Musical Explorers: Krishna in Spring

This two-disc set features a compilation from the archive of music explorer Deben Bhattacharya (1921-2001), who travelled and made field recordings around the world for what was then termed ‘ethnic music.’ Curated by Songlines editor-in-chief Simon Broughton for ARC Music's second release in its Musical Explorers series, the music is thematically selected around the Hindu god, Krishna – a deity with strong associations with Holi, India's ancient Festival of Colours and the rites of spring.
It starts with the sound of the bansuri, a bamboo flute said to be the instrument of Krishna himself and which, according to legend, had the milkmaids leaving their beds to follow the sound of his music in the dead of night. There then follows a sprightly piece – a fairly typical accompaniment for the North Indian classical dance style kathak, a dance that enacts stylised imagery from the many episodes of Krishna's life as a child as well as a flirtatious youth. Several styles of chants and classical and light-classical songs lead to the finale, a song featuring the many nicknames of Krishna, in a melody that is utterly mesmerising and spiritually uplifting. It's an appropriate end to a celebration of India's most colourful deity.
The second disc is a DVD of Bhattacharya's 1969 film of the same name, showing various ancient rituals and celebrations of Holi.