Chinmaya wrote this for the sleeve of the original CD:
âIn India a profound musical moment will be greeted by spontaneous outbursts of âWAH!â from the audience. WAH is wow, deep appreciation and an expression of being touched inside. This CD is my âWAHâ to the wonderful musicians who play on itâŚ.Without them my music and my heart would be so much lessâ.
A compilation of the two CDs âKarma Circlesâ (2003) and âFragrance of the Eastâ (2005) originally released on New Earth Records following Chinmaya Dunster and the Celtic Ragas Bandâs performance at Sir Paul McCartneyâs wedding in Ireland in 2002.
Karma Circles reviews:
âThe CD embodies a unique musical synthesis of East and West with Celtic and Indian motifs, circle and dance, and an ancient landscape that comes alive through 21st century sounds. Sarod, tablas and bamboo flute fuse with electronics, bass and drums in this interesting musical journey through many cultures and climes. You canât help but let go and move your body with this music.â
AZNetNews, Oct/Nov 2003
âThe lively, lilting melodies in Karma Circles (New Earth Records), by Chinmaya Dunster and The Celtic Ragas Band, are an exotic blend of Indian and Celtic flavors. Dunster is a master of the sarod, a 19-stringed classical Indian instrument. You will also hear a guest appearance from Govi, the guitar master, playing the middle-eastern oud and Shastro on bamboo flute. There are instruments on this CD that Iâve never heard of before (Iâll have to find out what a âswarmandelâ is!), but the sound is modern, upbeat, and very positive. What a happy experience it is!â
Aquarius Magazine
âHereâs a delightful set of multi-culti soundscapes by a cross cultural pro in the know. Creating his own path of Celtic Ragas, reflecting his backgrounds and passions, Dunster attracts important attention from people at the top of the musical food chain that know up from down. A tasty adult set that will go the distance for world beat fans looking for a new kick. Hot stuff.â
Chris Spector
Midwest Record
Tracks 1 to 5, 9 and 10 are from Karma Circles. JAMIE ST CLAIR played guitar and PREM PRABODH bass throughout. Sarod, acoustic guitar, composing, programming and production by CHINMAYA DUNSTER. Recording was done in a makeshift kitchen in a garden in Maui and in Pune, India.
1 âChance Findingâ features Pune-based violinist AVINASH JAGTAP.
2 âWedding in Kotreeâ features a rare performance from guitar legend GOVI on the middle eastern oud and MANISH VYAS on harmonium.
3 âCircle Makersâ features SADHU BOLLAND as co-composer and accordion player.
4 âKaunsi Kannadaâ, co-composed with JAMIE in 1993, features Maui-based violinist DON LAX.
5 âHollow Hillsâ, with ADHEESH on dholak and SHASTRO on bamboo flute, is based on a melody by the 19th century Baul poet Lalon Shah.
9 âManipuri Meghâ is co-created with Manipuri bamboo flute player BIKRAM SINGH, and is basically his extended improvisation on CHINMAYAâs open chords and RAMADHAN MEIR SUISSAâs santoor.
10 âA Meeting Place of Friendsâ, co-composed with JAMIE features New Age musician NADAMA on piano.
Tracks 6 to 8 and 11 to 13 are from âFragrance of the East, a live recording of the multimedia âConcert for Indiaâs Environmentâ arranged by Chinmaya at BVIEER, Pune, India in 2004.
The band comprised: CHINMAYA: sarod. MANISH VYAS: tabla. TANMAYO DEVI; violin. DINESH: keyboards. BIKRAM SINGH: bansuri. RAMADHAN MEIR SUISSA: drums. PREM PRABODH: bass. ADARSHA FOREST: guitar. PARITOSH: tanpura.Tracks 6 to 8 and 11 to 13 are from âFragrance of the East, a live recording of the multimedia âConcert for Indiaâs Environmentâ arranged by Chinmaya at BVIEER, Pune, India in 2004.
6 âBhattiyaliâ is based on a Bengali folk melody.
7 âMoonsongâ and 8 âChangesâ were created just before the gig, flowing out effortlessly from the meeting of CHINMAYAâs sarod and ADARSHAâs guitar. ADARSHA left his body in 2014 âFly high beloved brother!
11 âMausam Ayengeâ and 12 âSarvane Rute Ayeâ are traditional Hindi songs celebrating the seasons, arranged by Tamil singer SHRUTI BANU, Chinmaya and Manish.
12 âRag Shivranjaniâ is a short rendition on sarod and tabla of this Hindustani classical raga.
Blending music, visuals of Indiaâs wilderness areas, poems composed and read by local schoolchildren and interviews with environmentalists, the film of this performance can be found on YouTube.
BVIEER is a University institute that emphasizes environmental awareness and conservation through education.
Watch the Videos from the “Concert for Indiaâs Environment” in Pune (India) where environmentally concerned schoolchildren join Chinmaya Dunster and the Celtic Ragas Band to read their own poems about nature. Images of the band are blended with interviews with environmentalists and stunning footage of the Indian wilderness.
