
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Sitar, Sarod, Tabla, Tanpura
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MIDI (16 Kb)
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16.10.02
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Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi
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Download
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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SSC (15 Kb)
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Notes
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Famous sentimental song from film Aandhi
(1976), composed by R.D. Burman and sung by Kishore Kumar
& Lata Mangeshkar.
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Audio (424 Kb)
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Instruments used
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Sitar, Bansuri, Tabla, Dholak
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MIDI (10 Kb)
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16.10.02
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Raga Puriya Dhanashree on Shehnai
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Download
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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SSC (17 Kb)
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Notes
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Classical shehnai piece on Raga Puriya
Dhanashree, a combination of Ragas Puriya and Dhanashree.
Dominant note is Pa and subdominant is Sa.
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Audio (302 Kb)
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Instruments used
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Shehnai, Tabla, Nagara, Tanpura
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MIDI (12 Kb)
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16.10.02
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Raghupati
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Download
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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SSC (14 Kb)
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Notes
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Traditional devotional song dedicated to Lord Rama.
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Audio (586 Kb)
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Instruments used
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Shehnai, Guitar, Sarod, Bansuri, Tabla, Dholak, Tanpura
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MIDI (26 Kb)
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24.09.02
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Vaishnava Jan To
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Download
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio (684Kb)
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Notes
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Popular bhajan (devotional song) and
one of the favourites of the father of the Nation, Mahatma
Gandhi.
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Instruments used
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Sitar, Tabla, Pakhawaj, Tanpura
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04.06.01
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Ghazal
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Download
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Author
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Ranjan Sharma
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Audio
(388Kb)
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Notes
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Ghazal from the album Ishq Ka Nagma
(HMV), sung by Sanjay Talwar and Sadhana Sargam. It is
inspired by Raga Bageshwari and lyrics are from famous
Indian poet, Majrooh Sultanpuri.
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Instruments used
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Tabla, Dholak
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©
2003 Swar
Systems All Rights Reserved |
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