Voice of the Esraj, by Benjy Wertheimer

Voice of the Esraj

by Benjy Wertheimer

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1.	Om Namah Shivaya 07:19	lyrics
ॐ नमः शिवाय गुरवे om namaḥ śivāya gurave
2.	Devotion 13:03	lyrics
समाधि सिद्धिर् ईश्वर प्रणिधानात् samādhi siddhir īśvara praṇidhānāt
3.	Remembrance 11:45	lyrics
यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति yo māṁ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṁ ca mayi paśyati tasyāhaṁ na praṇaśyāmi sa ca me na praṇaśyati
4.	Faith 10:35	lyrics
श्रद्धामयो ऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः śraddhāmayo 'yaṁ puruṣo yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ
5.	Balance 11:02	lyrics
आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति यो ऽर्जुन सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं स योगी परमो मतः ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṁ paśyati yo 'rjuna sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ sa yogī paramo mataḥ
6.	Ahimsa 11:43	lyrics
अहिम्सा प्रतिष्ठायाम् तत् संनिधौ वैर त्यागः ahimsā pratiṣṭhāyām tat saṁnidhau vaira tyāgaḥ

about

Excellent music for meditative listening and yoga in the tradition of the popular album, Soul of the Esraj. Beautiful flowing vocals bring ancient sacred writings to life, featuring special musical guests Steve Gorn, Jami Sieber, Heather Wertheimer, and David Michael.

_________________________________

“Highly recommended for all of creation!”
– Shiva Rea

The selections on this album are intended to unite the central themes of ancient sacred texts with Indian ragas that support their essential nature. Raga is a tremendously sophisticated musical framework that defies simple definition. Broadly, ragas are the traditional classical melodic form of Indian music, which express specific moods and reflect different seasons, times of day, and manifestations of the Divine.

I have been blessed to have the opportunity to study with some of the greatest exponents of the North Indian (Hindustani) classical tradition, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Ustad Zakir Hussain. They have given me gifts beyond measure, and it is my hope and prayer that this musical offering can reflect some small part of the tremendous gifts they have given their students and audiences around the world.

In what would have been his 125th year, I also wish to acknowledge the brilliance of my grandfather, the great psychologist Max Wertheimer. His study of music (particularly of the Veddas of Sri Lanka) was pivotal in his development of Gestalt theory in the early twentieth century.

credits

released January 1, 2006

Benjy Wertheimer: vocals, esraj, tabla tarang, keyboards, sound design
Steve Gorn: bansuri bamboo flute
Jami Sieber: cello, electric cello
Heather Wertheimer: vocals, guitar
David Michael: zither, harp
Jeff Leonard: bass
Michael Stirling: tamboura
Abby Lyons: tamboura

Steve Gorn appears courtesy of Dharma Moon Records

Executive Producer: Benjy Wertheimer
Recorded, mixed, and engineered by Benjy Wertheimer at Wolf Cub Studios, Portland, Oregon, with assistance from Heather Wertheimer
Mastering by Lumin P. White, Transformation Studio, Kelowna, BC, Canada
Duplication by Riddle Press
Graphic design by Annette Orban
Front cover artwork by Bruce Bowditch
Front cover photo of Beniy by Magic Glass Photography
Nature photo: Ruth Wertheimer

There are so many who helped in myriad ways to bring this project to life. In particular, I would like to thank John Friend, Steve Gorn, Jami Sieber, David Michael, Jeff Leonard, Michael Stirling, Abby Lyons, Lisa Butler, Lumin White, Ty Burhoe, Douglas Brooks, Michael Mandrell, Larry Tyrell, Jim Gillen, Dave Schneider of Schneider Guitars for his excellent work on my new Hemen esraj, my mother Nancy Wertheimer & her partner Ed Leper, and Marilyn & Michael Wertheimer. I especially wish to thank my beloved wife Heather, whose patience and assistance with every facet of this project reminded me always of how blessed I am to be her life partner.

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about

Benjy Wertheimer Portland, Oregon

Benjy Wertheimer is an award-winning musician, composer, vocalist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist equally accomplished on tabla, congas, percussion, esraj, guitar, and keyboards. Benjy has produced 20 CDs since 2000, which receive extensive airplay around the world, and his CD Circle of Fire went to #1 on the New Age radio charts. ... more

benjymusic.com

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