Til Bhar Tulana: Released
See the press release here: IsmailiMail.
Composer Samira Noorali brings you “Til Bhar Tulana,” the third release from the Impressions of Devotion album. Til Bhar Tulana is a powerful and ruminative devotional tune that is attributed to Pir Sadardeen. This rendition brings out Noorali’s passion for classical and world fusion sounds. These are sounds that resonate deep in the soul, and offer opportunities for spiritual reflection.
“Til Bhar Tulana” is a Ginan from the Ismaili Muslim tradition, and Noorali’s version brings together Eastern and Western classical genres. Borrowing from Raag Kalingda, Til Bhar Tulana is solemn as it encourages listeners to glimpse into the concept of doomsday. While singing along with the Gujurati text, you will also hear elements of Jules Massenet’s, Elegie.
In this particular track, produced by Mike Raznick and mixed and mastered by Everett Young, you will hear the voices of a national vocal ensemble consisting of Samira Noorali, Nida Moledina, Saif Sattani, and Kanwal Sumnani.
On Double Bass we have Bart Samolis from Palm Springs whose work you have heard on a number of tracks for popular, contemporary artists.
On Violin is the talented Shalini Vijayan of the Lyris Quartet, one of the Los Angeles Times most beloved ensembles.
For the lovely guitar parts, Mike offered up his own instrumental talents. He has built a beautiful career playing and composing for many TV, video game and film soundtracks.
Various aspects of the piano performance in this recording were delivered by either or both, Samira and Mike.
The IOD artistic leads were tremendously lucky and wise to rely on the recording engineering acumen of Adnan Khoja from Houston, Texas who helped to create all of the vocal recordings. His work truly demonstrated a love for and respect of the choral genre.
The IOD team reached out to Ginan teacher, Shabana Ratani from Houston, to assist with pronunciation. Shabana is known for her beautiful recitations and is someone that many Texan Ismailis have looked to for guidance when working on Ginanic material.
Many thanks to Kim Anderson from Ithaca, New York for her consulting work on this project as well as Mairaj Manji of Hakims’ Studio who was the director of photography (DOP) and editor of the beautiful music video..
Are you ready for the full experience? Click here to listen to the piece.
Original Text of the Ginan (see http://www.ismaili.net/heritage/node/4074):
Eji Til bhaar tulnnaa khane ki dhaar chalannaa,
aa Shaah til til kaa lekhaa diyanna mere jiv kun
to mei kyaa karun jiv aapnnaa
aap savaarath bhaai raat kaa sapanaa
pindh savaarth bhaai rayann kaa sapnaa
to mei kyaa karun jiv aapnnaa
Eji Aagal haatt na paatt na voraa,
tiyaan sat kaa samar saathe liyaannaa
to mei kyaa karun jiv aapnnaa
Eji Tiyaan soh soh karanni suraj tap she,
tiyaan kiyaan chipa naa
kiyaan dhundhnnaa mere jiv kun
to mei kyaa karun jiv aapnnaa
Eji Eso ginaan Pir bhannave Sadardin,
aa Shaah fazal karo
to jiv chuttnnaa mere jiv kun
to mei kyaa karun jiv aapnnaa
Translation (http://www.ismaili.net/heritage/node/23178)
O believers! (On doomsday, your good and evil deeds) shall be weighed even in whits (as if to) walk on the edge of a sword. O Lord! My soul will have to give account for whitful deeds (very) minutely. What should I do for my soul? (Because) O brothers! Our selves are (very) selfish like a night's dream.
What should I do for my soul?
O believers! Neither a shop nor a stall or a deadline (in good deeds) would exist hereafter. There (your soul) would need to be equipped with a tiffin (provision of good deeds). What should I do for my soul?
There the sun shall (terribly) become ten thousand times hotter (than it does in the usual way). What is needed there to be hidden or searched? What should I do for my soul?
This Ginan is recited by Pir Sadardeen: O Lord! Have mercy (enough) so that the soul may be redeemed. What should I do for my soul?
